CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CSX - Short Line and Bridgeport SD - 10-06-2023

Rail Fan Adventure --

M317 met M316, so we followed that manifest back to Clarksburg.

1. M316 (Cincinnati to Cumberland) is led by 7252 with CSX 5330-7765-959-5221-897-444-7271! Fluharty Run Road at Minnie WV. 10-06-2023.
M316 (Cincinnati to Cumberland) is led by 7252 with CSX 5330-7765-959-5221-897-444-7271! Fluharty Run Road at Minnie WV. 10-06-2023.

2. No. 7765 is the Chessie System commemorative unit...not a heritage. CSX 7765-959-5221. Minnie WV.
No. 7765 is the Chessie System commemorative unit...not a heritage. CSX 7765-959-5221. Minnie WV.

3. It was still raining, but we had a supply of pepperoni rolls and snacks. CSX 959-5221-897. Minnie WV.
It was still raining, but we had a supply of pepperoni rolls and snacks. CSX 959-5221-897. Minnie WV.

4. Along WV 20 at Porters Falls. CSX 7252-5330-7765. Porters Falls WV.
Along WV 20 at Porters Falls. CSX 7252-5330-7765. Porters Falls WV.

5. USGS Porters Falls quad, 1960, 1:24,000 scale. Porters Falls, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1960, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
USGS Porters Falls quad, 1960, 1:24,000 scale. Porters Falls, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1960, USGS

6. M316 along the West Fork River at Dawson. Jerry Doyle, Greg McCartney and Russ Miller met us at this location having driven up from Huntington. CSX 7252-5330-7765. Dawson WV.
M316 along the West Fork River at Dawson. Jerry Doyle, Greg McCartney and Russ Miller met us at this location having driven up from Huntington. CSX 7252-5330-7765. Dawson WV.

7. M316 slowing at Short Line Junction where the Parkersburg Branch (Main Line) used to head west before abandonment in the late 1980s. CSX 7252-5330-7765. Short Line Jct.
M316 slowing at Short Line Junction where the Parkersburg Branch (Main Line) used to head west before abandonment in the late 1980s. CSX 7252-5330-7765. Short Line Jct.

8. Medium clear entering double track at J Tower. CSX 7252-5330. Clarksburg WV.
Medium clear entering double track at J Tower. CSX 7252-5330. Clarksburg WV.

9. The cut stone abutments for the abandoned MR Sub. that crossed the Parkersburg line are behind the signal. The engine terminal was on the right upper level. CSX 7252-5330. ClarksburgWV J Tower.
The cut stone abutments for the abandoned MR Sub. that crossed the Parkersburg line are behind the signal. The engine terminal was on the right upper level. CSX 7252-5330. ClarksburgWV J Tower.

10. Note the B&O monogram on the US 50 overpass. CSX . Clarksburg WV.
Note the B&O monogram on the US 50 overpass. CSX . Clarksburg WV.

11. USGS Clarksburg quad, 2014, 1:24,000 showing Short Line Jct./J Tower and the US 50 overpass. Clarksburg, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2014, USGS.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 2014, 1:24,000 showing Short Line Jct./J Tower and the US 50 overpass. Clarksburg, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2014, USGS.

12. M316 stoped at MO Tower for a re-crew to take it on to Grafton. CSX 7252-5330-7765. Clarksburg WV.
M316 stoped at MO Tower for a re-crew to take it on to Grafton. CSX 7252-5330-7765. Clarksburg WV.

13. Clear signal for M316 at Lodgeville WV. That’s I-79 overhead. CSX Signal eb for M316.
Clear signal for M316 at Lodgeville WV. That’s I-79 overhead. CSX Signal eb for M316.

14. M316 approaching Tunnel No. 1. CSX 7252. Lodgeville WV.
M316 approaching Tunnel No. 1. CSX 7252. Lodgeville WV.

15. CSX 7252. No. 1 Tunnel. View 2. Lodgeville WV.
CSX 7252. No. 1 Tunnel. View 2. Lodgeville WV.

16. CSX 7252. No. 1 Tunnel. View 3. Lodgeville WV.
CSX 7252. No. 1 Tunnel. View 3. Lodgeville WV.

17. CSX 7271. No. 1 Tunnel. View 4. Lodgeville WV.
CSX 7271. No. 1 Tunnel. Lodgeville WV.

18. CSX No. 1 Tunnel 1951. Lodgeville WV.
CSX No. 1 Tunnel 1951. Lodgeville WV.

19. East portal of Tunnel No. 1 between Clarksburg and Bridgeport. It replaced the deteriorated single track tunnel on a new alignment. The old tunnel was described in the 1919 Official List as being stone and 2,707 ft. in length. The new No. 1 is 3,236 feet. The other 22 tunnels were between Clarksburg and Parkersburg. Many were improved or eliminated in the early 1960s on a huge capital spending project to increase clearance on the Cumberland to St. Louis main line. Regretfully this segment was abandoned in the late 1980s. CSX No. 1 Tunnel 1951. Lodgeville WV.
East portal of Tunnel No. 1 between Clarksburg and Bridgeport. It replaced the deteriorated single track tunnel on a new alignment. The old tunnel was described in the 1919 Official List as being stone and 2,707 ft. in length. The new No. 1 is 3,236 feet. The other 22 tunnels were between Clarksburg and Parkersburg. Many were improved or eliminated in the early 1960s on a huge capital spending project to increase clearance on the Cumberland to St. Louis main line. Regretfully this segment was abandoned in the late 1980s. CSX No. 1 Tunnel 1951. Lodgeville WV.

20. USGS Clarksburg quad, 2023, 1:24,000 scale. I’ve circled the location of the present Tunnel No. 1. Clarksburg, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2023, USGS.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 2023, 1:24,000 scale. I’ve circled the location of the present Tunnel No. 1. Clarksburg, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2023, USGS.

21. USGS Clarksburg quad, 1958, 1:24,000 scale showing old tunnel just to the north. Clarksburg, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1958, USGS.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 1958, 1:24,000 scale showing old tunnel just to the north. Clarksburg, WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1958, USGS.

22. This is a portion of an article in The Sentinel magazine of the B&O Railroad Historical Society, Spring 1996 issue. B&O Tunnel. Page1.
This is a portion of an article in The Sentinel magazine of the B&O Railroad Historical Society, Spring 1996 issue. B&O Tunnel. Page1.

23. B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 2.
B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 2.

24. B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 3.
B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 3.

25. B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 4.
B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 4.

26. B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 5.
B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 5.

27. B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 6.
B&O Tunnel 1 article. Page 6.

I wonder if there is any trace of the old tunnel today.

All for now.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young