Sand Patch grade on the former B&O in southwest Pennsylvania is one of the most famous locations in eastern railroading. Now known as CSX's Keystone sub, this route runs from Cumberland MD towards Pittsburgh and on to Ohio. Sand Patch grade is a 20 mile climb from Hyndman to Sand Patch tunnel with grades between 1.5% up to 1.94% on the east slope and a 5 mile climb from Salisbury Jct to Sand Patch on the west slope with a 1.51% grade. Lets go back to the 1990's during several of our visits to see CSX at Hyndman, Sand Patch, Keystone, Meyersdale, Salisbury, and Connellsville
a facebook link to some of my photos taken on the grade with some of the same trains:
profile.php?id=61558846180424
Hyndman PA:
0:00 a westbound ballast train
1:13 eastbound Q396
1:50 L135 meets 2:50 P030
3:35 L135's helpers
Sand Patch Tower:
4:24 R135 in 1989 with 2 Chessie
and 2 Seaboard system units
5:04 R381 with two C40-8's
5:31 R137 with a SCL GP40 leader
6:22 R217
7:16 Q396
9:08 Q135
10:07 Q396 starts after dropping
the helper at Keystone
11:44 The Connellsville helper
12:16 Q137 passes the helper
14:40 The Connellsville helper
follows Q137
15:50 Q352 with Road and Yd slugs
18:53 Q352's helper
19:30 the helper goes west to
Connellsville
20:00 Q137
22:03 Q135 starts after dropping it's
helper and meets
22:55 An Eastbound
Keystone Road:
25:15 an Amish Buggy and R135
Meyersdale:
26:50 Q352 with 2 Chessie units
trailing
Salisbury Viaduct:
27:43 Westbound
Connellsville:
29:07 R135 with mixed bag of
Power and a SBD leader
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