Nostalgia & History > 39 yrs ago - wrapping up our 3 day trip on the B&O

6/27/81 was our last day on the Mountain Sub for this trip.  The weather could not have been better.  First eastbound up Cranberry Grade at Rodemer,WV. was a QDX Quick Dispatch Extra) with B&O 3805,6516,3826,4438 for power with one of the M&K Helper sets on the rear.  Not long after that B&O 3803,6595,7599,4345 came down through Rodemer Tunnel Cut with another set of Grafton Empties.

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Next down the hill at Rodemer was B&O 4187,3689,3711 on the St.Louis Jet.  As soon as the Jet cleared M&K Jct. at the bottom of Cranberry Grade, they ran a Work Extra up #1 track powered by WM 4316. We shot this guy on Salt Lick Curve in Terra Alta. Bottom shot of a 5-unit Coal Drag powered by C&O 4283,B&O 4206,B&O 6440,C&O 3533 and WM 7573 grinding upgrade at Tanners Road crossing in Rodemer,WV. (MP 246.2 Mtn Sub)  This S-curve is the steepest section on Cranberry Grade at 2.84%.

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We followed this Drag upgrade. Top shot west of McGuires,WV. at Muddy Cut (MP 244.2 Mtn Sub)  Middle shot of the M&K Helpers getting ready to cut off on the fly at Terra Alta.   Bottom shot of the light M&K Helpers returning back downgrade to Rowlesburg.

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Super trip and super photos.
Bob

We started to head back to Cumberland,MD. and stopped off at Swanton,MD. (MP 219.5) which is on 17 Mile Grade and caught another set of Grafton Empties.  Power was B&O 3828,C&O 8287,B&O 4192,B&O 4103. The C&O 8287 was a 2 month old B30-7 and at the time was a rare GE visitor to these parts.  B&O SD40-2  7606 was the 17 Mile Helper on this train and was put on at Keyser,WV. and will cut off when it reaches the top at Altamont,MD.  When we got to Keyser,WV. we found WM SD40 7595 working the east end of the yard.

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The scanner talk started to pick up as we arrived back in Cumberland,MD.  A Grain Train was headed east on the Main Line Sub and we intercepted it coming through the Narrows with B&O 4305,4253,3738 for power.  The Hyndman Helper (WM 7570,B&O 7605) was following behind heading to the Shops for servicing.  We stopped at Virginia Lane to watch the action at the west end of the yard. There was a small eastbound parade that began with another Coal Drag that pulled by the Car Checkers Shanty with B&O 4812,3697,4156.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/20 17:04 by perklocal.

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Next eastbound was #88 with WM 4363,B&O 6091,B&O 6666.  A 3 unit set of power B&O 6917,6606,3805 backed down and tied onto a cut of coal. They put on quite a smoke show as they drug these "XXX" hoppers east into the yard past Virginia Lane.

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The last train is great! Others are nice also.
RWJ

Roster shot of B&O GP30 6917 in fresh paint was too good to pass up.  Middle Shot of B&O 1827,6453 (SD7,GP9) that were working the yard.  Final shot of B&O 1830 another SD7 that was drilling cars at Virginia Lane.

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You certainly had a great day.
Thanks for the excellent post.
ALLEN

Fantastic images! Thanks for sharing.

Matthew

Cumberland Wrote:
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> Fantastic images! Thanks for sharing.
>
> Matthew
I agree with Matthew, thank you for sharing all these photos of B&O and WM.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

perklocal Wrote:
>  A Grain Train was headed east on the Main Line Sub and we intercepted it coming through the Narrows with B&O 4305,4253,3738 for power. 

This is one of the best series of photographs I've ever seen posted on TO. Well done.
I'm surprised, however, that no one has asked about the "Main Line Sub". But I do appreciate your getting it right.
/Ted

Outstanding! What a Great day:}

Nice shot of Jim Pick in the 7570. I forgot about all the stuff we saw on that trip

tom

Awesome,totally awesome! Thanks for taking us back!

You would get home from a trip like this and your ears would still be ringing from all that noise

tom