ABOVE: A short freight train negotiates the narrow confines of the Trough, a passage in the mountains wide enough for just the South Branch of the Potomac River and the railroad to pass through; no roads follow the river through this scenic gorge. RIGHT: An occasional road reaches down into the Trough, and there are a few houses scattered along the river. The mixed train passes one of the houses on April 19.
passenger locomotive wearing the classic road’s blue and gray paint scheme. Several photo stops featuring both trains were held, some featuring a 1960 Buick to add some interest to the scenes. That night both trains were taken
out on the line to a trestle just south of Romney where Chase’s crew had set up Alien Bees flash strobe units. Once
darkness fell, photographers
were treated to scenes of both trains lit up for night photography. Adding a touch of human interest to the scenes, Christopher Brang posed as a brakeman during the shoot.
The following day a small crowd of about 30 photographers rode a mixed train into the Trough for a half-day trip utilizing locations that were too tight to accommodate the previous day’s 80 photographers. B&O 722 was the power for the trip, pulling a gondola and the
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RAILFAN.COM
Chessie caboose ahead of the passenger cars. The coaches were cut off at many of the photo spots and left out of sight, leaving photographers with a pure, albeit short, freight train. Chase Gunnoe and his crew did an outstanding job during the charter. A very dismal forecast earlier in the week broke for the better, with Saturday’s all- day trip running mostly in sunshine. The half-day trip into the Trough on Sunday started out with sun before clouds (and eventually rain) moved in. Who would have thought, back in the 1970s, that someday there would be excitement over an excursion using Chessie System equipment? Love it or hate it, the tri-color paint scheme with the kitten is certainly unusual. Nostalgia knows no boundaries.
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