West End of North Branch/B159.9

The West End of the North Branch Storage Track didn't have any signals during the CTC era of the West Sub. Originally there were a set of semophores that served as block signals before CTC was installed between the East End of North Branch and Maryland Jct. Here at the west end the two tracks merged into one just east of the B160 milepost. A short section of track still remains here at the east end. The track was originally part of the mainline. The switch and storage track are long gone. Although the track is still intact doen't mean it is in service. The track is back off from the WM bridge over the B&O. The track is now grown up and covered with trees. The track ends right at the top of the bank at a section of the right-of-way that was removed for a road. This track could possibly become part of the Western Maryland Survivors and host a Bed and Breakfast and other WM artifacts.

The remaining WM track lyies in the weeds east from the bridge. The further you walk east the more difficult it gets as the thorns and tress get bigger and bigger. Just think if the track would have been left down on the entire West Sub. It would have made a nice tourist railroad. (9/96 and 4/26/01)

These two photo were taken at the location of the switch for the West End of the Niorth Branch Storage Track. The crossties for the switch stand and switch are still in place. (1-14-05)

Pictured here are the conctete signal bases for the old semophore block signals that were between Maryland Jct. and Hagerstown. Later CTC would replace this and other block signals between MY Tower at Maryland Jct and the East End of North Branch. The battery cellar is in ruins in the first photo witht the eastbound signal base in the weeds to the left of the track. the signal base in the second photo is the former westbound block signal base. (1-14-05)

Looking east from the switch the crossties can be seen on the right for the old storage track. (1-14-05)

The end of the track on the east side at North Branch. Here the track is banked for the curve that once was here on the fast freight line. The switch for the west end of the North Branch siding has been removed. The siding started just a few hundered feet west of here and ran to just past the Moore's Hollow Road crossing. (March 2002)

William P. Price has caught Train No.2 as it speeds east crossing over the Md. Rt.51 overpass at North Branch. The WM would cross back over the same road at Spring Gap. Today both bridges are gone. This bridge picutred above along with the right-of-way here at North Branch has been bulldozed away to make way for the widening of the road that took place in the early 1980's. The second photo shows the roads that now pass through the WM. The C&O Canal however still ownes the WM right-of-way from the end of the track at here at North Branch to Tonoloway, 34 miles to the east.

WM Pacific #205 is speeding west with the Centennial Special headed for Cumberland. The train is pulling a baggage car containing a three foot diameter cake for celebrations in Cumberland. Two Pullmans and two ofice cars are also in the consist. 1952 marked 100 years since the WM was founded. (May 14, 1952/photo by William P. Price)

Go West
Go East