RAILforum: What's the name . . .

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Posted by CG96 (Member # 1408) on :

of the river that the Capitol Ltd. passes for much of its route between Pittsburgh & DC? On my recent trip, I noticed that there were what appeared to be a few canal lochs along this route. Is this the Potomac?

Posted by rresor (Member # 128) on :

The former B&O mainline, used by Amtrak's "Capitol", follows two rivers between Washington and Pittsburgh.

Heading west, the route runs across country to Dickerson, MD, where it descends to parallel the Potomac River through Point of Rocks and Brunswick. It crosses to the south bank of the Potomac just before the Harper's Ferry station stop, then cuts across country to Martinsburg, returning to the Potomac south of Hancock, MD. The line follows the Potomac all the way to Cumberland, thence follows Wills Creek through "The Narrows" and up toward the summit of the line at Sand Patch, PA.

Descending from Sand Patch, the line follows the Youghiogheny River ("Yuck-a-gany") to its junction with the Monongahela River, which it follows for a few miles entering Pittsburgh.

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (no relation to the railroad) was opened between Washington, DC and Cumberland, MD in 1850. It closed after a huge flood in 1935, and is now preserved as a historic park. The towpath can be walked or biked all the way from DC to Cumberland -- 180 miles by canal, 140 by rail.

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :

Totally concurring with Mr. Resor's description, allow me to add that after crossing Sand Patch, the line follows the Casselman River to the community of Confluence - that name being derived form the "confluence" of the Casselman, the Laurel Hill and the Youghiogheny.

Wherever you may be, dear, thank you very much (a Feb 02 description provided me aboard #30 by the wife of a retired B&O locomotive engineer).

Posted by Newtimes (Member # 2037) on :

RResor, great reply with clear, specific and concise info.

Russell in VA