West of Sand
PatchWest of Sand
PatchWe believe Somerset County, Pennsylvania, is one of the most beautiful parts of the northeast, and we try to spend a little time there whenever we go back home to visit the family. Not least of the scenic attractions is the historic ex-Baltimore and Ohio route that snakes along the Casselman river and surmounts Sand Patch grade on its way from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md. Most of the photos shown here came from one fruitful morning's shooting in May 1997. Currently, twenty-odd freights a day use this route, along with Amtrak's D.C.- Chicago Capitol Limited, and occasional Wheeling and Lake Erie trains running under trackage rights. For more information about railfanning this area, see the May 1998 issue of the excellent Railpace Newsmagazine.
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We grew up an hour's drive away from Sand Patch, and made a few forays there during the Chessie era, but the proximity of Conrail's ex-Pennsy line, with its greater train frequency, meant that we neglected the old B & O further south. We did, however manage to catch this 'dog's breakfast' of Chessie, B & O and Western Maryland locomotives entering Rockwood, Pa on June 12, 1977. (Bo_4239.jpg; 80Kb) |
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Now that we live across an ocean from the region, we have become more appreciative of Sand Patch and try to visit the area at least once a year. On our '95 trip, we found this lashup, including a GP40(?) (still in Seaboard Coast Line black) dragging an eastbound over the crest of the grade. Out of sight at the tail end is an SD40-2 helper. May 17, 1995; (CS_7614.JPG; 99Kb) |
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The rumble of a westbound wakes up the neighborhood as it threads its way through Meyersdale, PA early in the morning of May 12, 1997. (CS_6593.JPG; 86Kb) |
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A mile or so further west and an hour or so later, an eastbound behind SD50 and C36-7 power passes over US 219 to enter Meyersdale. (CS_8634.JPG; 88Kb) |
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Next up eastbound, again on May 12, 1997, is Amtrak's Capitol Limited, led by 'Genesis' 16 and a F40. This day's edition featured the private car 'Caritas' carrying the markers. (ATK_016.JPG; 80Kb) |
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Back to Rockwood again, and another eastbound, behind a pair of SD40-2's, just getting under way after being held for priority traffic. (CS_8174.JPG; 67Kb) |
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Catch of the day, and pure dumb luck on our part, was a rare grain extra of the Wheeling and Lake Erie, with a SD40 and 3 high-nosed GP35's giving their all as they start up the grade just west of Meyersdale. While W&LE intermodal trains were using the same route at that time, they generally had run-through Norfolk Southern power. (WE_3072.JPG; 82Kb). |
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Around noon we headed north toward the family home. Somerset, on the C & S sub which branches from the main at Rockwood, is on the way, and there we caught this freight, headed for Johnstown. The second unit is a slug converted from a GP35. (CS_6432.JPG; 73Kb) |