By Railfan & Railroad Staff

The end of the line could be approaching for one of West Virginia’s most reclusive short lines, the Beech Mountain Railroad. 

Earlier this month, the Carter Roag Coal Company announced that it was closing its Morgan Camp Mine, which is served by the company-owned short line. WDTV reports that about 230 people will lose their jobs as a result of the closure. 

Beech Mountain has a small fleet of Alco and EMD switchers and operates on 10 miles of track in Randolph County, W.Va. Over the years, operations have been sporadic and traffic fluctuated with whatever the mine was producing. While company officials have not said what will become of the railroad, the mine was its only shipper. 

WDTV reports that layoffs began earlier this month and will continue until the end of the year when the mine finally closes.