Southbound view at the SR 313 crossing in Derwent prior to 2004. The tracks are not visible due to 15 years of deferred maintenance on the railroad.  From here to C&M crossing (3/4 mile in the distance) this was the old Marietta Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Wintertime view at the SR 313 crossing after much of the trees and brush have been cleared away between rails.  Clearing the brush between the rails allows for access of maintenance-of-way equipment.

Brush cutting in the wintertime, south SR 313.  Winter is the ideal time for clearing the brush as poison ivy (and wasps and hornets) are dormant.

This small cut, located about 1/8th mile south of the SR 313 crossing, was full of hundreds of maple saplings, making access by train or maintenance-of-way equipment impossible.

Clearing the saplings in the cut south of Derwent. Aside from the brush and trees, the track is in good condition.  The rail between SR 313 and C&M crossing is continuous welded rail and many of the cross ties are in good condition.

"Before" view of some of the brush and thicket near old PRR milepost 49, south of Derwent.  The "after" picture appears next...

"After" view of the section crew's efforts to cut back the brush and thicket from the right-of-way.

This concrete marker is old milepost 49 of the Pennsylvania Railroad.  This milepost goes back to the days when the miles were measured northward from Marietta.

Northbound view of the curve at C&M Crossing, March 2004. This area has been transformed dramatically, see our 2006 "working on the railroad photos"

Westbound view of the curve at C&M Crossing, March 2004. The washout dates back to the "Flood of the Century" in 1998.

Work crew at SR 313 crossing in Derwent, April 2004.

View of washout south of SR 313 in Derwent, April 2004.
 

Southbound view of motorcar at SR 313 in Derwent.
 

Volunteer efforts were also on-going in downtown Byesville. View of the recently completed station in Byesville, April 2004.
 

Bill & Cliff at old PRR milepost north of C&M crossing.

Southbound view at C&M Crossing. Our line to Cumberland bears to the right.  The line through Byesville used to head straight through here en route to Marietta. The last train to Marietta was in 1976, while the last train to Cumberland was in 1993.

Southbound view at in the small cut south of Derwent, Summer 2004.

Motorcar in the same area, after another round of brush cutting, Fall 2004.

Westbound view of the SR 821 road crossing near Pleasant City, prior to brush cutting, Fall 2004.  The washout in the foreground dates to the "Flood of the Century" in 1998.
 

Westbound view from motorcar of the SR 821 road crossing.
 

SR 821 road crossing after brush cutting, November 2004.

Westbound view at "Banner Mine Switch", located west of SR 821. The line has since been cleared all the way to Cumberland, O.

2005 photos>