Montgomery, WV (MNG)

Ticket Revenue

FY 2011

$31,823

Station Ridership

FY 2011

473

Note: Fiscal year is from
October through September.

The Amtrak stop in Montgomery consists of a small modern metal canopy, built around 2003, on the platform which is fenced from the surrounding streets with decorative wrought iron and landscaped with potted plants. The former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O, now CSXT) tracks run between Second and Third Avenues in the center of this small town. A brick depot of early 20th century style was torn down by the C&O in the 1970s. After Amtrak took over passenger rail service on this route on May 1, 1971, many stations that did not immediately become Amtrak stops were removed by the C&O to reduce property taxes. This stop was reinstated some time after the removal of the station because of the proximity of the West Virginia Institute of Technology.

Montgomery is situated on the south bank of the Kanawha River on land acquired by Levi Morris, son of the first permanent settler in the Great Kanawha Valley, and is 27 miles southeast of Charleston, the state capital.

The Coal Valley Company originally platted the town in 1876, changing its name from Montgomery’s Landing to Coal Valley. Until 1890, the C&O stop at what we know as Montgomery today was called Cannelton, which was actually the name of the post office across the Kanawha River. Although the town was first incorporated as Coal Valley, it was renamed to Montgomery in 1891, in honor of its founder.

The city’s growth was influenced by the construction of the Kanawha & Michigan Railroad on the opposite side of the river, the erection of a new bridge across the river, and the connection of the Virginian Railway with the C&O, at Deepwater, a few miles from Montgomery. By the early 1910s, Montgomery had become the shipping center for 26 coal operations, and was the largest town in Fayette County.

The town is also well-known for the West Virginia Institute of Technology. It was founded as Montgomery Preparatory School in 1895 and began offering engineering degrees in 1952 as a four-year college. It has been part of West Virginia University since 1996, and a full division of that University since 2007, offering Bachelors degrees in engineering, business, medical sciences, and social studies.

The New River Excursion trains, which have run since 1966 every fall at peak foliage-viewing season, stop at the Montgomery station to board passengers. This is their last stop by these chartered Amtrak trains before entering the New River Gorge and continuing to Hinton.

The unstaffed Montgomery station does not have an enclosed waiting area, nor does Amtrak provide ticketing or help with baggage here.

Montgomery is served by tri-weekly trains.