In 1980, Chessie and the Seaboard System merged to form CSX Corporation. In 1986, CSX Transportation (CSXT), a division of CSX Corporation, was formed. The Cumberland Coal Business Unit was set up by CSXT in 1993, and headquartered in Cumberland. This business unit was responsible for the shipment of over 18 million tons of coal in 1996. Over 850 route-miles of track from West Virginia mines to the port at Curtis Bay, Baltimore, are covered. All of the coal passes through Cumberland, as do the returning empty hoppers. The engine and car service facility in South Cumberland was originally built by the Baltimore & Ohio railroad in 1892 as a steam engine servicing and repair facility. Now, it is used to service and repair diesel locomotives, to provide training, and to service and classify freight cars. The volume of repair work is staggering. The car shops see over 2,200 freight cars per month. The diesel shops see 800 of CSX's fleet. The shops and adjacent facilities employ 900. The emphasis is on diesel engines from EMD Corporation.

Present-day CSX corporation is a class-1 railroad, one of 4 in the United States. The CSX Corporation is the surviving entity of all of the Western Maryland Shortlines. Today, massive 200 ton diesel electric units of CSX can be seen single-handedly lugging trains more than a mile in length along the original right-of-ways.

In South Cumberland is a freight classification yard, with a 32 track GRS hump facility. A veteran engine in C&O paint operates cars on the hump. The east throat of the yards is marked by Mexico tower. The west end of the yards feed into the Baltimore street crossing in Cumberland. The yards are busy places day and night, 365 days a year. On a given day, 50-60 trains pass through. Long cuts of empty coal hoppers are assembled to go west. Loaded Auto racks go east. Lumber and coke come in from West Virginia. Industrial chemicals and lumber get mixed in. On a given day, one can see examples of just about any of the many types of freight that can be hauled on a railroad go through Cumberland. Out behind the shops, on the deadline, are found all the older and failed units, waiting for their fate to be decided.

8563 at the Holiday Inn

Along the Queen City Pavement, big CSX diesels idle, gathering their strength for the westward haul. Whichever way they go, south over the viaduct to the 17 mile grade, or through the Narrows to Sandpatch, they have to head uphill. 10,000 - 12,000 - 15,000 horsepower waits to be unleashed against those hills. Switches are aligned, and trainlines are pumped up to test the brakes. Big orange Maintenance of Way diesels spot ballast hoppers to upgrade the lines. Signal maintainers check electrical connections on switches and crossing gates.

CSXT