The Monongahela Railway

"Steve Neff goes all out to get a super look at a flashy and very busy little railroad in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. The Monongahela became well-known when it inherited some Baldwin Sharks from the New York Central back in the '60s; now we can see what the Mon offers today.

"A small line that is guilty of some street running in West Brownsville, this road is a major coal hauler, the seventh largest in the U.S. Besides its own movements, it hosts a lot of unit trains with other railroads' motive power, and cars from electric utilities. The result is great trackside viewing with Detroit Edison, P&LE, CNW, Conrail and CSX power in various combinations along with the Monongahela's own handsome GE Super 7 units in GE gray and white with red heralds. Together, they handle trains for Detroit Edison, Somerset Railway, Wisconsin Electric and others with P&LE cabooses tacked on the rear! Monongahela's power is all four-axle with EMD Bloomberg trucks under the units, but most other power is six-axle ranging up to the latest EMD SD-60s and the GE wide-noses.

"All this variety along with great scenery and fine locations make for a very entertaining and fast moving hour of entertainment. A nice map is included so you can visualize where all the branches go and the narration will keep you on track. An excellent profile of a dedicated coal hauling railroad!" Ted Davis - National Railway Historical Society