Thurmond, Fayette County, West Virginia. on the New River. During the heyday of the coal mining in the New River Gorge. Thurmond was a prosperous town with a number of businesses and facilities for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway... ... shipments of coal from the surrounding coal fields. The town of Thurmond grew as the coal and timber industries expanded in the gorge. The railroad expanded the rail yard to meet the railroad's needs. 1910, Thurmond was the chief railroad center on the C& O Railway mainline. 1910, Thurmond was the 1st in revenue receipts. It produced more freight tonnage than Cincinnati, Ohio and Richmond, VA combined. Freight was not the only key to this town's success. 7,500 passengers passed through Thurmond in 1910. Some visited as tourists, delighting in all Thurmond had to offer. Other came for business or new job opportunities. Peak of Thurmond, had 2 hotels and 2 banks. downtown area had restaurants, clothing stores, jewelry store, and dry-good stor