A trip to Western Maryland this week, at least in my head. Frostburg, MD turntable.
Relatively light weight turntable dates to 1935 . Concrete pit is much newer than 1935.
The grade from the number (9) switch location up to the Frostburg station is steep, all the old steam power and a GP30 diesel pusher could do on wet, leaf slippery, tracks.
Interesting to note that behind the turntable is an old C & P tunnel. (Cumberland and Pennsylvania RR.) under the city of Frostburg.
Turntable was probably added as part of the tourist railroad, IMO.
Though a lot of work has been done on the track, It appears to be relatively light weight track . This rail has been replaced.
Note that you have access to the entire right-of-way, the Railroad co-exist with the Great Allegheny Passage bike/hike trail. You can load your bike, or a rental, from a Cumberland bike shop, in the baggage car, unload Frostburg, and bike back to Cumberland.
Even more impressive, you can bike to the Continental divide, several miles north, the small village of Deal. The world gets pretty remote at this point. Down, down the trail, in Pennsylvania, next town is Meyersdale, PA.
It is a bit of a climb, even at 2% or less grades.
There are lights in the Big Savage tunnel, another impressive part of the bike trail. The tunnel should be opening soon, closed during cold winter months.
Having biked this trail several times, Old, foggy head can picture the large coal drags that made the tunnel, and continental divide. IMO Huge, Huge investment would be a tourist railroad between Cumberland, MD and Meyersdale, PA.
The bike trail has international exposure/fame and sees visitors from all over this small floating rock in space.