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Celebrating our two-lane highways of yesteryear…And the joys of driving them today!

Texaco Fire Chief

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Everything posted by Texaco Fire Chief

  1. From the album: Nat'l Rd, Bank Rd., US40

    1920's store/roadhouse/tavern at Indian Springs,MD. just east of intersection with MD56. was being renovated by 2004.

    © Warren Jenkins,2001

  2. From the album: Nat'l Rd, Bank Rd., US40

    Top of Fairview Mtn., between Clear Spring and Indian Springs, MD. View looks eastward along the orig. alignment which is on the right. This section was modernized in the 40's which included wiping out much of the orig. path over Fairview MT. For many years, a gas station/restaurant operated in the building on the far right.

    © Warren Jenkins,2001

  3. From the album: Nat'l Rd, Bank Rd., US40

    Funkstown Bridge over Antietam Creek, south side showing concrete widening from 1920's. North side still has original stone, but is almost inaccessible due to trailer park. Along with autos, from 1901-1939 interurban trolleys of the Hagerstown & Frederick Rwy. shared this bridge.

    © Warren Jenkins,2001

  4. From the album: Nat'l Rd, Bank Rd., US40

    Old mill at Beaver Creek Bridge, wooden portion razed shortly after photo was made. Newer brick part at far right survives as storage for a tire retailer.

    © Warren Jenkins,2001

  5. From the album: Nat'l Rd, Bank Rd., US40

    Beaver Creek Bridge, north side with stone facing

    © Warren Jenkins, 2001

  6. From the album: Nat'l Rd, Bank Rd., US40

    Beaver Creek Bridge, between Boonsboro and Funkstown,MD. South side with 1930's concrete widening.

    © Warren Jenkins,2001

  7. From the album: Nat'l Rd, Bank Rd., US40

    1923 US40 Concrete arch bridge over Catoctin Creek, approx. 1 mile west of Middletown, MD. A hardy survivor which carries as much traffic as ever!

    © Warren Jenkins,2001

  8. From the album: Nat'l Rd, Bank Rd., US40

    Stone culvert at western edge of Middletown,MD.

    © Warren Jenkins,2001

  9. What is the "RT40 road group" is this a forum where there are actual conversations?
  10. Anyone ever ridden either of these in the above states? US 50 is full of old alignments and interesting infrastructure from Paris,VA. to the VA/WV state line. It's then a rugged mountain 2-lane all the way to Clarksburg,WV. From there to the Ohio River, the signed route is 4-lane, but there are many bypassed alignments and small towns. US 340 only goes from Frederick,MD. to just west of Stuart's Draft,VA. (US11), but it's MD. original route (MD180) has some interesting sights between there and Harper's Ferry,WV, where you can literally drown in history. The WV section is relatively short,and the road gets really neat between Berryville and Waynesboro,VA. Lots of buildings, old alignments, small towns, and the beautiful scenery of the Shenandoah Valley. I had a chance recently to photograph a bypassed bridge north of Luray. Warren Jenkins
  11. Jim, you are correct that the pavement is c.1930, I was just stating that the program started some 10 years before. From studying the Feldstein and Spitzer postcard collections, it appears the NR in Garrett County did not get this treatment until the early 30's. No doubt the onset of the Great Depression slowed Maryland's road improvements for a few years. I plan to post pics of a section with this style paving near Licking Creek (Indian Springs,MD.) that was abandoned in 1939 and is still well preserved. Warren Did I mention that I'm a postcard nut?
  12. Jim, I believe that is from around 1920, a 1921 MD. State Highways book I've seen refers to this to this type of paving as being applied to major highways in the state. Certainly this pavement is a guide to the original path of the NR in many locations, the most intact sections seem to be those bypassed or abandoned before WWII. Much of the NR in Maryland between Hagerstown and Frostburg was bypassed or repaved with concrete in the 30's-40's to "modernize" US40. Warren Jenkins
  13. Jim, from a photographer's viewpoint, that is the least obstructed view, with easy access and good light throughout much of the day. I shot this thing from all angles, except from the newer bridge, which seemed a bit risky... I also tried to get the old overlook view looking eastward from the hillside, but this was impossible because of trees and houses.IMO, it is also better to shoot the bridge in low water, since the creek can pile up debris on the upstream side during and after high water. Warren Jenkins
  14. Thanks Dave, I did notice that fact after I posted. I will probably opt to using the gallery, especially since I am in the process of scanning the other 30 B&W slides from that 2001 "experiment" I was very satisfied with B&W film in pursuit of this hobby; in 2004 I used Kodak ASA400 to shoot the Hancock-Sideling Hill section, I also shot the same scenes with ASA 200 color film. With my Nikons and B&W film, I try to bring back the nostalgia you get from looking at old photos or postcards. Warren Jenkins
  15. In April of 2001, I experimented with a roll of black and white slide film rated at about ASA 200. Although cost did not allow a repeat, some interesting results were obtained when I shot some National RD. subjects between Middletown, MD., and Indian Springs, MD. Here is the famous Wilson bridge, seen here from the east side of Conococheague Creek. Warren Jenkins photo
  16. Very interesting trip, Denny! Was this your first encounter with the Western MD. Scenic? Your video was good! You have 2 choices to reach Brush tunnel; ride the train or use the trail (walk or bike) the tunnel is about 1.5 miles west of Cash Valley Rd.As you saw on Proenty Rd., the railroad sets high on some impressive fillwork. Climbing up from there may have involved ticks, snakes, sticker bushes, etc. Finally, it's a good thing you stayed at the Gunter on Sat. nite, this a.m. just after midnite the building at 1 West Main St. that housed Gianni's Pizza was gutted in a 4-alarm fire that lasted into the morning. The Gunter is 2 buildings west of there, and was evacuated during the duration of the fire. The hotel itself suffered no direct damage, but was a close call. The building that burned was a 1919 replacement of a building that burned in December 1917 along with a block of stores. (Everything was leveled between the Catholic Church and the Gunter) Most of Frostburg's business district has burned at various times since 1874. There is a good multi-media report on your4state.com (Hagerstown,MD's. NBC affiliate) Warren Jenkins Attached is an old photo of the 1917 fire with the Gunter in the background. WWJ collection
  17. Very nice photo-journalism! I am fairly sure the Gilpin Rd. section of the Nat'l RD. was signed as MD. 144 until at least the opening of the I-68 segment known as the "missing link" around 1990. I do not know why it is in such good shape, but I'm grateful!
  18. Hello, I'm a new subscriber to the magazine! This appears to be a growing "hobby", with a lot of info to share. I grew up in Frostburg, MD. on the National Road (1960's-70's), our family's house overlooked the road at a major intersection in town. Later we lived on top of a hill which allowed me to see Alt US 40, 'New' US 40, and I-68 (aka US48). Besides an interest in all kinds of transportation, I have been a lifelong railfan/photographer, and for about 20 years I have been a serious fire apparatus photographer. I have had 2 fire service histories published by Arcadia Publ., along with several other magazine articles/photo features. I really like exploring old highway alignments, and also infrastructure, from bridges to gas stations. My 2 favorites would have to be the Natl. RD., and the Lincoln Highway, but I have found many interesting routes in both MD., and PA. My photo efforts have been dormant lately, but in 2001 and 2004 I did try to photo-document the Nat'l RD./US40 from Middletown,MD., to Town Hill. My screen name is a tribute to a great product/co., which not only enjoyed my family's loyalty for years, but also provided a career to a relation. "The Man who wears the Texaco star" was a familiar sight in our neighborhood and wherever we traveled. (Who could forget Texaco road maps!) I would be interested in discussion of anything National Road related especially. 'Texaco Fire Chief' Warren W. Jenkins Thurmont,MD.
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