Our Rail Fan Trip without the rails.

Today my wife and I did a “rail fan trip without rails”.  We drove up to Grantsville, MD and had breakfast at Penn Alps.  Then we proceeded to Meyersdale, PA to begin our rail fan trip.  From the WMRY Meyersdale Station we proceeded on the ROW west to the East end of Salisbury Viaduct.  This bridge is 2000 feet long.  I rode my bike out about 500 feet. Then I stopped and took some pictures as a train going west went under the bridge. 

At 100 feet in the air I was uncomfortable.  I have been across this bridge at least 20 times, but not this time.  So we walked back to the East end. We then proceeded east to Meyersdale, PA,

The old B & O Bollman Iron Bridge from Wills Creek near Meyersdale

The WMRY Keystone Viaduct,  The viaduct consists of several plate girder bridges and one camel back truss.

 Sand Patch area on the WMRY

The Continental Divide and engine 9401

And finally to and through the Big Savage Tunnel which is 3,300 feet and lit..

West End of Big Savage Tunnel

East End of Big Savage Tunnel

We rode 24 miles which took 3 hours.  Half of the trip was up a grade.  The CSX trains going east as we were all had helpers. The ruling grade from Meyersdale to Big Savage is less than 1% but it is tough.  The ride back to Meyersdale was a dream, however.  For example the grade from Cumberland to Forstburg is about 1.5%.  We also want to do that bike trip from Cumberland.  There again the ride back to Cumberland will be all downhill.