THE CLOCK BY STEVE BARRY PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR
NESTLED ALONG the South Branch of the Potomac River is the appro- priately named South Branch Valley Railroad. Built originally as the South Branch Railroad in 1884 from a connection with the Baltimore & Ohio at Green Spring,
W.Va., the line extended south to Moorefield and Petersburg in the Mountain State. The line came under control of the B&O in 1911, and was then purchased by the state in 1978. Tourist passenger service was established in 1991 as the Potomac Eagle, so named for the frequent bald eagle sight- ings along the route.
“Chesapeake & Ohio 8016” was used on the north end of the passenger consist for a charter on the Potomac Eagle over the rails of the South Branch Valley on March 23, 2013. The first runby of the day was on a long trestle just south of Romney,
W.Va. C&O 8016 is actually former Clinchfield No. 800.
On March 23, 2013, an excur- sion was operated over the line using three historic diesels on freight and passenger consists. Organized by Chase Gunnoe, the trip covered the north end of the line from the Potomac Eagle’s base of operations to Green Spring, then finished with a din- nertime ride through “the trough,” the most scenic part of the line, to a night photo location at Sycamore Bridge.
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