The KV&O started when it acquired Dent yards and the Leatherwood branch from the L&N in 1935. KV&O went to L&N about acquiring the yard and branch line due to L&N didn't see the business on this branch line that it hoped for, and the locomotives and equipment were being serviced at Hazard, KY and L&N didn't have use for the yards and it was going to abandoned and the yard and have it torn up. Once an agreement was made and the KV&O acquired the yard and Leatherwood branch line. A small locomotive/car shop with a transfer table was built where the KV&O were able to build their own fleet of coal cars. Dent yard already had a turntable and a locomotive facility.

The tracks on the Leatherwood Branch ended at milepost 0LF269.7. This was also the location of Blue Diamond Coal Company's Preparation Plant. The KV&O saw potential on the Leatherwood branch and soon was able to bring in 3 other coal companies, Southeast Coal, D&D Mining and Steel, Cypress Coal Company, and a logging company Dinky Lumber company on the Leatherwood branch. It didn't stop there. In the early 1940s, the line was extended the line another 35 miles to Loyall, KY to interchange with the L&N at their yard there. The L&N tracks of the CV and the tracks to KV&O were only 8 miles apart but due to the grades of having to climb Black Mountian, the tracks had to wind through the mountains to keep a consistent grade. Even with the extra miles added the grade was still between 1.8 and 2.2 percent.

With the extra miles of track come other problems the KV&O didn't expect. Due to a forest fire caused by a steam locomotive, KV&O had to come up with another form of power for use on Black Mountain. KV&O researched their options and decided to electrify the line over Black Mountain. 4 Bi-Polars were purchased from Milwaukee Road. A coal fire powerplant for the electrified line was built at the summit of Cumberland mountain. This move turned out better than the KV&O expected and soon the electrified line was extended a total of 150 miles. Over the years the electrified line saw Boxcabs, and Little Joes that were built on the same design as the Milwaukee Road locomotives, and GG1s from the Pennsylvania Railroad. Also purchased from GE was 4 axles locomotive called Rectifiers for use on the branch lines and later E33 for use on the mile line. A few other types of electrified locomotives were built in the KV&O shops at Dent but none went into mass production. These locomotives were only used on the KV&O.

Timeline

1930

1935: The Kentucky, Virginia & Ohio Railroad (KV&O) was started On May 31, 1935, when a group of investors purchased 11 miles of trackage off the L&N Railroad in Eastern Kentucky.

Along with the trackage, KV&O also purchased 3 locomotives. 2 Baldwin 0-8-0 was purchased off L&N Railroad, and one Bladwin 0-6-0 off an unknown railroad. Throughout the next 5 years, 15 more steam locomotives were purchased from other railroads including C&O, B&O, V&O & the L&N to name a few.

1940

1941: KV&O extended the Leatherwood branch to Loyall, KY where an interchange with the L&N was made.

1946: KV&O decided to electrify the Black Mountain line due to a forest fire that was started by a passing steam locomotive. 4 Bi-Polars were purchased from the Milwaukee Road. A coal fire powerplant for the electrified line was built at the summit of Cumberland mountain. The overhead wire was 25 feet from the top of the rail and was 3400 volts. 6 Substation was built throughout the 150-mile line.

1949: KV&O Purchased the Southern end of the Rockhouse from the L&N. This included the mainline going to Deane, KY, and also the Whitesburg Branch.

1950

1953: Diesel locomotives came to the KV&O Railroad, for trail runs. Alco arranged for L&N to lone units FA2 #352, FA2 #356 & FB2 #201 and borrowed from the C&O an Alco RSD5 5583, and Alco also sent their demonstrator RS3 #1607 for a few weeks before sending it to the Interstate Railroad. Being impressed with the operations of the diesel locomotives compared to the operation of the steam locomotives. In January 1954 the KV&O purchased 2 sets of FA2-FB2-FA2 units and 4 Alco RS3 units. The larger 6 axle unit did good on the mainline but showed to be too big for some of the narrow curves on some of the branch lines.

1957: Business looked good for the KV&O railroad, but a big change came. 2 Short lines were purchased. Southern Ohio Railroad in Ohio and the other in Virginia the Virginia Western Railroad. With the purchase of the shortline in Virginia, a link to the Interstate Railroad was made at Roda, VA. where a small interchange yard was built.

1959: KV&O made a bold move and purchased the Virginian Railway. The reason for this was so it could export the coal, mined from Eastern KY to the coal docks at Sewalls Point, WV. The Virginian Railway retain its identity but was fully owned by the KV&O.

1960

In the 1960's many used locomotives were purchased along with tracks from the L&N, C&O, and N&W. A connection was also made with the Virginian line between Deane, KY, and Gilbert, WV.

1966: Most steam power locomotives were retired. Baldwin 2-8-2 #12 was kept for excursion and Baldwin 2-8-0 #10 is on display at the KV&O main office in Kentucky. Alco 2-6-6-2 #23 was retired in 1967 along with Alco 2-8-8-2 #20.

1967 3 Boxcab sets were purchased from Milwaukee Road

1970

1974 5 Little Joes were purchased and built on the same specifications as the Milwaukee Road.

This is a work of fiction. None of the locations exist in real life.