Eastern Railroad Discussion > In and Around Keyser, WV - 23 & 24 September 2017

Saturday, the 23rd. of September started off with the 6 year old wanting to see his favorite locomotive, the #502 at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.

1) WMSR GP30 #502 departing the WMSR shop complex in Ridgeley, WV. Rumours have it that the #501 is being repainted into a WM inspired "Circus" paint scheme.. We rode down to the shop but didn't see the #501 from the road.

2) #502 on the road just east of the tunnel. (Took a stroll to walk off a Roy Roger's Breakfast)

3) WMSR #502 arriving at Frostburg, MD

... More to Follow ....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/17 04:55 by DTWilson.

---

---

---

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has been actively performing body work and repainting the passenger car fleet.

Couple examples at Ridgeley, WV as the train heads over to the Cumberland, MD Station

... More to Follow ....

---

---

---

1) Returning to town we encountered the local out of Beryl, WV bringing the outbound traffic into the yard at Keyser, WV. Q316-22 will later pick up the cars to taken them on to Cumberland.

2) Q317-23 westbound at Dawson, MD. 524 axles over the Defect Detector. 64 cars will be set out at Keyser to reduce tonnage along with 2 cars for the WVC Junction yard.

3) Q317-23 westbound at Keyser, WV

... More to Follow ....

---

---

---

Last train for Saturday during daylight...

B772-23 returns eastbound at Keymont, WV with 47 cars from Grafton. The cars and rear 2 engines will be picked up later by an eastbound train to be taken to Cumberland.

... More to Follow ....

---

Sunday the 24th. would be a busy day on the Mountain Sub. during the daylight hours. 4 empty westbound hopper trains, both Q317 and Q316 and the B772 in both directions between Keyser and Grafton, WV.

1) and 2) - 3 months ago you would be hard pressed to find a freight car in the east yard at Keyser, doing so would be an extremely rare event.... now it's rare to see a coal hopper whether loaded or empty in this part of the yard.

Q316-22 (right) on track #2 pulls past the B772-23 (left) sitting on the eastbound siding. The Freight Cars in the background on tracks RC1 and RC2 will all have to go west to Grafton in a B772 in the days to come. The Cars on the eastbound siding still need to travel east to Cumberland.

3) Q316-22 eastbound at 21st. Bridge Rd., MD.

... More to Follow ....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/17 04:29 by DTWilson.

---

---

---

Late Morning sun kills any real chance at a westbound out of Keyser so I gave a new vantage point at try. Last year, a section of the hillside above Rt. 135 in Westernport, MD slid out and collapsed on the roadway. Extensive "Rock Pinning", Grouting, and re-contouring the hillside was done to correct the issue. The result is a wide open view at the end of Popular Street in Westernport, MD overlooking the City of Piedmont, WV.

1) B772-24 at the Child's Ave crossing in Piedmont, WV

2) B772-24 passing in front of the former B&O RR Station in Piedmont.

3) Westbound at Piedmont, the B772-24 heads fro Grafton and will return later in the evening with eastbound traffic for Cumberland, MD.

... More to Follow ....

---

---

---

Two of the Four Empty hopper trains to pass thru the area in the daylight hours.

1) E735-22 westbound at Dawson, WV with 88 cars.

2) E780-23 with 130 cars, westbound at 21st. Bridge Rd., MD.

... More to Follow ....

---

---

While at my part-time gig, the messages started flowing in from the west and east that a KCS unit was leading the Q317-24. As soon as I could get away from batching drugs, I headed track side.... the benefits of having a part-time gig where I set my own hours and can come and go as I please and that is 200 yards from track side.....

1) and 2) KCS ES44AC #4381 leading Q317-24 at 21st. Bridge Rd., MD.

3) Q317-24 setting out their "Tonnage Reduction" cars in the east yard at Keyser, WV. These cars will eventually head west to Grafton in a B772 train.

... More to Follow ....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/17 04:48 by DTWilson.

---

---

---

1) B772-24 returns from Grafton with 42 cars for Cumberland, MD. With no room in the east yard, they will be forced to shove their train into the Freight Track (foreground track) at Keyser.

2) SHUNKED..... Hearing the approaching empty hopper train E788-24, I planned on catching them passing thru the plant and then able to get them passing the B772........ but it didn't work out that way. The Local got the light to pull forward to position for the shove into the freight just before the emptyman arrived. If I had stayed where I normally shoot from I would had at least got the two trains together........

3) The day ends with B772-24 shoving their train onto the Freight Track at Keyser, WV.

---

---

---

Hard to choose, but #13 shot with 868 pulling.

"A+" coverage - Image one just pops out of the screen with its 3-D look.
Bob

Nice pics..!!

As usual all your photos are excellent and keeps us informed of what CSX is doing in your area. One question that bothers me is why is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad bothering to paint their passenger cars at this time? The reason why I'm asking is that paint costs money, and they continue to ask for more donations to finish the steam locomotive 1309. Could they not be using the money they are spending on paint and labor for the steam engine? Do you know the answer? Thanks BTWilson.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Another wonderful post. I will echo Bob's comment on photo #1.
John

ClubCar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As usual all your photos are excellent and keeps
> us informed of what CSX is doing in your area.
> One question that bothers me is why is the Western
> Maryland Scenic Railroad bothering to paint their
> passenger cars at this time? The reason why I'm
> asking is that paint costs money, and they
> continue to ask for more donations to finish the
> steam locomotive 1309. Could they not be using
> the money they are spending on paint and labor for
> the steam engine? Do you know the answer? Thanks
> BTWilson.
> John in White Marsh, Maryland

John, I really can't answer that question. I gave up long ago trying to figure out the WMSR.

They are always asking for money to complete projects but they are constantly adding new projects and yet to finish any... The list of unfinished projects is long... From 1309 to the WM business car to the restored signals. Just a bunch of unfinished projects...and a constantly looking for a handout.

Posted from Android

Sounds like "Precision Railroading" to me!?!? More like, precisely messed up; customers might get there cars... when... CSX gets around to moving them further....

Hey D.T., where is that surfacing outfit working?

DubyaM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey D.T., where is that surfacing outfit working?


They moved on... they were on 17-Mile Grade last week. Not sure where they went to.

Tim.