J. Craig Thorpe (American, B. 1948) "West Virginia Lotive" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Paper.Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood Legendary Lotives of the 50 States West Virginiamemorative Cover postmarked January 29, 1995.West Virginia's introduction to rail transportation was the result of an expansion of the Virginia Central Railroad. The Civil War had halted the progress of the railway to the point that Virginia Central workers were forced to pull up portions of their own track to obtain supplies for the maintenance of other sections. However, by 1865 the entire line was back in service. Three years later, the Virginia Central merged with the Covington & Ohio, bing the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad (C&O). In 1869 it came under the control of California railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington, builder of both the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific lines. On January 29, 1873, the route from Richmond, Virginia, to the Ohio River (near the West Virginia/Kentucky border) waspleted. The western terminus of this route was the newly-formed city of Huntington, named for its founder. During West Virginia's early years of statehood, this railway provided one of the biggest boons to the state's economy. It prompted the mining of coal from the lower walls of the mineral-rich canyon it traversed and ended a century-long search for a more accessible route across southern West Virginia. Pictured on this handsome artwork is C&O engine No. 204. This 2-8-0, known as a "Consolidation" type, was built by Richmond Lotive in 1890. C&O is now part of CSX Transportation, and its heavy coal trains still rumble over the C&O's original route.Image Size: 14 x 12 in.Overall Size: 18 x 15 in.Unframed.(B14932)