Georges Creek Subdivision
Encyclopedia
The Georges Creek Subdivision is a railroad line with portions owned and operated by either CSX Transportation
or the Georges Creek Railway
in the U.S. state
of Maryland
. The line runs from Westernport MD
north to Carlos, MD along the former Western Maryland Railway
.
which was absorbed by the Western Maryland Railway
on September 1, 1953. Upon acquisition by the WM
, the C&PA
was divided in half by the abandonment of the tunnel under Frostburg, MD
and line through Gramtown (Lower Frostburg) with a total abandonment of 2.6 miles. The portion along Georges Creek
, continued to be a source of revenue for the WM
until the WM
was acquired by Chessie
in 1973.
After the CSX
mergers of Chessie System
and Seaboard System in 1987 the line began to decline in use, but continues to this day to have occasional trains to the Morrisons, MD open load-out tipple. On June 21, 2006 Western Maryland Survivors, LLC (WMS) purchased the northern/abandoned 8.54 mile portion of the Georges Creek Subdivision. This portion had two significant washout that caused CSX to discontinue service farther north than the Morrisons' load-out and begin abandonment proceedings. Due to investor difficulties involving WMS, the property was sold on February 24, 2011 from Federal Bankruptcy Court to one of WMS original partners and his partner under the auspices of the Eighteen Thirty Group, LLC. This partner was also a partner with the Georges Creek Railway
, which had intended to operate the line upon the restoration of the washouts. This portion of the line is currently under restorative work (2011).
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
or the Georges Creek Railway
Georges Creek Railway
The Georges Creek Railway is a shortline railroad in Western Maryland. Headquartered in Luke, the line rosters seven locomotives, including six historic Western Maryland Railway units , and a former Pennsylvania Railroad T-6 switcher.Operating since December 2007 on former CSX Transportation...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. The line runs from Westernport MD
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
north to Carlos, MD along the former Western Maryland Railway
Western Maryland Railway
The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...
.
History
The majority of the Georges Creek Subdivision, was originally owned by the Cumberland and Pennsylvania RailroadCumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad
The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad was an American railroad which operated in Western Maryland. Primarily a coal hauler, it was owned by the Consolidation Coal Company, and was absorbed into the Western Maryland Railway in 1944....
which was absorbed by the Western Maryland Railway
Western Maryland Railway
The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...
on September 1, 1953. Upon acquisition by the WM
Western Maryland Railway
The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...
, the C&PA
Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad
The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad was an American railroad which operated in Western Maryland. Primarily a coal hauler, it was owned by the Consolidation Coal Company, and was absorbed into the Western Maryland Railway in 1944....
was divided in half by the abandonment of the tunnel under Frostburg, MD
FROSTBURG
FROSTBURG was a Connection Machine 5 supercomputer used by the US National Security Agency to perform higher-level mathematical calculations. The CM-5 was built by the Thinking Machines Corporation, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at a cost of US$25 million. The system was installed at NSA in...
and line through Gramtown (Lower Frostburg) with a total abandonment of 2.6 miles. The portion along Georges Creek
Georges Creek
Georges Creek is a tributary stream of the North Branch Potomac River in western Maryland. The creek has its headwaters near Frostburg and empties into the North Branch Potomac River at Westernport, all in western Allegany County. Along the Georges Creek Valley, there exists a series of small...
, continued to be a source of revenue for the WM
Western Maryland Railway
The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...
until the WM
Western Maryland Railway
The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...
was acquired by Chessie
Chessie System
Chessie System, Inc. was a holding company that owned the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway , the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , the Western Maryland Railway , and several smaller carriers. It was incorporated in Virginia on February 26, 1973, and it acquired the C&O on June 15...
in 1973.
After the CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
mergers of Chessie System
Chessie System
Chessie System, Inc. was a holding company that owned the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway , the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , the Western Maryland Railway , and several smaller carriers. It was incorporated in Virginia on February 26, 1973, and it acquired the C&O on June 15...
and Seaboard System in 1987 the line began to decline in use, but continues to this day to have occasional trains to the Morrisons, MD open load-out tipple. On June 21, 2006 Western Maryland Survivors, LLC (WMS) purchased the northern/abandoned 8.54 mile portion of the Georges Creek Subdivision. This portion had two significant washout that caused CSX to discontinue service farther north than the Morrisons' load-out and begin abandonment proceedings. Due to investor difficulties involving WMS, the property was sold on February 24, 2011 from Federal Bankruptcy Court to one of WMS original partners and his partner under the auspices of the Eighteen Thirty Group, LLC. This partner was also a partner with the Georges Creek Railway
Georges Creek Railway
The Georges Creek Railway is a shortline railroad in Western Maryland. Headquartered in Luke, the line rosters seven locomotives, including six historic Western Maryland Railway units , and a former Pennsylvania Railroad T-6 switcher.Operating since December 2007 on former CSX Transportation...
, which had intended to operate the line upon the restoration of the washouts. This portion of the line is currently under restorative work (2011).