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  • W&LE Trackage Rights to Hagerstown

  • The Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (reporting mark WE) is a Class II regional railroad that provides freight service, mainly in the U.S. state of Ohio. Website: http://www.wlerwy.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (reporting mark WE) is a Class II regional railroad that provides freight service, mainly in the U.S. state of Ohio. Website: http://www.wlerwy.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1496286  by Shortline614
 
I was looking at a map of the W&LE and noticed they had trackage rights over CSX to Hagerstown, Maryland. What is the purpose of these trackage rights, and how often does the W&LE use them?
 #1497552  by lvrr325
 
It replicates the end of the old Alphabet Route, where the W&LE and P&WV teamed up with Western Maryland and other roads to reach east coast destinations. It was used for grain trains and later some ore trains but may currently be dormant.
 #1498077  by ShortlinesUSA
 
The trackage rights were used for grain trains bound for Shenandoah, VA on the NS. The train symbol was Z416 on CSX. Loads were taken to Shenandoah, spotted, and the WLE power returned light to Connellsville. The trackage rights are still in existence, but not used.

The ore trains which ran to Sparrows Point briefly before the collapse of RG Steel in Baltimore in 2012 did not utilize the trackage rights. A CSX crew took the train east from Connellsville to Baltimore.
 #1524661  by mmi16
 
Connellsville - Hagerstown was my territory until I retired at the end of 2016.

If memory serves - the last time the WLE used their trackage rights was in late 2008 or in 2009.