Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-02-16

drlyhia Bulletin.
Winter Scenes Oh the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad
The extraordinary weather that has
prevailed for The past three or four weeks
has had lis efi'rcl upon railroads and other
means of travel and transportation. When
Mountain divisions of the Baltimore and
ONO Railotd, with their long grades,
deep cuts, enormous goTges. &c, have
never before been visited with serious
suow-syorm since that great work was
opened TO lhe Ohio river, three years ago,
The unusual difficulties late presented viii
be better understood One whose posi-
non renders him cOnservant with these
difficulties, as we'll as the mears which
are employed 10 achieve triumph over
lIem, furnishes the following interesting
porlrailure of the present "winler scenes
upon the road
In many places upon this magnificent
| highway the Express trains have had +"
plough their way through immense drifts
of snow, often from six to ) feet in depth.
! This has in every case, however, been
successfully done, though sometimes re.
curing lhe united pow er Of tour or five of
the ponderous WInans engines linked to-
ge her. The company Is fortunately well
supplied with these powerful mach nes,
winch weigh some thirty IONS each, and
have great tractlle power. Their resour-
ces under thls head are also increased by
a number of splendid and powerful ten
wheel engines, buill bv the Denmead~, i'll
their own shops, by Mr.. Hays then we'll
known master mechanic.
The encounters with The snow upon 'h>
road have led 10 some very curious scenes
Al times the string of locomotives, with
their bold "plow" in front, have rushed
suddenly upon heavy dnlt. and before
their power has been checked by the op
posing force they have become weIl-nigh
buried IN the bank After passing through
his obstruction Il e engines dEe turned
around al The next station, and repeat The
assault from the opposite direction. thus
by repeated etlccrual'y pushing of aud
"crnShing out" The obstinate mass, until
lane is formed and the track is thorough
! y cleared tor the passage of the regular
trains. These trains, in traveIsIng the
avenues thus made for them, Utterly pass
through The snow, Tor il is piled up on
either side 20 the heioh, of the car tops.
! An Interesting view of this character may
be seer al The passage through the Carol
Manner in Frederick county, sixty i've
miles from Baltimore. where the laie
SHOWS have invariably drilled across the
road ln a grea, depth.
| Perhaps the most magnificent rhenom-
ena on the line of The road presented by
Ihe late action OF lhe elements are 10 Ue
witnessed al the bold "approach culs' 10
The larger tunnels Here are views wor-
thy of the poet and the painter that would
justify thousand miles Journey. As yon
enter one oi these cuts the gaping mouth
OF lhe tunnel is seen a. the further end
The sides of the cut are quite sleep, and
rapidly rise unlll the head Is reached. al
whlch point lhev are from forty 10 eighty
ieeI III Htignl lhIS IollhS dH d'tHh| i''
HE road, open above. of from four To sIX
hundred leel IN height. The whole Of
The sides nt these great cha>nIs. as well AZ
their hIgh ends at The entrance of tie lun-
mel, ale completely covered with soIld
coaiiug "i ice. var, ing in thickness from
iva inches 10 Iwo eei. This is form ed
nv The congedling wafer which irIckIes
down from the lofty hills around above.
! his SIGH, is novel one and al the Broad
1lee and Wellington tunnels approaches
the sublime. Ideas oi the Alpine glaciers
at once possess the mind, while the gIgsn-
ne lclcle. that hang fr"m lhe highe' edges
Of the cliffs and The mouths of The excava-
lions remind US of The slalacltes o. the
Mammoth Cave and the more celebrated
Groltu of Anlparos. At any time. ms
scene is inspiring and wonderful {; bu'
hen the bright sun re flerts his full blaze
upon It's crowning points The ELECT Is
greatly heightened.
Ii will lhus be seen that this road pre-
senls its peculiarly romantic winlry ss'
pssts as well as It's ready renowned see
merry TO attract The eye of its summer tau
rist. ], is presumed, however. that the
severity of the SEASON. which has closed
! the Ohio and otherwise impeded the con-