CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- My parents had a summer camp up Elk River and I remember my childhood sense of wonder as we passed by the Cobb Compressor Station, which at one time was considered the largest natural-gas compressor station in the world.

Seen here on the Elk River Road just past Clendenin, the water reservoir is part of the cooling operations and the Elk River is out of view behind the station.

In our age of energy shortages, there is great interest in the vast stores of natural gas beneath West Virginia - and it will take more Cobb stations to move that gas along the network of pipelines to the nation.

Since the 1920s, Cobb Station has done and is still doing its job -- now with modern technology, of course. Plan a Sunday ride up Elk and take a look.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- My parents had a summer camp up Elk River and I remember my childhood sense of wonder as we passed by the Cobb Compressor Station, which at one time was considered the largest natural-gas compressor station in the world.

Seen here on the Elk River Road just past Clendenin, the water reservoir is part of the cooling operations and the Elk River is out of view behind the station.

In our age of energy shortages, there is great interest in the vast stores of natural gas beneath West Virginia - and it will take more Cobb stations to move that gas along the network of pipelines to the nation.

Since the 1920s, Cobb Station has done and is still doing its job -- now with modern technology, of course. Plan a Sunday ride up Elk and take a look.