The Connellsville Extension (WM): Map, History, Operation
Last revised: August 24, 2024
By: Adam Burns
The Western Maryland's famed Connellsville Extension was the dream of owner George Gould in forming a true, transcontinental railroad through the ownership of several small to medium-sized systems.
The extension ran from Cumberland, Maryland to Connellsville, Pennsylvania where it connected the WM with another Gould subsidiary, the Pittsburgh & West Virginia. The nearly 100 mile-long route was built to incredibly high standards and featured impressive engineering feats.
However, its high cost eventually forced the WM into bankruptcy and Gould later lost control of the railroad. Despite this the Extension remained an important artery for decades following and offered spectacular views of the rolling countryside.
After the formation of Chessie System in 1972 the route's importance waned. The Western Maryland was highly dependent on bridge traffic and the Connellsville Extension acted as a link in this chain.
Unfortunately, following the Chessie System union, the three railroads (Chesapeake & Ohio, Baltimore & Ohio, and WM) began an integration process. As a result, the extension was no longer needed since the B&O maintained a parallel route which ran on to Pittsburgh, and ultimately Chicago.
In May, 1975 the final through trains were dispatched and the line was subsequently abandoned (despite being a better engineered route over Pennsylvania's Sand Patch Grade).
One of Western Maryland's trusty H Class 2-8-0's has a short coal train on the Connellsville Extension near Deal, Pennsylvania in the 1950s. Bill Price photo.History
The history of the Western Maryland can be traced back to the Baltimore, Carroll & Frederick Railroad of 1852, created by the Maryland General Assembly, which was renamed as the Western Maryland Rail Road a year later.
By the turn of the 20th century the small system had only reached as far west as Hagerstown when it was acquired in 1902 by George Gould's Fuller Syndicate who was the son of the legendary rail baron, or perhaps notorious depending on one's point of view, Jay Gould.
At A Glance
The WM would be Gould's gateway to the east coast but it needed to expand westward to connect to his other interests the closest of which was the small Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway.
By that time Gould already controlled or was allied with numerous other lines including the Missouri Pacific/Texas Pacific/International-Great Northern, Wabash, Western Pacific, and was attempting to acquire what would become the Denver & Rio Grande Western as well as the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie.
George Gould
Immediately upon taking control of the WM he began pushing the road westward and by 1906 had reached Cumberland. A year earlier the road had purchased the West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh Railway, which gave it access deep into the Mountain State reaching as far south as Elkins and opening up the region's rich coal deposits.
This initial rapid growth, however, was too much for the company's financial state to bear and it fell into receivership in 1908 from which it emerged in 1910 as the Western Maryland Railway.
This setback did not stop Gould, however, from continuing to expand the road and in 1910 announced his intentions to build what became known as the Connellsville Extension, 88.4 miles of new railroad that would reach Connellsville, Pennsylvania and eventually connect with subsidiary P&WV.
Taken from inside the cab of an F7 ahead of freight WM-6, Western Maryland SD40 #7496 slips past on the next track over through the Cumberland Narrows (Maryland) on August 16, 1969. Roger Puta photo.Construction
During construction of the new line Gould spared no expense, building it to very high standards that utilized high fills, deep cuts, long trestles, a few tunnels, and keeping curves to a minimum.
For instance, construction crews used the new Harley Track Laying machine when laying rails and ties, a steam powered device that could put down new track much faster than by traditional manpower alone. The Extension featured six notable engineering marvels, four tunnels and two bridges.
There was the Keystone Viaduct, a 910-foot bridge (listed as B195.5 by the WM and named for the tiny, nearby hamlet of Keystone) that crossed Flaugherty Creek and the Baltimore & Ohio's famed Sand Patch grade, which was part of its main line between Baltimore and Chicago.
Then there was the even more impressive Salisbury Viaduct, a towering structure that spanned the Casselman River Valley and the B&O line outside of Meyersdale along the Mason-Dixon Line.
Map
Tunnels
This bridge was listed by the WM as B199.4 and was an impressive 1,908-feet in length, easily making it the longest such structure on the railroad. In both cases the viaducts were built to handle double-tracking, which never came to pass.
The four notable bores along the route included:
- Big Savage Tunnel (located near Deal, Pennsylvania it is 3,294 feet long and the only one not constructed to handle two tracks)
- Brush Tunnel (located just east of Frostburg it is 914 feet in length),
- Borden Tunnel (located nearly three miles west of Frostburg and is also quite short at 957.5 feet)
- Pinkerton Tunnel (located in Somerset County it is the shortest of all at only 800 feet)
Looking back on the history of the "Wild Mary" it is interesting to wonder what would have become of the road and how large it would have grown had Gould not lost control of the property, and all of his railroad assets, after 1918.
Western Maryland 2-10-0 #1121 (I-2) has a westbound freight on the Connellsville Extension at Garrett, Pennsylvania on September 5, 1952. Bill Price photo. American-Rails.com collection.Operation
The Western Maryland grew little after opening its incredibly expensive $12 million Connellsville Extension in 1912. However, the route did become an important artery in the movement of timed freights, coal, and other traffic over the years.
In 1931 the P&WV finally completed its own line to Connellsville more than a decade after Gould's dream had died. With this new outlet in place the WM, P&WV, Nickel Plate Road, Wheeling & Lake Erie, Reading, Jersey Central, Lehigh & Hudson River, and the New Haven Railroad all worked together to form the "Alphabet Route" on February 11, 1931.
This type of eastern "Inside Gateway" was meant to give shippers another alternative for shipping hotshot freights between the Midwest and east coast without having to use one of the major trunk lines like the B&O, Pennsylvania, or New York Central.
One of the Western Maryland's powerful 2-10-0's, #1119 (I-2), rolls through the famous Helmstetter's Curve near Corriganville, Maryland on May 15, 1952. These Decapod's were used all over the WM's system in a variety of main line assignments. Bob Collins photo.Abandonment
With expedited freights given names like AJ-12, WAJ-1, and PAJ-1 the marketing tactic worked for many years. Finally, as mergers reduced the number of companies participating in the program and the Penn Central collapse of the 1970's, the Alphabet Route slowly ended in an unceremonious fashion during the early 1980s.
The Extension, however, was gone before this time. After the formation of the Chessie System in 1972 between the Chesapeake & Ohio, B&O, and WM the new holding company elected to, interestingly, use the older and somewhat steeper Sand Patch line of the B&O, in turn abandoning not only the Extension in 1975 but also much of the "Wild Mary" system in the years to follow.
Today, the remnants of the route are now part of recreational corridors like the Allegheny Highlands Trail.
Western Maryland F7A #63 and a string of other F7s - power for Alphajet WM-6 - layover at the small engine terminal at Bowest Junction, Pennsylvania on August 16, 1969. Roger Puta photo.Sources
- Cook, Roger And Zimmermann, Karl. Western Maryland Railway, The: Fireballs & Black Diamonds. San Diego: Howell-North Books, 1981.
Recent Articles
-
Texas and Pacific Railway: Map, History, Timetables
Nov 10, 26 10:33 PM
The Texas & Pacific Railway, the federally chartered southern transcontinental that stopped at Sierra Blanca and became the Missouri Pacific's Texas and Louisiana main line. Merged October 15, 1976. -
Texas and Pacific Steam Locomotives: Texas Types and Mountains
Nov 10, 26 10:30 PM
Texas & Pacific steam: 70 Lima 2-10-4 Texas types, 600-669, classes I-1 through I-1d, and 10 Mountains, 900-909. No. 610 is at Palestine. -
Texas and Pacific Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Nov 10, 26 10:29 PM
All-time diesel roster of locomotives built for the Texas & Pacific. 246 units: E7s, E8s, 83 F7A and 35 F7B, NW2s, SW7s, SW8s, SW9s, GP7s, GP9s, GP18s, and GP35s. Serials and order numbers. -
Santa Fe-Southern Pacific Railroad: Merger, History, Paint Scheme
Nov 10, 26 10:07 PM
The proposed Santa Fe-Southern Pacific merger, from the 1980 attempt and the 1983 holding company through the ICC denial, the Kodachrome paint, and the sale of the Southern Pacific. -
CSX Santa Train Will Feature Locomotives 250 and 2026
Nov 10, 26 01:51 PM
The CSX Santa Train will feature locomotives 250 and 2026 on November 21, 2026. The 84th running covers 110 miles from Shelbiana, Kentucky, to Kingsport, Tennessee. -
Denton County Asks to Extend Stadler Car Relief
Nov 10, 26 01:05 PM
Denton County Transit Authority has asked the FRA to extend a waiver for its Stadler diesel multiple-unit cars. Comments run to January 11, 2027. -
FreightCar America Reports Third-Quarter Results
Nov 10, 26 01:02 PM
FreightCar America reported third-quarter revenue of $76.5 million and 662 railcar deliveries. Backlog stood at 2,660 cars valued at $284.5 million. -
Amtrak Has Filed a Train Control Amendment
Nov 10, 26 12:53 PM
Amtrak asked the FRA on October 26, 2026, to amend the safety plan for its Interoperable Electronic Train Management System. Comments are due November 30, 2026. -
SunRail Signal Waiver Is Open for Comment
Nov 10, 26 12:25 PM
FRA has asked for comment on a petition to extend signal-testing relief on the Central Florida Rail Corridor. The notice names both the corridor and CSXT. Comments run to January 11, 2027. -
Cars and Units Rose With BNSF Third-Quarter Earnings
Nov 10, 26 12:18 PM
Berkshire Hathaway reports that after-tax BNSF earnings increased 19.3 percent in the third quarter of 2026, with car and unit volumes up 3.9 percent. -
Amtrak Chicago Platforms Are Moving Toward Level Boarding
Nov 10, 26 12:13 PM
Amtrak says construction is underway soon on the first level boarding platforms at Chicago Union Station, a 112 million dollar, 30-month project. -
Maryland Has New Penn Line Times on November 16
Nov 10, 26 12:07 PM
MARC Penn Line schedules change on November 16, 2026, after Amtrak trains return to regular schedules. Weekend southbound trains are unchanged. -
Building Contract for Metrolink Sidings Goes to Granite
Nov 10, 26 12:00 PM
Granite says Metrolink awarded a 51.5 million dollar SCORE contract for sidings near downtown Los Angeles and in Rancho Cucamonga. -
EMD "F2" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, History
Nov 10, 26 12:22 AM
EMD F2, the 1,350-horsepower bridge between the FT and the F3. 104 locomotives, July through November 1946. Spotting features, specifications, and the production roster. -
Southern Pacific Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Nov 10, 26 12:08 AM
Southern Pacific diesel roster with builder serials, order numbers, Texas and New Orleans numbers, and the 1965 renumbering. Alco, Baldwin, Fairbanks-Morse, Electro-Motive, General Electric, Krauss-Ma… -
Southern Pacific Steam Roster: Post 1900
Nov 09, 26 11:56 PM
Southern Pacific steam locomotives built since 1900. Pacific Lines, Texas and Louisiana Lines, cab-forwards, the GS 4-8-4s, and five narrow-gauge Ten-Wheelers. The quantity column counts the rows as p… -
Canal Street Yard Assessment Stays Open Through December 7
Nov 09, 26 01:07 PM
The FRA signed the Canal Street Yard environmental assessment on November 6, 2026. Public inspection runs through December 7, and meeting dates are not confirmed. -
NS Legacy Cab-Signal Comments Are Due November 9
Nov 09, 26 01:05 PM
The FRA must receive comments by November 9, 2026, on a Norfolk Southern plan to drop legacy cab signals on 14 line segments and rely on positive train control. -
Elimination Grant of $27.8 Million Reaches Scott Road in Allen County
Nov 09, 26 12:53 PM
Allen County received $27,878,116, also stated as $27.8 million, to design and build a grade separation where Scott Road crosses Norfolk Southern. -
Vermont Receives $60.3 Million for the Western Corridor
Nov 09, 26 12:45 PM
Vermont will receive $60.3 million to rehabilitate about 60 miles of the Western Corridor. The delegation quote also calls the sum $60 million. -
Burlingame Grade Separation Wins a Federal Grant
Nov 09, 26 10:42 AM
Rep. Kevin Mullin said on November 5, 2026 that the FRA awarded $90.4 million for the Caltrain Broadway grade separation in Burlingame. Early work is expected in May 2027. -
Orange County Rail Line Gets a Coastal Permit
Nov 09, 26 10:18 AM
The California Coastal Commission on November 5, 2026 approved a 10-year permit for the San Clemente rail line, including about 690,000 cubic yards of sand. -
Railroad Quiet Zones Are Reinstated in St. Louis
Nov 09, 26 10:14 AM
St. Louis said on November 6, 2026 that the FRA reinstated the city quiet zones. Horns are to stop after railroad systems are updated. -
Southern Pacific Railroad: Map, History, Logo
Nov 08, 26 01:58 PM
The Southern Pacific, from the December 2, 1865 charter and the Big Four to Sprint, the Rio Grande Industries purchase of 1988, and the Union Pacific merger of February 1, 1997. -
California Awards Flexible Rail Aid to Nine Projects
Nov 08, 26 01:15 PM
CalSTA on November 5, 2026 awarded $66.58 million in flexible State Rail Assistance to nine California projects. Each amount in the summary is a cap, printed as up to. -
CSX Leaves Three Days Out of the Weekly Reports
Nov 08, 26 12:02 PM
CSX told the Surface Transportation Board it cannot recover October 27-29 data for the EP 724 and EP 787 reports covering the week ending October 30, 2026. -
NJ Transit Advances Three Station Housing Projects
Nov 08, 26 11:56 AM
NJ Transit on November 5, 2026 advanced station projects in Jersey City, Bound Brook, and Morristown. The three are projected to add more than 1,000 homes. -
River Fox Train Wraps a Locomotive for America 250
Nov 08, 26 11:06 AM
The River Fox Train in West Sacramento wrapped a locomotive with America 250 markings, the American flag, and the Sacramento skyline. The wrap is expected to stay through 2027. -
California Keeps Metrolink Service in the 2027 Budget
Nov 07, 26 11:35 PM
Metrolink says a California State Transportation Agency grant lets the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget keep service at current levels. The board hearing is November 13, 2026. -
WM's 4-6-6-4 Locomotives (M-2): Specs, Roster, History
Nov 07, 26 04:37 PM
Western Maryland class M-2, twelve Baldwin 4-6-6-4s numbered 1201-1212, built in 1940 and 1941 for Hagerstown-Connellsville fast freight. Roster, specifications, and retirement in 1952-1953. -
Missouri Pacific Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Nov 07, 26 04:26 PM
Missouri Pacific diesel roster with builder serials, order numbers, subsidiary lettering, and renumberings. Alco, Baldwin, Electro-Motive, and General Electric. Texas and Pacific locomotives are on th… -
Missouri Pacific Steam Roster (Built Since 1900)
Nov 07, 26 04:21 PM
Missouri Pacific steam locomotives built since 1900. Drury quantity column 1,439. Sedalia rebuilds counted once, 1,407 frames. Last steam was 0-6-0 9301 in November 1955. -
Missouri Pacific Railroad: Map, Locomotives, Logo, History
Nov 07, 26 04:19 PM
The Missouri Pacific was a large Midwestern that carried a long history of financial difficulty until later years. -
LIRR Service Changes Start on November 9
Nov 07, 26 03:15 PM
New Long Island Rail Road schedules start on every branch on Monday, November 9, 2026. Midday and weekend times change. Rush hour does not. Babylon service returns in stages. -
Draft EA Reviews Norfolk Southern Track in London, Ohio
Nov 07, 26 11:35 AM
The Surface Transportation Board environmental office issued a draft assessment on November 6, 2026, for about 0.96 miles of Norfolk Southern track in London, Ohio. Comments are due November 20. -
Metrolink Lines Will Not Run on Three Routes November 7
Nov 07, 26 10:53 AM
Metrolink will not run the Ventura County, Orange County, or Inland Empire-Orange County lines on November 7 and 8, 2026. The advisory says no substitute transportation will be provided. -
Hartford Line Adds a Weekday Round Trip on November 16
Nov 07, 26 10:48 AM
Connecticut said the Hartford Line adds a weekday New Haven-Hartford round trip on November 16, starts a morning train in Springfield, and extends weekend stops to Windsor and Windsor Locks. -
Board Issues a Policy Statement on Rail Preemption
Nov 07, 26 10:44 AM
The Surface Transportation Board placed a policy statement on public inspection for the November 9 Federal Register. It reviews existing preemption precedent and says it makes no binding determination… -
NJ Transit Restores Lines After the Newark Drawbridge Stop
Nov 07, 26 10:37 AM
NJ Transit said Morris and Essex service between Hackettstown and Dover, and Montclair-Boonton service between Hackettstown and Montclair State University, resumed after the Newark Drawbridge stop. -
EMD "SD35" Locomotives: Data Sheet, Specs, Roster
Nov 06, 26 10:35 PM
EMD SD35, 2,500 horsepower, 16-cylinder 567D3A, built June 1964 through January 1966. 360 locomotives. Specifications and the production roster by owner, serial, and order. -
EMD "SDP35" Locomotives: Data Sheet, Specs, Roster
Nov 06, 26 10:32 PM
EMD SDP35, the steam-generator SD35. 35 locomotives, July 1964 through September 1965. Seaboard Air Line 1100-1119, Atlantic Coast Line 550, Louisville and Nashville 1700-1703, Union Pacific 1400-1409… -
RJ Corman Will Be Replaced on Part of the Luzerne Lines
Nov 06, 26 01:34 PM
A November 6, 2026 notice says Wilkes-Barre Terminal Railway would acquire about 59.65 miles in Luzerne County and replace R.J. Corman as operator on part of the line. The earliest date is November 22… -
NS Names a Student Hub at the University of Georgia
Nov 06, 26 12:03 PM
Norfolk Southern said a 100,000 dollar gift named a student-organization hub in Driftmier Engineering Center. The University of Georgia marked the naming on October 26. The space is for 23 clubs. -
Union Pacific Filed Its Vena Recording Certification
Nov 06, 26 11:56 AM
Union Pacific filed a November 5, 2026 verified statement that the confidential label is off the March 17 Vena recording and that parties of record received a copy at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. -
OmniTRAX Adds Tenants at Its Blue Island Hub
Nov 06, 26 10:26 AM
OmniTRAX has signed new construction-company leases at its 90-acre Blue Island, Illinois, hub and is planning a second phase. -
Veterans and Active-Duty Members Exceed 16 Percent of Norfolk Southern
Nov 06, 26 10:14 AM
Norfolk Southern said on November 5, 2026, that more than 3,000 veterans and active-duty service members are more than 16 percent of its workforce. This year grants are $100,000 and $50,000. -
BNSF: Merger Would Put Half of U.S. Rail Shipments Under One Railroad
Nov 06, 26 10:00 AM
BNSF chief marketing officer Tom G. Williams told customers on November 3, 2026, that a Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger would put about half of U.S. rail shipments under one railroad. Nothing is… -
Amtrak Opens a Winter Fare Sale
Nov 06, 26 09:28 AM
Amtrak opened a Winter Wanderlust sale on November 5, 2026. Book by November 12 for travel from December 1, 2026, through March 14, 2027. Blackout dates apply. Coach and Acela Business only. -
CN and CPKC Report October Grain Records
Nov 06, 26 08:50 AM
CPKC reported October 2026 grain records in Canada and the United States. CN reported 3.54 million metric tonnes across Canada. The releases do not print a combined total. -
New Brunswick Transload Gets CN Rail Service
Nov 06, 26 08:49 AM
CN said on November 4, 2026, that it has started serving AD Gagnon Transload Services near Grand Falls, New Brunswick. The site is three kilometres from the Trans-Canada Highway and lists room for 106…
%20from%20Western%20Maryland's%201934%20system%20map.%20%20Author's%20collection.){kind=link}
%20has%20a%20westbound%20freight%20on%20the%20Connellsville%20Extension%20at%20Garrett%2C%20Pennsylvania%20on%20September%205%2C%201952.%20Bill%20Price%20photo.%20American-Rails.com%20collection.){kind=link}
%2C%20rolls%20through%20the%20famous%20Helmstetter's%20Curve%20near%20Corriganville%2C%20Maryland%20on%20May%2015%2C%201952.%20These%20Decapod's%20were%20used%20all%20over%20the%20WM's%20system%20in%20a%20variety%20of%20main%20line%20assignments.%20Bob%20Collins%20photo.){kind=link}