Big Old Coal Hauler

Our next stop was at the Huntington Railroad Museum located in Ritter Park. Volunteers operate the museum on Sundays from 2 until 5 pm, and we were fortunate to arrive before closing. The venue features a Baldwin H-6 steam locomotive, one of the last ever built. This huge 2-6-6-2 steam powered engine was built to pull heavy coal-filled cars up the steep West Virginia Mountains. Among the other cars were two more beautifully restored cabooses. The volunteer staff was very knowledgeable and friendly in only the way small town people can be. The boys took full advantage of this stop to run, play and flirt with the locals.