Georges Creek and Cumberland Railroad
In the late nineteeth century, the Georges Creek & Cumberland Railroad (GC&C) was created by rival coal mining companies in the Georges Creek Valley to compete against the Consolidated Coal Company who dictated rail traffic over the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad. By 1887 GC&C crossed the town of Midland, Maryland on a large wooden trestle. The rail line came through Clarysville, Maryland and Vale Summit, and went down to Lonaconing, Maryland to service the mines. The trestle was removed in the 1930’s.
In addition to coal hualing, the GC&C provided passenger stations and service. The January 18, 1887 published schedule of the GC&C shows two trains per day from Cumberland to Lonaconing (except Sundays). If you took the 10:45 AM from Lonaconing, you could lunch in Cumberland before catching the 1:15 PM to New York over the Pennsylvania Railroad. This express service would arrive in New York at 7:10 AM the next day. There was checked baggage service on this line.
