| Three EMD GP11s power this Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad freight train north on the former B&O Sheepskin Branch on April, 16, 2014. On the left you see the cleared trees for the recently reclaimed Bowest Yard in Dunbar, PA. Closed by the Western Maryland Railway in the 1970's, the yard and facilities were removed except for a few overgrown tracks. A booming Marcellus Shale natural gas industry in the region persuaded the SWP Railroad to invest in reconstructing Bowest Yard, which will allow them to store more freight cars and give quick access to nearby CSX. Also, on the right side the trees have been cleared for a second track to run from Wheeler to Mount Braddock, PA. The past is truly reliving itself, as this section was double-tracked in the days of the B&O. |