Railfanning sand patch pa

However, maps on the internet place the grade on the opposite side of the line between cumberland, md, and connellsville, pa. Last week, i blogged some of the best locals in southwestern pennsylvania. Before the eastbound amtrak rolled into town, this westbound came screeching in for a crew change. Welcome to the sand patch guide at high iron online. 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. The salisbury mine is a small operation which generates a few small to medium coal trains. Sand patch requires more patience, but in 25 years of visits ive never regretted the trip. In the late 70s, conrail began the major transition to unify and make operations more efficient. You get some nice freights out in the mountains of paand cumberland, md is just a stones throw away. The mountain subdivision is a railroad line owned and operated by csx transportation in the u. 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. After returning from western pa, we chase the brand new ge u23bs from palmerton to laurel run, pa. 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. The sand patch tunnel now used by csx is the second railroad tunnel constructed through the eastern continental divide at sand patch.

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. 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. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use. Sand patch tunnel, northeast of state route 2006, sand patch, somerset county, pa contributor names historic american engineering record, creator kerbaugh construction company. These areas are a bit farther from pittsburgh, but are still within a few hours the city.

Plus the railfans and locals along csx are very hospitable. It is one of the legendary meccas for american railfans. 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. Many locations are open late and on saturdays to accommodate your schedule. At the summit of the alleghenies, r39725 heads west past sa tower at sand patch, pa. Railfanning with the bednars volume 7 continues our tour with the bednar boys during the conrail transition in 1978, 1979. Sand patch tunnel, northeast of state route 2006, sand. Extra 4222 west is pulling through sand patch with an empty coal train on june 26, 1980. Railpace news magazine july 1998 west slope sand patch dandh 175 anniversary m2795. Climbing north and west from cumberland, maryland the line travels 100 miles of grades and curves over the allegheny mountains to pittsburgh, pa. Amtrak spokeswoman kimberly woods tells trains news wire eastbound train no. 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. Detailing what traffic you would expect to see by each hotspot. Railpace news magazine july 1993 railfanning luzerne county pa ny central m1465.

Nov 19, 2014 last week, i blogged some of the best locals in southwestern pennsylvania. Connellsville pa on csx is about 10 minutes from mt pleasant. The garrett sub trackage extends off to the north here. Giving you explicit photo opportunity tips for each hotspot. Sitting on the eastbound siding is a loaded coal train with engines 4356 and 4060 on the point.

Sand patch railfanning trains magazine trains news. The village of sand patch after keystone, your next stop is the village of sand patch. I have to say, our 4 days spent railfanning sand patch was a 100% success. Taken from the western marylands salisbury viaduct, r39624 heads eastbound with its auto parts train towards the summit at sand patch. Sand patch grade is located in the southern alleghenies in pennsylvania. Railpace july for sale collectibles for everything. Sand patch railfanning trains magazine trains news wire.

So, this weeks blog is a continuation of the best railfanning spots in southwestern pennsylvania. After crossing tracks at grade, look for road that goes off to right up to the tracks. Sand patch guide railfan guide and photos to csxs sand patch grade summit. 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. With its many curves, tunnels and hills, the sandpatch grade makes for some entertaining rail fanning.

Csx over sand patch cumberland to meyersdale railfandepot. 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. That post just didnt do the pittsburgh region justice, however. Into the allegheny range, part 4, sand patch railfandepot. This is the cumberland sand patch connellsville pittsburgh main line, so youll see some. Youll even ride on a pusher engine shoving an eastbound freight from connellsville, pennsylvania, up the west slope to the summit at sand patch. You can likely expect about 1012 trains in daylight between 8am and 6pm with a little heavier traffic on weekends. What follows is a short description of railfanning the sand patch grade summit area. This hour long production takes you to some of the main railfanning locations found along the east and west slopes between hyndman, pa and. Csx sand patch grade central penn rail productions.

The goal of this website is to maximize your railfanning experience while visiting reading, pa by. Really nice placeand every time i visited i met some really nice local people. Into the allegheny range volume 4 sand patch 2disc dvd. From meyrsdale business 219 goes to the salisbury viaduct which is now a hiker biker trail. You can likely expect about 1012 trains in daylight between 8am and 6pm with a little heavier traffic on. Westbound csx train q261 climbs the sand patch grade at foley overlook, near fairhope, pa. This is the sand patch grade at its best, in mid october. The best railfanning spots in southwestern pennsylvania. Best railfan location better than horseshoe curve area. Csx 7332 and 7705 the helpers from train q35805 are heading back west at snowcovered sand patch, pa. 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. Rrenorthern central photographers special by carl perelman 44.

Our route took us through piscataway, nj where we shot a bunch of conrail shared assets moves. Bethlehem, harrisburg, altoona, and sand patch, pa. A paved road turns west off pa 160 which goes to sand patch, keystone, and meyersdale. For class i action, csx at sand patch is a close 2nd to horseshoe. This is the sand patch grade at its best, in mid october 1999 when the fall colors were at their peak. This is the western approach to sand patch at the base of the allegheny mountains. A loaded coal train is tied down on the eastward siding. He also caught trains at hyndman, pennsylvania, with the tower still operational, at fairhope and mance, pennsylvania and at sand patch. You get some nice freights out in the mountains of pa and cumberland, md is just a stones throw away. Sand patch a mini tour august, 2000 webmasters note.

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. Amtrak capitol limited schedule modified after sand patch. With a work crew of about 1,000 men, the second sand patch tunnel, measuring nearly 4,000 in length, was erected in 19111912. Aug 29, 2010 welcome to my 5 part series railfanning the famed sand patch on csx. Welcome to my 5 part series railfanning the famed sand patch on csx. Tom murray and i spent some time traveling around new jersey, pennsylvania and maryland this past october. 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.

The norfolk southern route from altoona to johnstown includes some of the steepest mainline grades east of the mississippi. Meyesdale, pa and salisbury junction is the location of the salisbury mine spur. Eastern pennsylvania rail page photos, employee timetables, and more. 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. Posted by paulbaumgartner on tuesday, october 4, 2005 9.

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. Railfanning with the bednars volume 7 john pechulis media. Although small compared to other yards, taylor is by all means a railfans yard. This helper set will be held at sand patch until a heavy. The train stopped with the helper right in front of the house. Pennsylvania railroads and railfanning in the keystone state. Oct 04, 2005 i have to say, our 4 days spent railfanning sand patch was a 100% success. Into the allegheny range volume 4 sand patch 2disc dvd rrvideoman delisle saskatchewan on 20200330 12. 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.

Keystone viaduct between sand patch and meyersdale. Railfan, railfanwhere do you see trains in pennsylvania. Possibly noteworthy is that csx 7332 is the seaboarddecal engine, and this pair of c408ws are recent repaints. This is the busiest helper district in the eastern us. My dad was in chillicothe, il for some midday railfanning in 1971 while residing in peoria. Amtrak capitol limited schedule modified after sand. New jersey, pennsylvania and maryland railfanning trip. Csx keystone sub sand patch grade in pennsylvania 10. This train was powered by a pair of nowcommon ge c408ws on october 25, 1991.

Railroad lodging, railroad hotels, trackside motels. Cumberland, md and back up through piscataway and the chemical coast. But executive vice president of operations ed harris, who joined the railroad this month. 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. Library of congress repository library of congress prints and photographs division washington, d. 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. Deteriorated facilities, uncertainty and turmoil made for some of the darkest days on the railroads. The area is unique because of the combination of mountain railroading and the density and variety of its traffic. Three of the four feed from the same trough known as taylor yard 2. Now it just has csx but the railroad heritage of meyersdale is visible everywhere in the town. Kamuda was even able to film from inside viaduct junction tower in cumberland and in sand patch tower. With a washboard grade, first quarter 2020 maximum grade of 1.

Plus, youll see the last train to ever run on the old berlin subdivision out of garrett, pennsylvania. This shot is one of my very first slides, from may 1999, and caught an eastbound climbing the grade just below sand patch. Hi im a railfan from appleton wisconsin and i make frequent trips around wisconsin and other places like rochelle illinois. Youll visit towers, tunnels, and obscure branch lines. Schematic map of railroads in greater pittsburgh as of early 2016. 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 grade is the first route in train sim world. Possibly noteworthy is that csx 7332 is the seaboarddecal. Extra 3699 west is cresting the hill and will soon stop to cut off the helpers.