Touring the Piermont Division of the Western Maryland
Howard ZaneDescription
In this video, Allen Keller narrates the movement of trains across Howard Zane’s Piermont Division of the Western Maryland Railroad. The tour begins near Lost Mine, the main coal producer on the railroad with miner homes living near their work. The Daily Train Eastbound Number 4 handles the black diamonds and interchanges at Piermont for connections to Baltimore. The EB 4 is powered by two consolidations class H-9 801 and 812.
The coal drag moves towards Pike on a track above Piermont, picking up speed on the way past Pike station to Tunnel Number 4. The train exits Tunnel Number 5 over a creek and onto Warren. The back line passes Warren on the way to White Horse Junction and then to Franklin. In front is a saw mill that plays a big role in the area’s economy.
The haul crosses West Fork River before moving into Franklin and Tunnel Number 2. A hidden track moves the coal drag to Tunnel Number 2 at Johnsville and heads towards Pissonett. Above is a mine used for producing the finest banjo string.
EB 4 heads into Tunnel Number 3 towards the Alexander Curve behind Piermont Roundhouse. Gill’s Tannery, although foul smelling is a place for Pike citizens to sell their animal hides. The D. Heatsoff Coal Plant provides all coal for all the Maryland and Western Scenic railroad. the EB 4 train heads through a signal bridge at Lime Junction.
Because of the small radius of the track, the consolidations will be replaced by a 7 and number 8 train. Hanover is a major classification point on the Piermont Division. Tunnel Number 7 leads the EB 4’s into Piermont, the largest city on the division and the interchange point for traffic to the east. The hoppers on the EB 4’s will be reblocked and taken east.
Lost Mine, near Amytown is the railroad's main coal producer. Typically the miners live next to their employer. After all, this is a West Virginia company town. Lost Mine is such a big producer that a daily train, eastbound number four, is needed to handle all the black diamonds. This coal drag will interchange with other lines at Piermont for connections to Baltimore. EB-4 is powered by two class H-9 consolidations; numbers 801 and 812. The coal drag moves toward Pike on a track above Piermont. The double-headed 2-8-0s pick up speed past the Pike station and head for tunnel number four. Exiting tunnel number five, the drag crosses Leaking Creek into Warren. The back line passes Warren. At White Horse junction, EB-4 moves onto the line for Franklin. In front is the going sawmill. It plays a major role in the economy in this rural area. EB-4 crosses the West Fork river before moving into Franklin and tunnel number two. Hidden track gets the coal drag over to tunnel number two at Johnsville. Exiting the tunnel, the H-9s head toward Pissonett. Above is the zanenite mine. This metal is used to manufacture the highest quality banjos strings. EB-4 ducks into tunnel number three. Alexander curve is behind the Piermont roundhouse. Gill's tannery can be rather foul smelling yet it provides a place for the citizens of Pike to sell their animal hides. The D. Heatsoff coal plant provides all the coal for the Maryland and Western scenic railway. There's the station for the scenic railway. Here's Leaking Creek again, this time the 2-8-0s take the route over the deck truss bridge. The signal bridge in back heralds the presence of Lime junction. At Lime junction, EB-4 rolls past the reefer ice house and the open countryside around Martin's Gulch. The flashing grade crossing signals the approach of the consolidations through Union Camp. Because of the small radius of fragment curve here the consolidations will be replaced by two Shays; numbers seven and eight. The H-9s take the sidetrack to make room for the Shays. In the back is the J.D. White coal company. Hanover is a major classification point on the Piermont Division. EB-4 a through train and continues on to Piermont. Tunnel seven leads into Piermont. Piermont is the largest city on the division, and is the interchange point for traffic to the east. The hoppers on EB-4 will be reblocked and taken east. After servicing, the Shays will head back to Union Camp.
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