Confluence, PA: B&O Depot & (CF) Tower and GAP Trail

Depot: (Satellite, according to a topo map)

GAP Trail, Casselman Bridge: (Satellite) This is on the former Western Maryland RoW

GAP Trail, Youghiogheny Bridge: (Satellite) This new bridge was built upstream of the extant WM bridge.

GAP = Great Allegheny Passage

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
B & O (Baltimore & Ohio) train at the station in Confluence, Somerset County in 1951.
Bob Leverknight shared

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
Train Depot in the town of Confluence, Somerset County.
Bob Leverknight shared

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
B & O (Baltimore & Ohio) Railroad Station in the community of Confluence, Somerset County in 1910.
Bob Leverknight shared

 

Confluence, Pennsylvania 101 posted

BIG MAUDE IN CONFLUENCE is pictured. Covered extensively previously—“Big Maude” (#2400) was built for the B&O Railroad in 1904 in Schenectady, New York. The then-largest engine in the world is shown here in Confluence in 1912. It was renumbered #7000 in 1915 and scrapped by 1938. And that, folks, is a LOT of metal. 🛤️ 

Photo: Confluence Centennial (Record of a Century) (1874-1973). 📖

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
Western Maryland train passing through Confluence, Somerset County in 1975.
Bob Leverknight shared
Dale V Rockwell: Tower destroyed and operator killed in May 1987 wreck.
[Some comments indicate this was a B&O tower in Confluence and the WM train is using B&O tracks. This tower is not the one shown above that was close to the depot.]

 

Darren Reynolds posted
B&Os "CF" tower  Confluence,Pennsylvania
Gary Gnagey: I believe this was the tower where either a westbound or eastbound train derailed and demolished the tower and killed the operator. His name was Bob Leonberger who was a friend of mine!
Roger H Mitchell: Gary Gnagey you are correct.

The B&O left town on the east side with three different routes. The mainline split and joined again east of the Brooks and Benford Tunnels. There were also branches to the north and south from Confluence. There was also a branch that continued south on the west side of the Youghiogheny river.

1933 Confluence Quad @ 62,500

I wonder why they built the new bridge in the foreground for the GAP Trail instead of staying on the WM RoW since the WM bridge still exists in the background. Although, it looks like the new bridge did repurpose a pier from an old bridge.

Street View, Nov 2016