Colmar/B187.28






Colmar marked the end of the 1.75% westbound grade out of Cumberland. 1,714 ft. was gained in only 21 rail miles. Colmar was also known as the end of the double track that ran from Ciumberland. After CTC was installed between Cumberland and Deal in 1954, the double track was removed except for a helper pocket here at Colmar and a 2.5 mile stretch at Frostburg to be used as a passing siding. Colmar once had a tower, it remained in service until 1946 and was torn down in 1948.


I currently have the switch stand that was used here at Colmar when it was a helper pocket. A friend gave it to me when he found it while driving the abandoned right-of-way west towards Deal. The switch stand is pictured above.


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Approaching Colmar the Allegheny Highlands Trail was unfinished. The right-of-way such as this cut still appears to be left as it was when abandoned. (11/7/04)

Further up but yet quite a ways from Colmar the right-of-way begins to unveil great views of the valley below. Just looking as these photos you can see the trail climbing up the 1.75% and it is quite a workout on a bike from Frostburg. (11/7/04)

WM train downgrade out of Big Savage Tunnel at Comar. Unknown photographer and date but by look of the Chessie paint mostly likely early 1975 before abandonment. The locomotives at 60, 40, and 3578.

A photo I purchased show WM GP35 3580 coming around the curve from exiting Big Savage Tunnel and to star it decent to Frostburg from Colmar. I had hiked up from Frostburg on November 7, 2004 and it had gotten a little to dark for photos at this same location. (11/7/04)

A WM westbound with mid-train helpers is passing the switch at Colmar headed for Big Savage Tunnel. These photos was taken by Warren Jenkins in late April 1975 when Warren and friends were doing there first "railfan campout'. One of his buddies, John O'Connor is seen in the photo with the orange backpack. A total of 7 Fs were on this train and one threw sparks that ignited a brush/woods fire in the area of the concrete abutments of the tramway between Big Savage Tunnel and Borden Tunnel. When Warren and his friends hiked back down from Colmar they met up with the Mt. Savage VFD and the Maryland DNR crews dousing the flames. Warren and his friends helped a bit to doused the flames as they were long-time Boy Scouts. (April 1975, Warren Jenkins)

Here is the former Colmar tower pictured in 1917. The tower remained in operation until 1946 and was torn down in 1948. Thanks to Warren Hart for contributing these photos.



story from Warren Jenkins

This article appeared in the Cumberland evening paper in early June, 1975, right after our Memorial Day weekend bash at Big Savage Tunnel. While about 10 of us from Beall High in Frostburg had a grand time at the west portal, the rest of our Boy Scout troop was camped at the east portal, apparently causing some consternation from passing train crews. I should note that our west portal site was off the R-O-W in the woods, the Scouts were apparently camped about where the Colmar tower used to be. This would all result in myself and my friends leaving the B.S.A., by the time we tried this again in May 1976, the main had been broken for a month and it was already a ghost railroad for many miles. The trek from Frostburg to Sand Patch with full backpacks in the rain would convince all of us that we needed our own transport to a better place. We would find that the next year at Falls Cut Tunnel on B&O Sand Patch line.


Looking west from the former shanty location at Colamr towards Big Savage Tunnel. (11/7/04)




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