Baltimore and Ohio

This page will cover the B&O mainline from Harpers Ferry to the railroads major yard and terminal at Cumberland, Maryland.  The main follows along the Potomac River jumping from the West Virginia side over to Maryland several times.  The B&O primarily remained in West Virginia.

  4159 is eastbound at Kearneysville, West Virginia.

  GP-40-2 4298 passes through the small West Virginia town of Duffields.

  4198 is eastbound at Reedson, WV.

  4208 is eastbound with a solid grain extra at Hobbs, WV.

  Amtrak F40 275 brings the Cumberland to Washington, D.C. train east at Shenandoah Jct.

  The State of West Virginia erected this sign to recognize the history of the B&O in Martinsburg.

  GP30 6915 is assigned to the Speno track cleaning machine.

  Martinsburg is as far as local commuter trains run from Washington, D.C.

  SD-40-2 7617 waits alongside one of the two roundhouses.  These units were assigned to pusher service.

    This quartet of older GP9's is on a loaded coal train.

  "R" tower was located at Cherry Run, WV.  This is where the connection to the former Western Maryland is located.
In the very early morning light, 4058 roars east after getting the signal.  October 14, 1980.

  The tracks in the foreground are the WM connection.  After the original WM line to Cumberland was removed,
all through freights to Cumberland were routed over the B&O main.

  Passing through a town as appropriate as its name, 4143 heads east on track one at Sleepy Creek, WV.

  A little while later, 4119 heads west on the same track just east of Hancock.

  "HO" tower is located in Hancock, WV.  It remained active until fairly recently and was torn down in 2008.

  The former passenger station at Hancock.  November 1, 1981.

  Older GP40 3697 and a GP9 move a coal train east a few miles west of Hancock.  I don't remember the significance
of the three large "X"'s on those hoppers.  Obviously its not what some may think!

  After Hancock, the road takes the long way up and over a mountain range.  A side road will bring you down to this small
town known as Orleans Road, WV.  It is here that the Magnolia Cut-Off begins.  The original mainline followed along the banks of the
Potomac River as it meandered through the mountain ranges.  This serpentine line was acceptable at the time, but it added many miles and
travel time.  The B&O hired engineer James Graham to design and build at more direct route.  He basically straight-lined the railroad by
tunneling through the mountains and bridging the river several times.  Thus the main crosses back and forth between West Virginia and 
Maryland every few miles.  The original main has become a local back road and service road for railroad maintenance workers.  It is a
rough gravel road and I do believe it remains open to the public. 

  A nice feature of the cut-off is the naming and dating of each tunnel.  4203 is westbound.  11-1-81.

In an open spot known as Hanstrote, 4293 passes a classic B&O signal at the cross-overs.

  Amtrak F40 278 leads the Washington, D.C. bound Capital Limited.  Known as train # 440 at the time.

    4158 is eastbound a few minutes behind the Amtrak train.  11-1-1981.

    These photos clearly illustrate the engineering of the Magnolia cut-off.  This location is known as
Magnolia.  The very under-powered eastbound coal train is crossing back into West Virginia.  The tunnel is in Maryland and there is another
bridge over the river on the other side of the tunnel.  So the engines are in WV, the middle in Maryland and the caboose in WV.       
With all that settled, I cannot tell you how awesome the sound of this train was.  You could hear it for quite some time before due to the
very, very rural location.  Oh yeah, make sure you have provisions before exploring this area !  The deafening roar of the GP38 and
the mighty GP9 trying to make at least 25 mph was spectacular.  November 1, 1981.

On October 14, 1980 the big hook has been called for derailment near Hancock.  3808 leads the wreck train passing
through Paw Paw, WV.  Paw Paw is at the western end of the cut-off and is where you regain civilization. 

    GP40 3797 is again heading east with more triple X hoppers at Paw Paw on 11-1-1981.
The tunnel in the distance is called Caruthers Tunnel.

    We are nearing Cumberland now as this eastbound coal train with a C&O GP40 leading passes under
the bridge carrying the former WM mainline.  The WM which paralleled the B&O but more so on the Maryland side, crossed over the B&O
to their own yard in Cumberland.  Much of their yard was in portions of West Virginia, however.  In the going away photo you can see the
bridge over the Potomac that will take the main back over onto the West Virginia side as Cumberland is in Maryland.  10-14-1980.
With the wreck train ahead of this train, he probably didn't get very far. 

    Amtrak's Sunday afternoon "Blue Ridge" to Washington, D.C. is passing through the very east end of
the Cumberland Yard.  The tower in the distance is Mexico or "MO" tower.  The E8 is former B&O 1454 so it is on home turf.
These photos taken September 15, 1974.

Cumberland Yard to come soon.............

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