Big Pool Jct./B105

Big Pool Jct./B105





Big Pool was reached by the WM in 1892 to connect with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) across the river at Cherry Run, WV. This new connection allowed for increased traffic that made this part of the WM the busiest on the entire railroad. In the spring of 1904 the building of the Cumberland Extension began here at Big Pool. The Western Maryland reached Hancock by December of that year and Cumberland by March 1906. A train-order office was constructed here to control the busy interlocking of the connection with the B&O and the new West Sub/Cumberland Extension traffic. It remained in use for a long time and was manned 24 hours a day. I believe it later closed in 1977 and was torn down. Also, back in the early steam days at Big Pool there was a huge wooden trestle constructed here. It was used to unload coal from hoppers and fill passing steam locomotives. It was later replaced by bigger tenders on the newer steam locomotives.

WESTERN MARYLAND RAIL TRAIL

In August of 1990, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) acquired the 20.3 mile abandoned segment of the Western Maryland Railway, and three lots in the Town of Hancock from CSX Transportation. The abandoned rail corridor was purchased with state-wide DNR Program Open Space funding at a cost of $1,042,000. Construction began November 1996 using the $1.5M of DNR appointed funds. It was completed March 1998 with a paved surface and redecked bridges from Big Pool to Hancock. The trail begins approximately one-half mile west of historic Fort Frederick State Park. The Western Maryland Rail Trail(WMRT) winds along the Potomac River through farmland, woodlands, and rural towns to its temporary ending in the town of Hancock. Construction began on Phase 2 in May 2002 and extended the trail and additional 8 miles to Tonoloway. Phase 3 is expected to be opened by Spring 2003 another 2 miles west to Pearre.



A Western Maryland steam locomotive pulls a train west crossing the Big Pool Interlocking. I photographed CSX Train D721 in May 1998 westbound crossing over onto the connection with the B&O at the B105 milepost here at Big Pool Jct. The track west to Hancock and Tonoloway was removed in the late 1980's.

CSX empty hopper train E120 is westbound passing the B105 milepost in May 1998.

Big Pool Jct. Interlocking looking west towards Hancock. (Rich Polk Photo)

Rich Polk photographed the operators desk inside of the Big Pool Jct Tower. Notice the controls that operate the signals ans s switches at the interlocking. The phone on the desk was used to talk to the dispatcher and train crews. Outside the office a Western Maryland train led by B&O geeps and a WM F7B pull passed the office bound for Hagerstown on June 29, 1973.

CSX Train D721 is westbound passing the former site of the Big Pool Jct. Interlocking. Some of the old piping is still visible on the left. The piping held compressed air that controled the switches.

A previous day I have caught the very first run for the new Hagerstown-Cumberland local which will be called D721 here at Big Pool Jct. The black and white photo is a old railroad company photo of a house that the Western Maryland owned. The house was referred to as a "section house". A railroad foreman would live here and be responsible for this section of railroad.

CSX train Z279 crosses the road as the train prepares to crossover to B&O rails. This train is called 227 on NS trackage. THis train is using old trackage rights the N&W had acquired with the WM between Hagerstown, MD. and Connellsville, PA.

CSX coal train U820 accelerates east out of Big Pool as the train starts the climb up out of the Potomac River Valley to Big Spring.


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