The West Virginia Midland Railroad was chartered in 1905 with initial capital of $500,000. Executives planned to build a railroad from Sutton on the B&O Railroad southwest via Webster Springs to Marlington, a distance of about 50miles. Incorporators were Col. John T. McGraw of Grafton, former Congressman C. P. Dorr, J.E. Woddell of Webster Springs, G. A. Hechner of Palmer, and C. D. Elliott of Parkersburg.[1]