History of Trains in Belpre

Mar 22, 2017
1 min read

In 1870 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad completed the Parkersburg (West Virginia) Bridge (CSX) across the river; at 7,140 feet (2,180 m) at the time it was reportedly the longest in the world. In 1845 railroad developers founded the Belpre and Cincinnati Railroad, but the destination was changed to Marietta, with a corresponding name change in 1851. For a considerable period of time, travelers had to go by steamboat, riverboat, or ferry, to connect between Marietta and Parkersburg, West Virginia. From 1868-1870, the B&O built the Parkersburg Bridge (CSX) between West Virginia and Belpre. The bridge was reportedly the longest in the world at 7,140 feet.

The picture below is what it looks like now.

The photo above is a picture of My great grandpa Walter Hopkins (Navy), he was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed. Also in the picture is my great uncles Larry Hopkins (Air Force) and David Hopkins (Army). A popular song that was wrote because of the war was Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Written by Don Raye and Hughie Prince and sang by Andrews Sisters. But most of us heard it from Bette Midler. It would make it back to the charts in 1973 as a hit for Bette Midler.

My grandpa loves trains. In fact so much he has it painted on the side of his house. I dont have a picture of his train room.