East End: B&O's Neck of the Bottle Harpers Ferry to Cumberland 1842-1992 [signed] [first edition]

Fascinating look at the B&O's Cumberland Division from Harper's Ferry to Cumberland -- the famed East End. The authors take us up the Nine Mile Grade, through The Valley, on to Martinsburg, Cumbo, North Mountain, Cherry Run, the riverline Funnel, magnificent Magnolia Cutoff, Patterson Creek and into the vast Cumberland Yard. They also provide well-grounded explanations of the construction and operation of this section, including historical analysis of B&O's operating methods-- the Civil War chapter is especially interesting. Illustrated throughout with black and white photos as well as a 16 page color section. (The photos are all action shots and should be invaluable to the modeler since they include lots of trackside scenery and stations (inside and out) for realism.) With numerous maps, gradient profiles, timetables, and a bibliography. 223 pages with index.