The railroad builds a large yard with a five-stall engine house and turntable at Peach Creek, west of Logan. The facilities are enlarged in 1918 and again in 1921. 1950s Railroads switch from steam to diesel locomotives. Passenger service to Logan ends. Many railroad regulations are removed with passage of the Staggers Act, named for West Virginia Congressman Harley O. Staggers.
Freight railroads begin to revive.
1987 Conrail becomes a for-profit company. Norfolk Southern and CSX take over most of Conrail. A train crew included a fireman, an engineer, a conductor and two brakemen. The paperwork that once was handled by an army of clerks now is handled by computers. Automation was perhaps the biggest change in railroading during Clemons' career, which began in 1964 when he got a job at New York Central's Broad Street yard in Charleston.