WM crossed the Potomac River for the 6th time within only 10 miles here across the river from Paw Paw, West Virginia. For many people this is all they ever see of the Western Maryland Railway as the bridge here also crossed Maryland Route 51. The bridge still reads "WESTERN MARYLAND RAILWAY", left over from WM's steam days. Many of WM's bridges were later painted silver and lettered in black Western Maryland "speed" lettering. This bridge and a few others on the WM never got to see the silver paint as the various routes were abandoned and removed before the paint was applied. The bridge remains as a decaying reminder of the once "Fast Freight Line" that ran up the Potomac River Valley. Today the bridge has been barricaded off and is difficult to cross. There is talk that this location and bridge will be the starting point for a possible railtrail thru the Paw Paw bends to Pearre, Md. connecting with the Western Maryland Rail Trail. There are also plans to extend the possible trail west to the current end of the WM/CSX rails at North Branch 39 rail miles to the west. The bridge is also near the C&O Canal's Paw Paw Tunnel. Visitors to the canal and tunnel pass under and turn into the canal parking lot here under the WM bridge. If you get a chance to visit the tunnel, take a look around the WM too.
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