Stopping by Powhatan Point this summer, I took the following shots of NS coal drag not moving anywhere (bummer!). I thought one or the other was going to move somewhere, but maybe it was lunch break or something as neither were moving (neither was the one up at the mine load out). I then started noticing the details of a mine run.


As I stood by the bridge over Captina Creek, I noticed how much coal had been dropped by the trains over time.


Looking at the tracks closer, it is obvious that a lot of coal has spilled from the hoppers over the years as drags crossed the bridge. Something to remember when building a model of a coal mine and its load outs.


Now, if I could only incorporate the smell of that coal in the morning summer heat.!

After getting rained out on my camping/fishing trip over at the AEP Recreation Lands, I was driving home when all of the sudden, I was driving across an old railroad bed! Needless to say, I was quite surprised!

Knowing the direction I was heading, I figured I was looking at the remnants of the B&O from Cambridge. I have to assume that when this area was an active strip mine, this railroad hauled coal out of the mining area.

The last photo is of the track in Cumberland-this looks like the Byesville Scenic Railroad has reached to this small town in their efforts to recover the line. Their goal is to reach the Wilds just a few miles away.

Walking the Old PRR in Lancaster

One sunny day,back in February, I ventured out of doors and took some photos of the remnants of the Pennsylvan

ia Railroad's right of way. This branch line is now a bike trail through Lancaster and is a very pleasant trail to walk, bike or jog on. Here in the first photo is a bridge that was repainted and repaired

along the trail. It is near Cenci Lake

Park.

Our next stop is a mile marker beside Cenci Lake (background) this

marker's T stands for Trinway, a town obviously 60 miles from here (north east).

Now, on our third stop along the trail, is where the trail crosses the still active tracks that the Indiana and Ohio (I&O)use to access Ralston Cereals and I think a couple of other stops. The posts and that you have to weave through them remind me of the tank traps of WWII (only those were much bigger!). If you ride your bike slow enough you can weave through these poles. Unfortunately, the sign on the other side has been vandalized as well as the shelter you see in the background. It once had glass sides, but these have been entirely busted out by someone or somebodies.

I actually don't understand what all the effort is for, what is the point of destroying this material? There a several signs, posts and other things along the trail that have been deliberately destroyed.

Finally, we part with a view of the line running beside the old Anchor Hocking Plant. It is time to part

after our little hike. Thanks for walking with me!

Sunday Afternoon Part I

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon so I decided to do a photo safari and head down to a local park for some nature photography when I spied the I&O coming into town from Logan! Change plans and get some shots of the small six freight. So, off i go.

The first one on the right is of #3888 hauling its ducks into Lancaster. The tracks to the left are the old PRR line from Bremen.

Second photo is a going away shot as it crossed Maple Ave.

I then took off and went to Cenci Park to set up for the next shot.

I was wondering why it was taking it so long to get there, even at the

sedate pace it was taking. .

Photo three, here it comes, under the Rt. 33 overpass, but wait! Something is missing! So, that why it took so long, the crew dropped off the cars! I reminded me of when I am running my

model railroad, and the engine leaves some cars behind "unexpectedly" in that case.

Finally, (photo 4) the train continues to head north. It was

obviously heading up near the Anchor Distribution center where

I&O's "office" is located. Their day was done!

With part II of this post, I will show you some photos of the old

PC line through Lancaster.