Appalachian & Ohio

Company History: The A&O was born in 2005 when CSX leased 158 miles of ex-B&O branches in West Virginia (between Cowan and Grafton) to the Watco shortline group. After just a year, Watco's priorities changed and they turned the lease over to Four Rivers Transportation who also owns the Paducah & Louisville and Evansville Western. Four Rivers kept the Appalachian & Ohio name. Traffic is primarily coal although chemicals and woodchips are also hauled. During the Watco year, twenty SD50’s, four GP50’s and five GP38’s worked the line. Four Rivers on the other hand, relies on CSX run-through power for through coal trains. SD9043’s are used as pushers while switching is handled by six various EMD 4-axle units.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.