B&O Right-of-Way Question

[shlustig]

Just East of Confluence, PA the B&O double-tracked line has the two tracks on separate rights-of-way for about 5 miles which at one point appear to be a mile or 2 apart.

Are both of these originals, or was one a later realignment? If a later alignment, when was it constructed? Did either one have 2 tracks at one time?

Thanks in advance.

[Wayside]

The double track between Rockwood and Confluence was installed in 1904. It takes the form of two split single-track railroads, with the new low grade line following the Casselman River more closely than the original alignment through Ft. Hill and Brook.

http://mtnsub.org/keystone/

[hutton_switch]

Just to add to "Wayside's" response, the upper line was the original line before the lower line was constructed. At the time of its construction in the 1850's/1860's, there wasn't that much traffic on this line to justify it being a two-track line. However, by the 1890's traffic had increased and load weights increased to require regular positioning of helpers up the gradient at this part of the line, plus there was the need to make the line two-track. So to lower costs and traffic congestion, the decision was made to construct the lower line around 1900.