Mullens, West Virginia

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Mullens, West Virginia: Appalchian Mountain Railroad and Coal Hub

Once the vibrant heart of coal and rail, Mullens, West Virginia, thrived as a bustling hub where trains rolled through the Winding Gulf coalfield, carrying Appalachian coal to distant markets. Its streets were busy with miners and rail workers, cementing its role as a commercial cornerstone.

Early History

Located in Wyoming County at coordinates 37.676°N 81.380°W and an elevation of 1,419 feet (433 m), Mullens was incorporated as a town in 1912 and a city in 1929. Named for A.J. Mullins (misspelled due to a clerical error), it emerged from a rural valley along the Guyandotte River and Slab Fork Creek. The coal boom drove its population to a peak of 3,544 in 1960, but devastating fires in 1917, 1919, and 1920 led to a brick-and-stone building ordinance. A catastrophic flood in July 2001 submerged downtown under seven feet of water, exacerbating economic challenges as coal declined. By 2020, the population fell to 1,475, reflecting the region’s industrial downturn.

Virginian Railway

Mullens became a railroad coal hub with the Virginian Railway’s (VGN) arrival in 1909, orchestrated by coal developer William Nelson Page. Page’s Deepwater Railway, planned in the early 1900s, secured right-of-way through Mullens by 1904, merging with Tidewater Railway to form the VGN, which linked Mullens to eastern ports like Norfolk. This sparked a commercial boom, with the VGN constructing a classification yard, engine terminal, and maintenance shops, employing hundreds to sort hopper cars and service locomotives. In 1912, the VGN electrified a 134-mile section from Mullens to Roanoke, Virginia, using 11,000-volt catenary to power electric locomotives, boosting efficiency for heavy coal trains until de-electrification in 1962. Mullens handled millions of tons of smokeless coal annually from nearby mines, becoming the coalfield’s economic heart. The VGN merged with Norfolk & Western (N&W) in 1959. While the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) operated branches nearby, no other major lines served Mullens directly.

Mullens Today

Today, Mullens is a quiet community focused on heritage tourism. Norfolk Southern (NS, N&W successor since 1982) operates the Pocahontas Division through Mullens, running occasional coal and freight trains amid declining volumes. The Mullens Historic District, listed in 1993, preserves brick buildings, complemented by a caboose museum and the annual Dogwood Festival in May. Recovery from the 2001 flood continues, with tourism, outdoor recreation, and small businesses sustaining the town’s economy, honoring its rail and coal legacy.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the collective railroad history data points on this website are verified across multiple sources.

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Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the railroads or model railroading.

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