PA Photos and Documents

Railroads were key to Meyersdale’s development, causing the small town to grow significantly during the final years of the 19th century and most notably into the early decades of the 20th century. The first train line to pass through the community was completed by the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad Company – later the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and today CSX – in April 1871. The Western Maryland Railway laid the second line of track in 1912. Abandoned in 1975, this former railroad line is now the Great Allegheny Passage hiking and biking trail spanning 150 miles between Cumberland, Maryland, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This photo collection contains images of several mid to late 20th century Meyersdale vicinity train accidents and their aftermath.