Operations on the Piermont Division of the Western Maryland Railway

Allen Keller’s description of operations on Howard Zane’s Western Maryland Piermont Division begins in Hanover. This is an area on the layout that sees a lot of switching activity. Here, a Western Maryland 28-O 772 meets with an eastbound mix train. A Pittsburgh and Lake Erie gondola hooks up with Norfolk and Western hoppers and the switchers clear the yard.

On Track Number 4 an 1103 with an Eastbound Number 6 moves out. At Franklin, Eastbound Number 6 exits Hunter Tunnel to pick up two Baltimore and Ohio hoppers and then meets a Westbound Number 8 and heads behind the station at White Horse Junction. At Lime Junction Eastbound Number 6 picks up two Chesapeake & Ohio boxcars, the 3246 and 3279 to be set out at the Great Northern Tool Company.

After switching, the Eastbound Number 6 crosses a creek and heads on to Piermont. Piermont Yard was built at the turn of century by an older railroad and now suffers from overcrowded conditions. However, a new right-of-way to Baltimore will hopefully improve this yard’s situation.