Cumberland Subdivision on the Magnolia Cutoff in Magnolia, West Virginia, facing west towards Cumberland. In the distance is Magnolia Bridge and Graham Tunnel.
The Cumberland Subdivision was opened in 1842 as part of the B&O's main line.[4]
In 1914 the Baltimore and Ohio RR opened the Magnolia Cutoff, a more direct route through mountain ridges, running 14 miles (23 km) between Hansrote, West Virginia and Paw Paw, West Virginia. The project included construction of four tunnels, two bridges, and many deep rock cuts.[5] The B&O continued to use the original route along the Potomac River, called the "Lowline," until 1961.[6]
In 1987 the subdivision and the rest of the B&O system were merged into CSX.