A Weekend on the CSX Sand Patch Grade

As we make our way to Sand Patch, we stopped at Hagerstown Yard. Here a set of 6axle engines idle in the early morning.

Waiting to head into Cumberland Yard at Mexico

YN2 Dash 9 at Mexico

CSX engines waiting for servicing in Cumberland Yard

A now rare YN2 SD40-2, CSX 8829, in Cumberland

CSX Y120-10 working Cumberland with a nice EMD duo.

2nd unit on CSX Y120-10, rebuilt from CSX 2619

Q352 heading to Cumberland with a nice lashup

A very uncommon YN2 SD40-2, CSX 8455, trailing 3rd on Q352

Empty coal train E759 rounds the horseshoe curve at Mance with two GEs for power

Q261-09 heads west through Mance with a decent lashup.

Shortly after Q261 cleared, Q641 passed by with an HLCX SD40-2 3rd out.

HLCX Redbird 6249 trailing on Q641

Q353 cresting the grade at Sand Patch with a YN3 Dash 9 leading 3 YN2 GEs.

K055 passes the former B&O station in Myersdale on its way back to Chicago.

K055-09 rolling through Myersdale with two YN2 GEs sandwiching BNSF 9568

Ex BN SD70MAC 9568 2nd on K055

Q358 screaming by Keystone in Notch 8 with an SD40-3 rebuild in the lead.

CSX SD60 is the 2nd unit on Q358

Q138 coming into the small town of Mance with two CSX GEs for power.

CSX Q276 through Mance

CSX loaded slab train K552 howling through Mance

B246-10 shoving on the rear of K552

Q740 with two brand new ET44AHs

Q740 heading east with two brand new ET44AHs

Empty grain train V088 rolling past the Mance Post Office with two UP SD70ACes in the lead.

2nd engine on V088

3rd engine on V088

Final engine on V088

An extra section of Q216 heads east for Philly with a CEFX SD40M-2 2nd out

CSX 3226 leads an 11 engine Q394 through Mance

CSX GP38-3 rebuild in the consist of Q394

SD40-3 rebuild in the consist of Q394

In the consist of Q394

The final train of Day 1, L217 rolls through Mance well after sunset

B250-10 shoving on the rear of L217-10

Q388 coming into Cumberland at the crack of dawn with the "Spirit of Magnolia" leading

CSX Q394-10 rolling east on the Keystone Sub

Q394 heading towards Cumberland in the fog

The Capitol Limited heading east through Myersdale in the rolling fog

A loaded 130 car coal train in Myersdale with a GE leading three EMD locomotives

U828 in notch 8 through Sand Patch, PA, on the way east

Second engine on U828

One last shot of the U828, now rolling downgrade through Mance

3rd engine on U828

4th engine on U828

L261 in Mance with a YN2 Dash 8 leader

Westbound intermodal through Mance