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). 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. Unfortunately, following the Chessie System union, the three railroads (Chesapeake & Ohio, Baltimore & Ohio, and WM) began an integration process. The Western Maryland was highly dependent on bridge traffic and the Connellsville Extension acted as a link in this chain. Despite this the Extension remained an important artery for decades following and offered spectacular views of the rolling countryside.Īfter the formation of Chessie System in 1972 the route's importance waned. However, its high cost eventually forced the WM into bankruptcy and Gould later lost control of the railroad. The nearly 100 mile-long route was built to incredibly high standards and featured impressive engineering feats. The extension ran from Cumberland, Maryland to Connellsville, Pennsylvania where it connected the WM with another Gould subsidiary, the Pittsburgh & West Virginia. 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.
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