Byesville Scenic Railway

Our first train to operate south of Derwent

to C&M Crossing and State Route 821

March 22, 2008

On Saturday March 22nd 2008 we operated our train for the first time south of Derwent to the S.R. 821 crossing near Pleasant City. The last train to operate of this section of the line was in October 1993, after which the line fell into a state of disrepair and was heavily damaged in the floods of June 1998 and September 2004. Our volunteers dedicated many hours to clearing trees and brush, repairing washouts, and replacing old cross ties in order to re-open the line. We plan to operate over this new section of track this summer, increasing our mileage to 9 miles round trip. We plan to eventually re-build the entire railroad all the way to Cumberland.

Our train running south of Derwent for the first time, shown crossing State Route 313.

Byesville Scenic train southbound at Derwent

Crossing the wooden trestle south of SR 313.

Clearing small branches overhead from along the right-of-way.

Some of our volunteers taking in the new route as the snow begins to fall.

Clearing small trees from along the right-of-way.

Volunteers clearing small trees from along the right-of-way.

View from caboose cupola as train continues southbound.

Our train approaching the curve at C&M Crossing for the first time.

BSRW crew members inspecting wheels as our train enters the curve.

Our train at C&M Crossing. Here the PRR Marietta Branch crossed the B&O Eastern Ohio Branch. The ties of the "diamond" are still visible in the foreground.

Our train at C&M Crossing, the engine is now facing westbound towards SR 821. Cumberland, OH is 8 miles to the west of here.

Another view of our train at C&M Crossing.

View from caboose cupola, looking west at C&M Crossing.

View from locomotive #386, SR 821 crossing is in the distance.

Our train at the SR 821 crossing for the first time. C&M crossing is behind the train.

Byesville Scenic Railway crew at SR 821 crossing.

BSRW crew at SR 821 Crossing. Eventually this crossing will be rebuilt to allow passage of our train.

View of our train at SR 821 crossing, view looking south. Pleasant City is in the distance.

Click here to view photos of our efforts to rebuild this line from Derwent to Cumberland, OH.