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Well if your a fan of Appalachan/Mid-Atlantic railroading, September was already turning out to be a pretty crummy month for ya with the loss of HO Tower on CSX, but if that wasn't enough the Maryland Midland delt another blow. Sunday, September 30 was the last day for operations on Farquhar Street in Union Bridge, MD, one of the last places to see street running.

Thankfully I did shoot this, unlike HO Tower, back in October 2004 as a trio of 38's ran up the street, past front yards dotted with Bush/Chaney and Kerry/Edwards signs. Above are some links to the last run.

-Justin Franz

-Justin

How much trackage is being abandoned?

Is this old Western Maryland or Pennsylvania RR trackage, or a connection between the 2 roads, which served opposite sides of town?

Got any wider shots to see the length of the train and street trackage?

This was a Western Maryland spur to serve the big Lehigh Cement plant in Union Bridge. MMID and Lehigh have built new non-street trackage to access the plant, a major shipper for the line.

Union Bridge was a WM-only town--the WM-PRR diamond and interchange was a few miles west of Union Bridge, near Keymar.

In thinking of a Maryland town served from opposite sides, you might be thinking of Frederick, MD, which the PRR and B&O served from N and S respectively, connected by street running through town.

Erik,

PRR did have a branch that served the cement plant at Union Bridge. A history of the line was published years ago in the NRHS Bulletin, but off hand I don't recall which issue.

http://www.abandonedrailroads.com/md_prr_keymar_unionbridge.html

Alan Maples

Au contraire, Erik. The PRR once had a branch that came off the Frederick branch just south of the Keymar overhead crossing of the WM and then went east, roughly following the creek, to the cement mill. The wye (which was used by the WM to turn engines when its commuter service from Baltimore extended to Union Bridge) was partially owned by the Pennsy, and there was a turntable at Keymar. I recall the edge of the pit still being visible in the area of the connection ramp between the WM and the PRR built by the Maryland Midland.

My 1945 edition of the PRR List of Stations and Sidings "CT 1000" shows the Union Bridge leaving the York Hanover & Frederick Branch at MP 52.3, with Lehigh Portland cement Co. shown at MP 57.6 and the Union Bridge freight station at MP 57.8. I believe the branch was abandoned following the 1972 Agnes flood. At least one PRR "Off the Beaten Track" excursion visited Union bridge in the late 1930's, if I recall.

Yikes, I know I've stepped in it when Brother Maples and Brother Laepple both come to show me the path of righteousness. Apologies for speaking with insufficient information... and thanks to all for setting me straight. And me, a native Marylander... oh, the shame of it!

Erik,

Don't forget that Frederick also had the Hagerstown and Frederick Railway, later owned by Potomac Electric (or Potomac Edison, I can never remember which one was out there). I think the H&F used some of the B&O/PRR connecting street trackage on N. East Street and Patrick Street to reach its station on Patrick Street.

Dave Crow

But Erik, you know where to find the rare granite B&O blocks in the wild...
I believe this confirms your proper Marylander status...

Thanks Hun...

Randy