Welcome to my 5 part series railfanning the famed sand patch on csx. Dropping over 1,000 feet 300 m in about 20 miles 32 km and with grades as much as 2%, 2 sand patch grade is one of the steepest railroad grades on the east coast. Oct 04, 2005 i have to say, our 4 days spent railfanning sand patch was a 100% success. The village of sand patch after keystone, your next stop is the village of sand patch. Sand patch, pa monsat hyndman helper b247 cumberland, md sand patch, pa tuesun hyndman helper b248 cumberland, md sand patch, pa satthr hyndman helper b251 connellsville, pa sand patch, pa daily connellsville pusher b253 connellsville, pa sand patch, pa daily connellsville pusher b701 benning, dc landover, md monfri benning local. Sand patch tunnel, northeast of state route 2006, sand patch, somerset county, pa contributor names historic american engineering record, creator kerbaugh construction company. Into the allegheny range volume 4 sand patch 2disc dvd. Amtraks capitol limited between washington and chicago will be running on a modified schedule for the next four days after a csx transportation freight train derailed more than 30 cars east of sand patch near hyndman, pa. Built to a gauge of 3feet, 6 inches, which later became recognized as narrowgauge, it handled coal from a mine near mauch chunk jim thorpe. Now it just has csx but the railroad heritage of meyersdale is visible everywhere in the town. So, this weeks blog is a continuation of the best railfanning spots in southwestern pennsylvania.
This is the sand patch grade at its best, in mid october 1999 when the fall colors were at their peak. Eastern pennsylvania rail page photos, employee timetables, and more. New jersey, pennsylvania and maryland railfanning trip. Last week, i blogged some of the best locals in southwestern pennsylvania. You can likely expect about 1012 trains in daylight between 8am and 6pm with a little heavier traffic on. Many locations are open late and on saturdays to accommodate your schedule.
Posted by paulbaumgartner on tuesday, october 4, 2005 9. Although small compared to other yards, taylor is by all means a railfans yard. On 1010101115, i took a trip to western marylandpennsylvania with some good friends to do some railfanning on the csx keystone sub, which runs from cumberland, mdmckeesport, pa. Railfanning with the bednars volume 5 in volume 5 of railfanning with the bednars, we looked at the last 10 months of operation before conrail. Cumberland, md and back up through piscataway and the chemical coast. On three place, pages 11,12, and 46 a map is shown where sand patch is clearly labeled as being between harpers ferry and cumberland, md. You can likely expect about 1012 trains in daylight between 8am and 6pm with a little heavier traffic on weekends. Amtrak capitol limited schedule modified after sand patch. Plus, youll see the last train to ever run on the old berlin subdivision out of garrett, pennsylvania. Bethlehem, harrisburg, altoona, and sand patch, pa. Csx over sand patch cumberland to meyersdale railfandepot. Into the allegheny range, part 4, sand patch railfandepot. The area is unique because of the combination of mountain railroading and the density and variety of its traffic. Yes, i had already been out railfanning every weekend in april, and yes, i had just been to pennsylvania in may to ride the vosburg flyer excursion.
The train stopped with the helper right in front of the house. Pennsylvania railroads and railfanning in the keystone state. The bednar gang also makes a visit to western pa to capture the penn central at horse shoe curve and other well known railfanning locations on the pc. Csx sand patch grade central penn rail productions. This is the cumberland sand patch connellsville pittsburgh main line, so youll see some. Sand patch railfanning trains magazine trains news. This is the sand patch grade at its best, in mid october. Really nice placeand every time i visited i met some really nice local people. Dropping over 1,000 feet 300 m in about 20 miles 32 km and with grades as much as 2%, sand patch grade is one of the steepest railroad grades on the east coast. Meyesdale, pa and salisbury junction is the location of the salisbury mine spur. A trio of ges is in charge with u33c 8502 leading two others, including what looks like a u28cg displaced from passenger service with the formation of amtrak. This train was powered by a pair of nowcommon ge c408ws on october 25, 1991. Sand patch grade is the first route in train sim world.
This shot is one of my very first slides, from may 1999, and caught an eastbound climbing the grade just below sand patch. He also caught trains at hyndman, pennsylvania, with the tower still operational, at fairhope and mance, pennsylvania and at sand patch. Detailing what traffic you would expect to see by each hotspot. Railfanning with the bednars volume 7 john pechulis media.
Amtrak spokeswoman kimberly woods tells trains news wire eastbound train no. After returning from western pa, we chase the brand new ge u23bs from palmerton to laurel run, pa. You get some nice freights out in the mountains of paand cumberland, md is just a stones throw away. Deteriorated facilities, uncertainty and turmoil made for some of the darkest days on the railroads. With its many curves, tunnels and hills, the sandpatch grade makes for some entertaining rail fanning. Nov 19, 2014 last week, i blogged some of the best locals in southwestern pennsylvania. Youll even ride on a pusher engine shoving an eastbound freight from connellsville, pennsylvania, up the west slope to the summit at sand patch. After crossing tracks at grade, look for road that goes off to right up to the tracks. Youll visit towers, tunnels, and obscure branch lines. Connellsville pa on csx is about 10 minutes from mt pleasant. From meyrsdale business 219 goes to the salisbury viaduct which is now a hiker biker trail. Possibly noteworthy is that csx 7332 is the seaboarddecal.
My dad was in chillicothe, il for some midday railfanning in 1971 while residing in peoria. Into the allegheny range volume 4 sand patch 2disc dvd rrvideoman delisle saskatchewan on 20200330 12. Amtrak capitol limited schedule modified after sand. Before the eastbound amtrak rolled into town, this westbound came screeching in for a crew change. Sand patch grade is located in the southern alleghenies in pennsylvania. Plus the railfans and locals along csx are very hospitable. Westbound csx train q261 climbs the sand patch grade at foley overlook, near fairhope, pa. It is one of the legendary meccas for american railfans.
As to security i have never encountered any rail cops in all of my many visits to sand patch, nevertheless it is well to stay on public property. The sand patch tunnel now used by csx is the second railroad tunnel constructed through the eastern continental divide at sand patch. Railpace news magazine july 1998 west slope sand patch dandh 175 anniversary m2795. The salisbury mine is a small operation which generates a few small to medium coal trains. Sitting on the eastbound siding is a loaded coal train with engines 4356 and 4060 on the point. Taken from the western marylands salisbury viaduct, r39624 heads eastbound with its auto parts train towards the summit at sand patch. A paved road turns west off pa 160 which goes to sand patch, keystone, and meyersdale. Climbing north and west from cumberland, maryland the line travels 100 miles of grades and curves over the allegheny mountains to pittsburgh, pa. Railroad lodging, railroad hotels, trackside motels. Csx 7332 and 7705 the helpers from train q35805 are heading back west at snowcovered sand patch, pa. For class i action, csx at sand patch is a close 2nd to horseshoe. It is written to allow you to start at us219 business, get to summit, and travel along the area to past the junction where the frostburg line used to diverge, to back onto state road 2006. Hi im a railfan from appleton wisconsin and i make frequent trips around wisconsin and other places like rochelle illinois. Sand patch requires more patience, but in 25 years of visits ive never regretted the trip.
Library of congress repository library of congress prints and photographs division washington, d. Railpace news magazine july 1993 railfanning luzerne county pa ny central m1465. Csx keystone sub sand patch grade in pennsylvania 10. The garrett sub trackage extends off to the north here. At the summit of the alleghenies, r39725 heads west past sa tower at sand patch, pa. The goal of this website is to maximize your railfanning experience while visiting reading, pa by. A loaded coal train is tied down on the eastward siding. Possibly noteworthy is that csx 7332 is the seaboarddecal engine, and this pair of c408ws are recent repaints. Extra 3699 west is cresting the hill and will soon stop to cut off the helpers. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use. The double track route starts in the east at hyndman, pa, crests at 2,258 feet, and continues downgrade to the west of confluence, pa and points west.
Schematic map of railroads in greater pittsburgh as of early 2016. But executive vice president of operations ed harris, who joined the railroad this month. This hour long production takes you to some of the main railfanning locations found along the east and west slopes between hyndman, pa and. In the late 70s, conrail began the major transition to unify and make operations more efficient.
These areas are a bit farther from pittsburgh, but are still within a few hours the city. Rrenorthern central photographers special by carl perelman 44. Best railfan location better than horseshoe curve area. I have to say, our 4 days spent railfanning sand patch was a 100% success. Railfan, railfanwhere do you see trains in pennsylvania. Aug 29, 2010 welcome to my 5 part series railfanning the famed sand patch on csx. This is the western approach to sand patch at the base of the allegheny mountains. Oct 26, 2015 on 1010101115, i took a trip to western marylandpennsylvania with some good friends to do some railfanning on the csx keystone sub, which runs from cumberland, mdmckeesport, pa. With a washboard grade, first quarter 2020 maximum grade of 1. Railfanning with the bednars volume 7 continues our tour with the bednar boys during the conrail transition in 1978, 1979. The norfolk southern route from altoona to johnstown includes some of the steepest mainline grades east of the mississippi. Three photos, alex mayes trying to come up with just 10 favorite trainwatching spots posed a challenge for me, as i have a lot of favorite spots, all of which have their particular characteristics. A disastrous freight wreck, attended by loss of life, occurred at philson station, near sand patch on the eastern slope of the mountains on the baltimore and ohio railroad at 12. Sand patch railfanning trains magazine trains news wire.
Kamuda was even able to film from inside viaduct junction tower in cumberland and in sand patch tower. Sand patch grade is an approximately 100milelong 160 km section of railroad track known for its steep grades and curves through the allegheny mountains of pennsylvania and maryland. You get some nice freights out in the mountains of pa and cumberland, md is just a stones throw away. Railpace july for sale collectibles for everything. Sand patch a mini tour august, 2000 webmasters note. Our route took us through piscataway, nj where we shot a bunch of conrail shared assets moves. With a work crew of about 1,000 men, the second sand patch tunnel, measuring nearly 4,000 in length, was erected in 19111912. Sand patch tunnel, northeast of state route 2006, sand. The shipping specialists at fedex ship center locations in sand patch, pa can help you choose a delivery service, complete documentation and process your packages. Extra 4222 west is pulling through sand patch with an empty coal train on june 26, 1980. This helper set will be held at sand patch until a heavy. Three of the four feed from the same trough known as taylor yard 2. Welcome to the sand patch guide at high iron online.
They began consolidating and rebuilding the ailing former anthracite railro. Tom murray and i spent some time traveling around new jersey, pennsylvania and maryland this past october. However, maps on the internet place the grade on the opposite side of the line between cumberland, md, and connellsville, pa. That post just didnt do the pittsburgh region justice, however. The mountain subdivision is a railroad line owned and operated by csx transportation in the u. Keystone viaduct between sand patch and meyersdale. The best railfanning spots in southwestern pennsylvania.
Giving you explicit photo opportunity tips for each hotspot. This is the busiest helper district in the eastern us. What follows is a short description of railfanning the sand patch grade summit area. On 1010101115, i took a trip to western maryland pennsylvania with some good friends to do some railfanning on the csx keystone sub, which runs from cumberland, mdmckeesport, pa. Sand patch guide railfan guide and photos to csxs sand patch grade summit.
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