Western Maryland Railway-Elkins West Virginia (1989 #1 of 2)

More WMRY from Elkins on May 13 1989 and-wait a minute-is THAT a CSX locomotive? Hiding behind the Chessie? WHAT THE...? How'd THAT get in there? None of MY doing!! Even back then! This is a few months before the final abandonment and, apparently, CSX wanted to brag that they were there! They just HAD to sneak in! Even Seaboard wanted in! Anyway, this was unfortunately the beginning of the end for Elkins yard. When I pan to the north end of the yard (and the old US 33/219 bridge; around the 1:00 mark) one can see the tracks in the process of being pulled up! The abandonment was actually taking place right before my eyes! Didn't know it at the time, though. Still a few things left in the yard-but nowhere near as much as in my vids from 1986 and 87! But really this is a sad sight, though at the time I had no idea they were abandoning. All this because CSX didn't want to repair the 1985 flood damage! Cheapskates!!
I don't know who that is laughing or shouting towards the end!
Mastered in 720p for best upload results. From a VHS tape.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Western Maryland RY
• WMRY
• Elkins WV
• trains
• Chessie
• CSX
• Seaboard

[thewvnetwork]

Also, its funny how they actually visually "demonstrated" the merger between Chessie and Seaboard by placing one of each on the ends of the CSX logo. "Chessie Seaboard Merged".

[bullfrog1954]

@thewvnetwork I just realized that while reading your comment! I wonder if that was deliberate! At the time I would not have figured that out!

[thewvnetwork]

@bullfrog1954 I figure its all coincidence, but also note that they also have one hopper car from each of the three railroads that merged to form Chessie System linked together: B&O, C&O, WM! Maybe they DID do it on purpose

[bullfrog1954]

@thewvnetwork I think they wanted to go out in a symbolic way! In other words, what a perfect way to end service-by symbolizing the merger! Great way to go out! One last glory! I just wish I connected the pieces back then! I would have gotten way more video then I did of their last hurrah.

[pele6922]

2:08-09=WTF is that sound?

[thewvnetwork]

I have seen a photo...taken from the highway bridge...that shows the yard just after they had finished removing tracks on the north end. I thought it was funny that they removed some of the switches leading into the roundhouse site, but left tracks in place there, leaving a few cars marooned (they must have removed them by truck or something later on.). It really looked strange, lol. Apparently, they actually kept tracks in place in front of the depot until 1992 when the trestle was torn down.