Sandpatch

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me what road, town, state or wherever the famed "Sandpatch" railfan site is and roughly how to get there from Baltimore, Md.?

[Anonymous]

Re: Sandpatch. Sorry for forgetting my name. Address your replies to Bill and thanks for the info.

[JoeKoh]

Hi Bill
Sand patch is located in sw Pennsylvania.This B&O line goes from sand patch toHyndman. Bring your hiking boots.Between foley and fairhope is falls cut tunnel.there are other towns too.check with the B&O hist. society there in Baltimore they could give you a map or check around here in trains .com too.Its not that far from Baltimore if you want a weekend getaway. rts 160 and 96 are listed in my back issue of trains magazine 10-97.
stay safe
joe

[Modelcar]

....Bill, work your way west on I-70 from Baltimore area and turn on I-68 west until the Cumberland area...Select a route to get you to Wellersburg, Pa. and Rt. 160. That route crosses the Sand Patch line not too far from Sand Patch tunnel. Suggest you go to Google search and type in Sand Patch, Pa. and select from many entries of info to zero in a little better on when to leave I-68.

QM

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. If you are ever in the Cumberland area try taking a ride on the Western Maryland Scenic RR. It's about a 31/2 hour trip, 1 hour train ride each way with a 1 1/2 hour layover for lunch. Steam on weekends and a GP-30 weekdays. Cabrides cost $75, not bad for a two hour stint in the firemans seat. Thanks, again.

[Modelcar]

....When we were in Pennsylvania 2 years ago we were going to go down to Cumberland to ride the WM Scenic but had to cancel at last minute...I got on Terraserver.com and took a look at the route up to Frostburg [If I remember correctly], via satellite photo service. I have been to the WM Cumberland Passenger Station and even have a pic of the red caboose hanging here in the office that was parked out front near the station.

QM

[Anonymous]

Bill,
You have good responces on how to get to the Sand Patch area, so you should not have much trouble in finiing the grade. I am originally from Pittsburgh and have railfanned Sand Patch for many years. My fevorite sites are the Mance curve and the S-curves just above it, the local road bridge at the crest of the grade at Sand Patch tower (now gone) and Falls Cut tunnel (difficult to reach).
However, there are many great photo locations along the grade and it is impossible to do it all in one trip and the quality of each site varies with the changes of season. You may find other sites more to your liking.
Also, don't overlook the WESTERN slope up to Sand Patch. This grade begins at Confluence, PA and, though less well-known, there are many good photo spots there, too. The two tracks are separated partway up the grade and there are good photo locations at Confluence, Keystone and Myersdale, to name a few.
Much has ben written on Sand Patch and you would do well to do a little research before visiting the area.
Hope you enjoy the experience and find, as I did, that it is a place worth re-visiting often.
It happens that I will be moving to Morgantown, WV next week as I enter retirement. Part of the reason for this is the magical attraction that is Sand Patch Grade.
Jim
Roseau, MN

[Modelcar]

...A good rundown on the Sandpatch area and connecting route west. That is generally pretty rugged territory up through there and lots of photo locations...Another is on the old iron auto bridge at the western end of Garrett, just before Meyersdale and one might consider the Salisbury Viaduct just east of the above area, the old [and long and high] bridge of the abandoned Western Maryland. The CSX [former B&O] line runs right under it. The WM bridge is part of the east / west trail that uses the WM ROW for miles.

QM