Georges Creek and Cumberland Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Georges Creek and Cumberland Railroad (GC&C) was a railroad that operated in Maryland
from 1876 until 1917, when it was merged with the Western Maryland Railway
(WM). The main line ran from Cumberland
to Lonaconing
.
companies in the Georges Creek Valley
to compete against the Consolidated Coal Company who dictated rail traffic over the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad
. By 1887 the railroad crossed the town of Midland
on a large wooden trestle
. The rail line came through Clarysville
and Vale Summit, and went south to Lonaconing to service the mines. The trestle was removed in the 1930s.
In addition to coal hauling, the GC&C provided passenger stations and service. The January 18, 1887 published schedule of the GC&C shows two trains per day from Cumberland to Lonaconing (except Sundays).
The GC&C also owned a branch line
, acquired in 1888 from a company called "Pennsylvania Railroad of Maryland," that ran from Cumberland north to the Pennsylvania
state line, where it connected with the Bedford and Bridgeport Railroad. The latter company was controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad
(PRR).
The Fuller Syndicate
, led by George Gould
, acquired a controlling interest in the GC&C in 1907, principally to obtain access to the route through the Cumberland Narrows
. The WM (which had also been controlled by Gould until 1908) took over the GC&C operation in 1913, and a full merger was completed in 1917. WM abandoned portions of the GC&C in 1927. The line from Cumberland to Midland was operated until 1939, when the track was abandoned. The State Line Branch to Pennsylvania was operated by the PRR until 1934.
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...
from 1876 until 1917, when it was merged with 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). The main line ran from Cumberland
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 Lonaconing
Lonaconing, Maryland
Lonaconing 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 1,205 at the 2000 census.- History :...
.
History
The GC&C was created by rival coal miningCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
companies in the Georges Creek Valley
Georges Creek Valley
Georges Creek Valley is located in Allegany County, Maryland along the George's Creek. The valley is rich in wide veins of coal, known historically as the "The Big Vein." Coal was once extracted by deep mines but is only mined today through surface mining...
to compete against the Consolidated Coal Company who dictated rail traffic over the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad
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....
. By 1887 the railroad crossed the town of Midland
Midland, Maryland
Midland 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 473 at the 2000 census....
on a large wooden trestle
Trestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
. The rail line came through Clarysville
Clarysville, Maryland
Clarysville is an unincorporated town in Allegany County, Maryland, USA. It is located along U.S. Route 40 Alternate, at its intersection with Maryland Route 55. Clarysville was known around the region for the Clarysville Inn, a historic building which stood in Clarysville from 1807 until it burned...
and Vale Summit, and went south to Lonaconing to service the mines. The trestle was removed in the 1930s.
In addition to coal hauling, the GC&C provided passenger stations and service. The January 18, 1887 published schedule of the GC&C shows two trains per day from Cumberland to Lonaconing (except Sundays).
The GC&C also owned a 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...
, acquired in 1888 from a company called "Pennsylvania Railroad of Maryland," that ran from Cumberland north to the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
state line, where it connected with the Bedford and Bridgeport Railroad. The latter company was controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR).
The Fuller Syndicate
Fuller Syndicate
The Fuller Syndicate was a group of American financiers that invested in railroads in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.The group was organized by investor Edward Laton Fuller, President of the International Salt Company, and led by George Jay Gould I...
, led by George Gould
George Jay Gould I
George Jay Gould I was a financier and the son of Jay Gould. He was himself a railroad executive, leading both the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad and the Western Pacific Railroad ....
, acquired a controlling interest in the GC&C in 1907, principally to obtain access to the route through the Cumberland Narrows
Cumberland Narrows
The Cumberland Narrows is a water gap in western Maryland in the United States, just west of Cumberland, Maryland. Wills Creek cuts through the central ridge of the Wills Mountain Anticline at a low elevation here between Wills Mountain to the north and Haystack Mountain to the south...
. The WM (which had also been controlled by Gould until 1908) took over the GC&C operation in 1913, and a full merger was completed in 1917. WM abandoned portions of the GC&C in 1927. The line from Cumberland to Midland was operated until 1939, when the track was abandoned. The State Line Branch to Pennsylvania was operated by the PRR until 1934.
See also
- Georges Creek RailroadGeorges Creek RailroadThe 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 :...
(1853-1863) - Georges Creek RailwayGeorges Creek RailwayThe 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...
(Short line railroad operating since 2007) - List of defunct Maryland railroads