Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad (C&P) 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
(WM) in 1944.
The line ran from Cumberland, Maryland
to Piedmont, West Virginia
, at both points interchanging with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
. The railroad's shops were located at Mount Savage, Maryland
, also the location of its headquarters. On the way to Piedmont the line passed through (and under) Frostburg, Maryland
, where the C&P station
stands today as the western terminus of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
.
from the Maryland General Assembly
. The early charter date reflects Mt. Savage as an early foundry
of iron
rail
and manufacturer of locomotive
s in the United States. The first iron rail rolled in the United States
was produced at Mt. Savage in 1844.
In 1854 the C&P acquired the Mount Savage Railroad
from the Mount Savage Coal and Iron Company. In 1863 the C&P acquired the Georges Creek Railroad
from the Georges Creek Coal and Iron Company
, and in 1870 it acquired the Eckhart Branch Railroad from the Maryland Mining Company
.
In 1866 James Millholland
opened the locomotive shops which became the center of the railroad. From 1868 to 1917 the shops produced at least 30 locomotives for the C&P, as well as standard and narrow gauge engines for other lines.
The WM formally merged operations with the C&P in 1953. In 1954 the WM abandoned redundant C&P track between Mt. Savage Junction and Mt. Savage, and discontinued use of the tunnel
under Frostburg, due to the tunnel's low clearances
. Some branch line
s to local mines were also eliminated. Coal traffic south of Frostburg was routed along the WM's Georges Creek Branch to the WM junction at Westernport, Maryland
(directly across the North Branch Potomac River from Piedmont).
In addition to the station in Frostburg, many of the shop buildings still remain at Mt. Savage. Parts of the route north from Piedmont are still in service as part of CSXT and the Georges Creek Railway
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroad which operated in Western 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...
. Primarily a coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
hauler, it was owned by the Consolidation Coal Company, and was absorbed into 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...
(WM) in 1944.
The line ran from Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
to Piedmont, West Virginia
Piedmont, West Virginia
Piedmont is a town in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census. Piedmont was chartered in 1856...
, at both points interchanging with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
. The railroad's shops were located at Mount Savage, Maryland
Mount Savage, Maryland
Mount Savage is an unincorporated community in Allegany County, Maryland, United States. A small blue-collar community, Mount Savage lies at the base of Big Savage Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains, between the cities of Frostburg and Cumberland...
, also the location of its headquarters. On the way to Piedmont the line passed through (and under) Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census...
, where the C&P station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
stands today as the western terminus of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is a heritage railroad based in Cumberland, Maryland. It operates over ex-Western Maryland Railway trackage to Frostburg, Maryland and back using both steam and diesel locomotives....
.
History
The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad Company was incorporated on March 4, 1850, with a charterCharter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
from the Maryland General Assembly
Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
. The early charter date reflects Mt. Savage as an early foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
of iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
rail
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
and manufacturer of locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s in the United States. The first iron rail rolled in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was produced at Mt. Savage in 1844.
In 1854 the C&P acquired the Mount Savage Railroad
Mount Savage Railroad
The Mount Savage Railroad was a railroad operated by the Mount Savage Coal and Iron Company of Mount Savage, Maryland between 1845 and 1854. The 14.9 miles rail line ran from Frostburg to Cumberland, Maryland.-History:...
from the Mount Savage Coal and Iron Company. In 1863 the C&P acquired the Georges Creek Railroad
Georges Creek Railroad
The Georges Creek Railroad was a railroad operated by the Georges Creek Coal and Iron Company in Western Maryland. The railroad operated from 1853 to 1863, when it was acquired by the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad .- History :...
from the Georges Creek Coal and Iron Company
Georges Creek Coal and Iron Company
The Georges Creek Coal and Iron Company is a defunct coal mining, iron producer and railroad company that operated in Maryland from 1835 to 1863.-Iron furnace:The company was formed in 1835, and chartered in the state of Maryland on March 29, 1836...
, and in 1870 it acquired the Eckhart Branch Railroad from the Maryland Mining Company
Maryland Mining Company
The Maryland Mining Company is a historic coal mining, iron producer and railroad company that operated in Allegany County, Maryland.The company was based in Eckhart Mines, Maryland; the location in Braddock Run was among the first bituminous coal mines developed in the Georges Creek...
.
In 1866 James Millholland
James Millholland
James Millholland , railway master mechanic, is particularly well known for his invention of many railway mechanisms. His association with the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company as master machinist spanned fifty years in the early development of the American railroad...
opened the locomotive shops which became the center of the railroad. From 1868 to 1917 the shops produced at least 30 locomotives for the C&P, as well as standard and narrow gauge engines for other lines.
The WM formally merged operations with the C&P in 1953. In 1954 the WM abandoned redundant C&P track between Mt. Savage Junction and Mt. Savage, and discontinued use of the tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
under Frostburg, due to the tunnel's low clearances
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
. Some branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
s to local mines were also eliminated. Coal traffic south of Frostburg was routed along the WM's Georges Creek Branch to the WM junction at Westernport, Maryland
Westernport, Maryland
Westernport is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States, located along the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,104 at the 2000 census.-History:...
(directly across the North Branch Potomac River from Piedmont).
In addition to the station in Frostburg, many of the shop buildings still remain at Mt. Savage. Parts of the route north from Piedmont are still in service as part of CSXT and 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...
.
External links
- Photos of Mt. Savage Station, Yard & Locomotives - Mt. Savage Historical Society
- Great Allegheny Passage Trail