Chessie System and CSX Transportation

 

     Chessie System was the result of the merger of the Chesapeake & Ohio, the Baltimore & Ohio, and the Western Maryland railroads.  CSX Transportation was the further merger of Chessie with the Seaboard System railroads.

 

Steam Specials

 

     As part of their celebration of the B&O railroad’s 150th anniversary during 1977 and 1978, the Chessie System ran a series of steam excursions using former Reading Railroad T-1 locomotive #2101.  Later, in 1980, they ran more steam excursions, called the “Chessie Safety Express,”  as part of a system-wide safety campaign.  Those specials used former C&O locomotive #614.  Here are a few of the many shots I took.

 

 

Paw Paw, WV

Sand Patch

Brodbecks, PA

Brodbecks, PA

Baltimore

Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry

Paw Paw, WV

 

Harpers Ferry

 

     While Harpers Ferry is, of course, famous for its Civil War history, it is also a great place to watch and photograph trains.

 

 

Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry

 

Cumberland Terminal

 

     Cumberland, MD, was home to the main locomotive shops for the eastern part of the Chessie System.  I always visited the shops on my frequent visits to photograph trains on Sand Patch grade.  There was a large sign on Virginia Avenue which evolved over the years.  Here are several incarnations.

 

 

1978

1980

1980

1987

1990

1999

Fresh paint

 

Sand Patch grade

 

     I made almost annual pilgrimages to Sand Patch grade, west of Cumberland, usually during the fall to take pictures during the peak of the fall foliage season.  Here is a small sample of the hundreds of photographs from the area.

 

 

Mance

Mance

Mance

Mance

Mance

Glencoe

Glencoe

Glencoe

Meyersdale

 

Hawk's Nest

 

     One of the most beautiful spots on the old C&O railroad is the section along the New River in Virginia, especially the area around Hawk’s Nest.

 

 

Hawk's Nest

Hawk's Nest

Hawk's Nest

Hawk's Nest

Hawk's Nest

 

On the former WM

 

     Here are some of my favorite shots of Chessie trains on the former Western Maryland.

 

 

Williamsport, MD

Williamsport, MD

Cherry Run, WV

 

On the former Clinchfield

 

     On a 1997 mini-vacation, I did some railfanning along the old Clinchfield Railroad and surrounding areas.

 

 

Kingsport, TN

Copper Creek

Natural Tunnel

 

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