I read recently that the fourth phase of the Rails-to-Trails project for the old Western Maryland right-of-way is well underway with an expected completion date of April 2019. This will extend the eastern end of the trail to Little Orleans and a bit beyond to the foot of the bridge at Doe Gully. Unfortunately there's no plans at this time to push across the bridge into what surely is the most scenically spectacular length of the old WM mainline, the ten or fifteen miles that passes through the Potomac Bends to reach Paw Paw, setting up the run west-northwest to Cumberland. This eastern section of the trail runs from Big Pool, past Fort Frederick, through Hancock, around Sideling Hill, soon to reach Little Orleans. Unfortunately I don't believe Indigo Tunnel will be opened as part of the reconstruction...last time I was to the tunnel it had been fenced off to protect the local bat population which is in steep decline.
The WMRY ran within a few feet of the C&O Canal for much of George Gould's Cumberland Extension. Between the river, the canal, and the railway, the scenery is pretty fabulous...well worth a visit if you ever get out that way. It's pretty desolate through sections, but this time of year there are lots of folks hiking/biking the C&O its entire length, some of whom also biked the WMRY trail that runs from Connellsville to Cumberland. Definitely need to slather yourself with bug-repellent, and the locals in Little Orleans warned us to be on the lookout for young bears and timber rattlesnakes...thanks Bill!
Here's a couple snaps of the swimming hole and C&O aqueduct at Fifteen Mile Creek, just a few hundred yards beyond Little Orleans. You can't see it here, but the WMRY ROW is just fifty yards or so further up the hillside:
Construction of this aqueduct began around 1837 or so, was completed in 1850. That's a long time. Apparently work stopped frequently because of brawls between the German and Irish workers (or so says the historical marker at the site). Labor strife was a frequent problem on the C&O...all those hot-head Irishmen, lol...
More pics to follow if there's any interest.
Healey
