01/25/2026
A project that began in October 2017 is now officially complete!
A 1,700-foot passing siding has been fully constructed at the Cumberland & Pennsylvania location known as “Number Nine.”
Number Nine is historically significant as one of the interchange points between the Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad and the Western Maryland Railway. Its name comes from the nearby Consolidation Mine No. 9 in Garner’s Meadow, which was abandoned in the mid-1920s.
This project was made possible thanks to the Maryland Department of Transportation’s “Switch 9 Revenue Capacity Enhancement Project” grant, which provided crucial funding for construction.
The new passing siding will help alleviate congestion in Frostburg, improve operational efficiency, provide more flexible scheduling, allow for longer trains, and reduce fuel costs—trains can now operate with a single locomotive when appropriate.
