CSX Transportation Historical Society

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CSX - Short Line SD through the years - 1990

Rail Fan Adventure --

Scanning these gives me the opportunity to reacquaint myself with the slides I haven’t looked at in years.

1. Note that the old Parkersburg SD at Short Line Jct. in Clarksburg is in 01-01-1992 is a 4.9-mile extension of the Bridgeport SD. All of that is now gone. CSX Balto #2. 01-01-1992. CSX Short Line.
Note that the old Parkersburg SD at Short Line Jct. in Clarksburg is in 01-01-1992 is a 4.9-mile extension of the Bridgeport SD. All of that is now gone. CSX Balto #2 01-01-1992. CSX Short Line.

2. CSX GP40s 6843-6727 (ex-C&O/ex-SCL) cross US 50 coming westbound out of Clarksburg at Short Line Jct. This is a 98-car AEPX coal train headed to Ohio Power’s Mitchell Power Plant near Moundsville. 09-20-1990. CSX Short Line.
CSX GP40s 6843-6727 (ex-C&O/ex-SCL) cross US 50 coming westbound out of Clarksburg at Short Line Jct. This is a 98-car AEPX coal train headed to Ohio Power’s Mitchell Power Plant near Moundsville. 09-20-1990.

3. That old semaphore signal appears to be a B&O and CSX rule 285, approach the next signal prepared to stop. That would have applied when the Parkersburg SD was active, but at this time it is probably out of service, as there is no amber lens. CSX Short Line.
That old semaphore signal appears to be a B&O and CSX rule 285, approach the next signal prepared to stop. That would have applied when the Parkersburg SD was active, but at this time it is probably out of service, as there is no amber lens.

4. Extra 6843 west is picking up speed at Gore WV. Good looking track! CSX Short Line.
Extra 6843 west is picking up speed at Gore WV. Good looking track!

5. CSX 6843. CSX Short Line.
CSX 6843. CSX Short Line.

6. This coal train is moving right along because SD50s B&O 8584-8579-8577 are shoving on the rear! CSX Short Line.
This coal train is moving right along because SD50s B&O 8584-8579-8577 are shoving on the rear!

7. USGS Clarksburg quad, 1996, 1:24,000 scale showing Short Line Jct. to Gore. Clarksburg WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1996, USGS.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 1996, 1:24,000 scale showing Short Line Jct. to Gore. Clarksburg WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1996, USGS.

8. Crossing the high trestle 51.8 over Lambert Run at Erie WV. CSX Short Line.
Crossing the high trestle 51.8 over Lambert Run at Erie WV.

9. Trestle goes over mouth of Lambert Run. MR Sub. on east side of West Fork River is abandoned. Clarksburg WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1996, USGS.
Trestle goes over mouth of Lambert Run. MR Sub. on east side of West Fork River is abandoned. Clarksburg WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1996, USGS.

10. USGS Clarksburg quad, 1956, 1:250,000 scale covering Clarksburg to Rinehart. Clarksburg WV-OH-PA, 1:250,000 quad, 1956, USGS.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 1956, 1:250,000 scale covering Clarksburg to Rinehart. Clarksburg WV-OH-PA, 1:250,000 quad, 1956, USGS.

11. CSX 6843 charges out of Lumberport across WV 18 and Tenmile Creek. The extra space on the bridge was for Bloom passing siding. CSX Short Line.
CSX 6843 charges out of Lumberport across WV 18 and Tenmile Creek. The extra space on the bridge was for Bloom passing siding.

12. USGS Clarksburg quad, 1958 revised to 1977, 1:24,000 scale. Clarksburg WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1958, USGS.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 1958 revised to 1977, 1:24,000 scale. Clarksburg WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1958, USGS.

13. Don Smith and I walked across the bridge for a going away shot of the pushers. CSX Short Line.
Don Smith and I walked across the bridge for a going away shot of the pushers.

14. Ex6843 approaching Brown WV and crossing the creek for the umpteenth time. CSX Short Line.
Ex6843 approaching Brown WV and crossing the creek for the umpteenth time.

15. USGS Wallace quad, 1960, 1:24,000 scale. Wallace WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1960, USGS.
USGS Wallace quad, 1960, 1:24,000 scale. Wallace WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1960, USGS.

16. We diverted off WV 20 to Rinehart for a shot of the pushers. CSX Short Line.
We diverted off WV 20 to Rinehart for a shot of the pushers.

17. East portal of No. 3 or Summit Tunnel. CSX Short Line.
East portal of No. 3 or Summit Tunnel.

18. Built in 1900, No. 3 (in the concrete at the top of the portal) is 3,215 ft. in length and curved on both ends. CSX Short Line.
Built in 1900, No. 3 (in the concrete at the top of the portal) is 3,215 ft. in length and curved on both ends.

19. USGS Folsom quad, 1961, 1:24,000 scale. In B&O Monongah Div. emp. tt. #80 for 10-29-1961, the line from Fairmont to Lumberport to Brooklyn Jct. was called the Hartzel Subdivision. The MR Subdivision was later extended for the record from Haywood to Fairmont (Gaston Jct.). The Short Line Sub. only comprised MD Tower (Clarksburg) to Haywood (well that was short...12.2 miles). Timetable #86 for 04-30-1967 reflects the name change; “Hartzel” was eliminated and replaced by Short Line. Folsom WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1961, USGS.
USGS Folsom quad, 1961, 1:24,000 scale. In B&O Monongah Div. emp. tt. #80 for 10-29-1961, the line from Fairmont to Lumberport to Brooklyn Jct. was called the Hartzel Subdivision. The MR Subdivision was later extended for the record from Haywood to Fairmont (Gaston Jct.). The Short Line Sub. only comprised MD Tower (Clarksburg) to Haywood (well that was short...12.2 miles). Timetable #86 for 04-30-1967 reflects the name change; “Hartzel” was eliminated and replaced by Short Line. Folsom WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1961, USGS.

20. This B&O map from the 1947 Monongah Div. timetable indicates there was a wye at Hartzel presumably for turning a pusher. The loaded coal trains would have a much easier job from Hartzel to Benwood. The long pull was from Lumberport to the west portal of Tunnel No. 3. The steepest was from Rinehart to the tunnel at 0.65 percent. I would have liked to have heard an EM-1 on that grade and the curves. Click here for a larger image.
This B&O map from the 1947 Monongah Div. timetable indicates there was a wye at Hartzel presumably for turning a pusher. The loaded coal trains would have a much easier job from Hartzel to Benwood. The long pull was from Lumberport to the west portal of Tunnel No. 3. The steepest was from Rinehart to the tunnel at 0.65 percent. I would have liked to have heard an EM-1 on that grade and the curves.

21. Crossing Fishing Creek at Hastings. There’s a gas plant here now, and a great broadside shot from a side road bridge. CSX Short Line.
Crossing Fishing Creek at Hastings. There’s a gas plant here now, and a great broadside shot from a side road bridge

22. Pine Grove WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2016, USGS. Click here for a slightly larger map.
Pine Grove WV, 1:24,000 quad, 2016, USGS.

23. Coming out of Tunnel #1 near Porters Falls. 09-20-1990. CSX Short Line.
Coming out of Tunnel #1 near Porters Falls. 09-20-1990.

24. USGS Porters Fall quad, 1960, 1:24,000. Tunnels #1 and 2 are also known as the Twin Tunnels. Porters Falls WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1960, USGS.
USGS Porters Fall quad, 1960, 1:24,000. Tunnels #1 and 2 are also known as the Twin Tunnels. Porters Falls WV, 1:24,000 quad, 1960, USGS.

25. USGS Clarksburg quad, 1956, 1:250,000 scale covering Brown to Brooklyn Jct. (New Martinsville). Clarksburg WV-OH-PA, 1:250,000 quad, 1956, USGS. Click here for a larger image.
USGS Clarksburg quad, 1956, 1:250,000 scale covering Brown to Brooklyn Jct. (New Martinsville). Clarksburg WV-OH-PA, 1:250,000 quad, 1956, USGS.

We drove to Brooklyn Jct. at New Martinsville to see what we could find there. That will be next.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young