Keystone Subdivision
{{Short description|Railway line in Maryland and Pennsylvania}}
{{distinguish|Keystone Corridor}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Keystone Subdivision
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| type = Freight rail
| system = CSX
| status = Active
| locale = Maryland, Pennsylvania
| start = McKeesport
| end = Cumberland
| stations =
| open =
| close =
| owner = CSX
| operator = CSX, Amtrak
| linelength =
| tracks = 2
| gauge = {{RailGauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| electrification =
| speed =
| map = {{Keystone Subdivision}}
| map_state =
}}
The Keystone Subdivision is a railroad line owned and operated by CSX Transportation in the U.S. states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The line runs from Cumberland, Maryland, west to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, (near Pittsburgh)[https://web.archive.org/web/20020713043907/http://www.trainweb.org/csxtimetables/Baltimore/Keystone.html CSX Timetables: Keystone Subdivision] along a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) line. The line includes the well-known Sand Patch Grade over the Allegheny Mountains.{{Cite web|url=http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/MH-Keystone_Sub|title = MH-Keystone Sub - the RadioReference Wiki}} http://www.multimodalways.org/docs/railroads/companies/CSX/CSX%20ETTs/CSX%20Baltimore%20Div%20ETT%20%234%201-1-2005.pdf CSX Baltimore Division Timetable
The east end of the Keystone Subdivision is at Viaduct Junction in Cumberland, where it meets the Cumberland Terminal Subdivision at the east end of the Cumberland Viaduct. The west end is at Sinns, on the west (left) side of the Youghiogheny River at Liberty,[http://www.railsandtrails.com/Maps/P&LE-1960/ Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad 1960 System Map] where it continues as the Pittsburgh Subdivision through Pittsburgh and on to West Pittsburg. The Keystone Subdivision also joins with the S&C Subdivision at Rockwood, Pennsylvania.
History
The Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad (P&C) was first incorporated in 1837, but did not succeed in raising money until 1846.{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1837%20June%2004.wd.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1837 }} {{small|(98.8 KiB)}}, June 2004 Edition Work began in 1847,{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1847%20Apr%2005.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1847 }} {{small|(40.7 KiB)}}, April 2005 Edition and the line opened from Pittsburgh to Connellsville in 1857{{cite web|url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1857%20Mar%2005.pdf |title=PRR Chronology, 1857 }} {{small|(54.1 KiB)}}, March 2005 Edition and to Cumberland in 1871.{{cite web |url= http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1871%20Jan%2005.pdf |title= PRR Chronology, 1871 |access-date= 2006-11-21 |archive-date= 2009-09-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090903225149/http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1871%20Jan%2005.pdf |url-status= dead }} {{small|(72.9 KiB)}}, January 2005 Edition The B&O leased the P&C for 50 years effective January 1, 1876, and it was merged into the B&O in 1912.[https://web.archive.org/web/20041104060907/http://www.geocities.com/scott_w_dunlap/BORRTIME.htm Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Timeline]
A new bridge over the Youghiogheny River at Sinns opened in 1968, connecting the old P&C to the parallel Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (which the B&O had trackage rights over to New Castle) on the opposite shore. This allowed B&O trains to bypass downtown McKeesport; the B&O line through McKeesport was closed in 1970.[http://pghbridges.com/mckeesport/0598-4464/PLEliberty.htm Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: CSX Bridge at Liberty Boro][http://pghbridges.com/mckeesport/0595-4467/mckPLE.htm Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: P&LE Bridge McKeesport] The P&LE is now CSX's Pittsburgh Subdivision, while the old B&O tracks in the Pittsburgh area are mostly abandoned or operated by short lines.
In summer 1985, the Chessie System (the B&O's holding company at the time) announced that it would sever its St. Louis line through Ohio, rerouting all through traffic over the Alleghenies at Sand Patch rather than along the older Mountain Subdivision.