Hancock, WV 2001

Hancock Station is used as a track office. According to Roberts/Hollis' East End, in the distant past this station was moved intact to give room for the interchange tracks with the Berkeley Springs Branch. Although Hancock is on the way to Berkeley Springs, the book reports that Sir Johns Run was used as the station for Berkeley Springs before the branch was built.


Hancock Station is at the far east end of a railroad facility that includes yard tracks, a separate Berkeley Springs branch interchange area, maintenance of way facilities and the HO tower.


On Columbus Day, 2001, CSXT was adding to a train from the yard tracks. Note the two diesels in waiting. Please email if you know the operations of this area. By the way, to take this shot involves walking out on the Rt. 522 bridge with about a two foot berm thereby incurring the wrath of passing motorists.


Heading upriver towards Sir Johns Run, one passes this long deserted concrete plant that at one time spanned both sides of the track. This ridge is now known for silica sand production as evidenced by the large quarrying shown on the map below.


This operating point is called Grasshopper Hollow, note the switch controls are mounted high to avoid the inevitable flooding along the Potomac


Grasshopper Hollow area between Hancock and Sir Johns Run. Across the Potomac, the Western Maryland Railway and C&O Canal are also using the powerful excavating work of the river to provide a route through the Valley and Ridge region. Roundtop Hill, just beyond the upper left on the map has a 900 foot vertical cut from the stream.

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