The map below shows the CSX lines in and around Grafton, WV, which this part of the guide will cover. As the key shows, the red lines are CSX track, the yellow lines are primary roads, such as State and US Routes and green is the secondary roads and smaller streets for the most part on this guide. All shown roads are accessible without 4 wheel drive, although in winter months it is recommended. I've also placed icons where signals are currently located, which can be used in conjunction with the signal lists on the timetable page.
Grafton, WV
The town of Grafton, West Virginia is the nerve center of CSX's Cumberland Coal Business Unit (CCBU) operations in northern WV. From Grafton, four subdivisions radiate out on all major points of the compass. To the north runs the Fairmont Subdivision, with a connection to Conrail at Rivesville. The east yard, Grafton engine terminal and track west to Berkeley Run Jct is part of the Mountain Subdivision, in addition to the main eastern line which tranverses some of the most mountainous terrain on CSX to reach Cumberland, Maryland. Running south from Grafton is the Cowen Sub, the origins of most of the coal traffic on the CCBU. And to the west is the Bridgeport Subdivision, which after reaching its namesake, turns northwest to reach the Ohio River at Brooklyn Jct over the Shortline Subdivision.
How to get to Grafton, WV
To reach Grafton, the easiest way is to get on Interstate 79 which runs north-south through northern West Virginia. If your approaching from the south, get off I-79 at Exit 119 and take US Rt. 50 east. Follow it through Bridgeport where you'll cross over the Bridgeport Sub. Stay on Route 50 until you reach an intersection where US Rt. 250 merges with Rt 50. Remain on 50 the rest of the way until you reach the city limits of Fetterman. Continue through Fetterman where you can either take W. Boyd Road into town or continue on US Rt. 50 to the top of Hospital hill and then take a right. Find a road (there's many of them) that leads down over the hill and follow it until you reach Main St. The yard is behind the row of buildings in front of you. Use the MapbBlast Link below to get more precise directions, although this map utilizes a different route at the end, by way of taking Rt. 119 into Grafton instead of Rt. 50.
Click Here to use MapBlast! for driving directions from Bridgeport I-79 exit to Grafton
If your approaching from the north, get off I-79 at Exit 132 and take US Rt. 250 south. Follow it past the Middletown Mall and Walmart and continue on Rt. 250 until you reach an intersection where USRt. 50 merges with Rt 250. Take Rt. 50 the rest of the way until you reach the city limits of Grafton. Continue until you reach Fetterman where you can either take W. Boyd Road into town or continue on US Rt. 50 to the top of Hospital hill and then take a right. Find a road (there's many of them) that leads down over the hill and follow it until you reach Main St. The yard is behind the row of buildings in front of you. Use the MapbBlast Link below to get more precise directions, although this map utilizes a different route at the end, by way of taking US Rt. 119 into Grafton instead of Rt. 50.
Click Here to use MapBlast! for driving directions from Fairmont I-79 exit to Grafton
Downtown Grafton
In this section, I'll cover the highlights of Grafton. For directions on how to reach downtown Grafton, see the directions in the above section: "How to get to Grafton". The first place you'll want to visit is the engine terminal. Assuming you're on Main Street, follow it until you reach the Grafton Fire department. Take the street to the right of the fire station that goes down a short hill to the engine terminal. In front of you is the fueling and sanding facility, a yellow structure with "drums" on the top. D Tower is to your right where the Fairmont Subdivision breaks away from the mainline. The Tower can be reached via a small CSX road down to it, although don't follow it because of the NO Tresspassing signs. To the left is the old Baltimore and Ohio's Grafton Station and Hotel, which have been sold to the city of Grafton for commercial use. In the yard are several new buildings with blue roofs, these are the replacements for the station offices. Farther to your right is a turntable, all that is left of the old roundhouse that was torn down in the early 90's. For another vantage point of Grafton terminal operations, find the parking lot to the right of D Tower. This lot can be reached by taking Main Street west and then turning down Latrobe Street to enter the lot - however, this is a private city lot so you'll have to find another place to actually park your car! To the east of the bridge next to the Station and Willard Hotel is the West Grafton yard where westbounds over the Fairmont, Cowen and Bridgeport Subdivsions will be put together. Often trains will be parked on one of the three maintracks beside the station, giving clue to when something will depart...
Grafton to Fetterman
The Fairmont Subdivision breaks off the Mountain subdivision in front of D Tower as a single track and heads west to Fairmont, WV, through Fetterman, WV. About 200 feet past the D Tower interlocking, the sub goes to double track. The track closest to the hill is a running track for train going to or off of the Monongahela lines located north of Fairmont. Leaving Grafton, take Boyd Street west (take a right) from the traffic light on Main Street (Rt 119)in front of the Post Office (it's obvious) and remain on it with the tracks off to the left below you. In less than a mile the road will rejoin the Fairmont sub at track level, although a row of houses and apartments separate the road from the tracks, but you should be able to see the line between houses. Continue on Boyd Street for less that half a mile until the street swings right to Route 50 which is the beginning of the next railfan guide, Railfanning the Fairmont Subdivision.
Another way to reach Fetterman is to ahead straight on Rt. 119 at the Post Office instead of turning right onto Boyd Street. Passing the Post Office, you'll head down a short hill. To your left is an old freight depot still standing next to the Fairmont subdivision. You'll then cross over the Tygart River and on the other side of the bridge, take a right onto County Road 40 and remain on it for about 2 miles, with the tracks to your right on the other side of the Tygart River. After 2 miles you'll reach an intersection with US Route 50 where you can A) take a right across the Tygart River to enter Fetterman or B) head west on Rt 50 to Bridgeport, WV or Fairmont, WV, both of which routes are covered in the Railfanning the Fairmont Subdivision page.
East Grafton
East Grafton is the location of a sizable yard. Trains are dispatched from here to go east over the Mountain Subdivision to Cumberland, Maryland. To reach the yard, take US 119 east - Main Street - in Grafton. After passing the old B&O train station, go about half to three fourths of a mile until Main Street begins to climb a hill. Turn right off Main Street and take Monroe Street, which is a secondary paved road. Continue for about 1/2 to 3/4 a mile when you'll climb a small hill and be able to look down on the yard. Q316, the daily mixed freight over the Mountain Subdivision is usually parked on the "17 track" during its layover in Grafton after arriving from Clarksburg, WV. The 17 track is the track closest to Raccoon Creek - farthest from the road. Coal drags ready to head east will be kept on one of the middle sections of the east yard, usually the ones next to the two mainline tracks - the X track and yd tracks 1-7. Helpers for eastbounds are sometimes added here if they're in Grafton for refueling or other event so keep an ear to the scanner. If you want to chase east, turn around and go back up Monroe Street to Rt. 119 and then go right up the hill to the intersection and take Route 50 east. Continued on the Railfanning the Mountain Subdivision: Part I.
Grafton to Berkeley Run Jct.
Trains leaving for the Cowen or Bridgeport subdivisons will head west from the West Grafton Yard across the Tygart River bridge to Berkeley Run Jction. To chase, follow on Route 119 bridge or by taking Main Street east from the Terminal and then crossing over the yard on Bridge Street and going down and under the bridge -one way street- and then taking Front Street next to Three Forks Creek Creek until you see the railroad bridge to the right -long directions there. If the train you're photographing is heading west towards Berkeley Run Jct, don't get caught in the traffic stopped at the Beech Street Crossing. Instead, go straight on Walnut street with the tracks to the right. The road name will change from Walnut to Pearl Street in a short distance but keep going straight. A cemetary is to the right and after passing it, the road will drop down a knoll to track level. Liberty Street crossing is right ahead and you have probably beat the train here because of the slow yard speed limit. However, Liberty Street like Beech Street is protected with gates so don't dally.
If you've came across the US 119 bridge, get in the right lane and turn right continuing on Rt 119 before crossing the Beech Street Xing. There's three tracks at this location - from here to Berkeley Run Jct - and two are used to park coal drags off the Cowen or empties ready to go south over the Cowen sub. One track is kept open for through movements, usually the middle one. Continue for about one mile on 119 when you'll see a road go to your left and cross the tracks. This is the previously mentioned Liberty Street. Berkeley Run Jct is around the curve to the west inside of a steep cut so its hard to reach. From the crossovers at Liberty Street and the scanner you should be able to determine if the train is going to south to Cowen over the Cowen Subdivision or west to Clarksburg over the Bridgeport subdivision. The guide for the Bridgeport Subdivision will be forthcoming in 2001.
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Notice and Disclaimer: The guides and Northern West Virginia's Railroads DO NOT recommend or endorse any form of tresspassing, whether on railroad or private property. I have tried to list locations which are on public roads or property, but if I have made a mistake, please adhere to posted signs or the wishes of the landowners. Remember to use common sense and think saftey! Also, please note these railfanning guides are published for your entertainment purposes only. While I have tried to make these guides as accurate and easy to read as possible, some mistakes may exist unnoticed. As a result, use at your own risk because I do not wish to be held accountable for someone's ruined trip - Thank you for your understanding.
Copyright 2000 © Northern WV's Railroads
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