West Virginian (Amtrak train)

West Virginian
The Potomac Special at Grafton, West Virginia in 1972
Overview
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleWest Virginia
First serviceSeptember 8, 1971 (1971-09-08)
Last serviceApril 28, 1973 (1973-04-28)
SuccessorBlue Ridge
Former operator(s)Amtrak
Route
TerminiWashington, D.C.
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Technical
Track owner(s)Baltimore & Ohio

The West Virginian, later known as the Potomac Turbo and Potomac Special, was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak between Washington, D.C., and Parkersburg, West Virginia. This route was previously served by the Baltimore & Ohio's (B&O) train of the same name, and was the first of several services in the state of West Virginia established at the behest of US Representative Harley Orrin Staggers (D-West Virginia), the powerful chair of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. This patronage earned the train the derisive sobriquets "Harley's Hornet" and the "Staggers Special".