Eastern Railroad Discussion > What happened to the Elkins Branch in WV?

Former Western Maryland line from Cumberland to Elkins.
Thanks
Andy

Blackwater Canyon ... did that make it
to the 1980s? Do I remember it was
water-damaged in some 1970s storm?

twropr Wrote:
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> Former Western Maryland line from Cumberland to
> Elkins.
> Thanks
> Andy
That line was abandoned from the area of Bayard, West Virginia through the Blackwater Canyon down to Elkins, West Virginia because of a severe flood in the Blackwater Canyon in 1985.  The CSX line from Cumberland, Maryland to Bayard is known as the Thomas Subdivision even though the railroad no longer goes into Thomas, West Virginia any more.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

ClubCar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> twropr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Former Western Maryland line from Cumberland to
> > Elkins.
> > Thanks
> > Andy
> That line was abandoned from the area of Bayard,
> West Virginia through the Blackwater Canyon down
> to Elkins, West Virginia because of a severe flood
> in the Blackwater Canyon in 1985.  The CSX line
> from Cumberland, Maryland to Bayard is known as
> the Thomas Subdivision even though the railroad no
> longer goes into Thomas, West Virginia any more.
> John in White Marsh, Maryland
Club it would help to do a little research before you answer, you are wrong about the flood, the railroad in Parsons was aleady out of service since 9/30/1983, which was the last through train over Black Fork Grade.
The CSX Thomas Sub begins in Piedmont, WV.,with a long lead into the former WM yard at West VA Central Jct. The former WM is abandoned from the end of WMSR track in Ridgeley all the way to McCoole, MD.
Used to be a guy on here named DTWilson, who did a superb job until last August keeping the TO crowd informed about the railroading left on these lines. Tim passed suddenly, but his material is still availble on here.
Beyond that, here's a website that might be useful: wmwestsub.us.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/24 17:40 by bigsavage.

Now that I looked at the map, I'm wondering
about this branch that climbed out of Thomas,
southward then eastward

ACME Mapper 2.2 - 37.3 km NE of Elkins WV

Why does the map show a few miles of double track?

timz Wrote:
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> Now that I looked at the map, I'm wondering
> about this branch that climbed out of Thomas,
> southward then eastward
>
> ACME Mapper 2.2 - 37.3 km NE of Elkins WV
>
> Why does the map show a few miles of double track?

Appears to be the old Francis branch that served a couples mines long ago.