Here's the other end of the tunnel at Point of Rocks. I spent a lot of weekends riding the C&O Canal between the Monocacy River and Harpers Ferry when I was working near DC 2003-2009. I appreciate the historical commentary highlighting this unusual tunnel.
Another neat shot Hoyden - thanks! You can really see where the hillside was cleaved off. I've always wanted to ride and hike more of the C&O Canal route as you have. Further west on the canal is Paw Paw (WV) Tunnel, completed in 1850 and an engineering wonder of its age. The towpath allows visitors to hike its 3,000 FT+ length and man, it's DARK in there. Fortunately we brought a good flashlight on our hike. The abandoned WM main is nearby, as is the B&O where its mighty Magnolia Cutoff begins on the west end. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paw_Paw_Tunnel This the the B&O's Carothers Tunnel at Paw Paw [10/16/1994]:
This exceptionally cool photo taken in Paw Paw, WV is from the John Barriger Library. I'm uncertain of the date, but I'm guessing it's from the 1930s. Carothers Tunnel on the Magnolia Cutoff (completed in 1914) is straight ahead and the old main that followed the Potomac River is seen twisting off to the left. The old main was retained to handle passenger trains (for its scenic routing and for safe separation from freight trains). Through the years, one of the old main's tracks was lifted and in the early 1960s, the remaining track was taken out and the old main closed.
I love this kind of thing too. So the story goes, the B&O observed the nearby WM's building of its Connellsville Extension and was so impressed by its modern engineering that it decided to reengineer its line and built the Magnolia Cutoff. This was an exceptionally cool era for railroad building, with modern engineering (with its pneumatic drills, nitroglycerine, cheaper steel, steam-powered earth moving equipment, etc.) allowing all kinds of line relocations and construction throughout the nation.
You're still using steamships in the US? In Germany I haven't seen one in the last 50 years. We are using heavy crude nowadays To be honest, in everyday speech we would either use the phrase "Container Frachter" (container carrier) or "Dampfer" (steamship) with equal probability.
Yesterday it was -24F and this power was sitting in high idle keeping itself warm on the east end! And the 'slot machine' had moved to the east end of the yard, waiting for warmer weather perhaps?
Warmer weather indeed! CP train 498 rolls past the historic Soo freight house on a brutally cold morning.
Then and now. Alco RS-3 repowered by EMD with 567C prime mover and a GP-9 long hood. In Houston, Texas in 1969. Rodney Huebel Photo. Baldwin City, Kansas in 2016.
I remember the mom of a good friend of mine was involved in saving this depot. I need to get back there some day and tour the museum that it has become.
This is called being at the right place at the right time. The rear of CP 575 passes the head end of CP 374 who is tied down on the main track due to either no rested crew or not ready at the terminus. Very rare do you get a Gray Ghost and a Belle side-by-side. Also the leader of CP 374 is the KCSM 4009, the Saluting Our Heroes unit. Camanche, IA February 10, 2021 Video of the catches— Most people get drunk, others want sex but as for me, I go Railfanning.
I just love old photos. (If you haven't noticed) This is the SP depot at Valentine, Texas way out west. 1925. You can find it under the "T" for Texas on the 1893 era map.
