M316 begins their ascent down the 17 mile grade at Altamont with CSXT 911 leading.
Summit of the Alleghanies A westbound Baltimore & Ohio train of empty hoppers approaches the crest of seventeen mile grade at Altamont Maryland. There is a sign just west of there ... (more)
8581 has 3 more SD50's behind him on the freight.
CSXT only schedule trains on the Mountain Sub is Q316/317 freight trains. Here Q316 passes thru Altamont and is about to start down 17 mile grade towards Cumberland. This mainline mainly is a coal... (more)
A westbound B&O empty hopper train has the top of Seventeen Mile Grade in its sights as it grinds past the wye track at Altamont, MD on November 21, 1981.
It's only early October and the fall foliage already appears to be slightly past peak at Altamont.
U878's pace has slowed as he nears the summit at Altamont, about 1/10th of a mile ahead. At 2628', Altamont is not only the highest point on the Mountain Sub, it's also the highest point served b... (more)
B&O 4559 crests the 17 mile grade at Altamont, MD. in September, 1969.
A helper engine sits next to AM Tower at the crest of 17 mile grade on the Ex-B&O Mountain Sub. Soon it will receive a signal to head downhill for it's next assignment
Eastbound Q316 is passing the tower in Altamont as it reaches the highest spot on the B&O. In just a few minutes it will start down Seventeen Mile Grade on the famous West End.
A pair of SD70MAC's lead an eastbound coal drag past the B&O's Summit of the Alleghanies. The train will soon be descending the legendary Seventeen Mile Grade.
Almost to the Summit of the Alleghenies
With a fairly short train, 317 had little trouble reaching the summit at Altamont - 48 minutes to get here from Piedmont.
At 2,628 feet, I believe this is the highest point on the CSX system. U822's head end is a few car lengths past the Summit of the Alleghenies marker.
Pulling a loaded CSX coal train, two of NS's thoroughbreds are a long ways from home rails.
