317 has just crossed the MD/WV line for the third and final time on his trip. From here, the final 40 miles of the Mountain Sub are all in West Virginia.

The town of Oakland forms a picturesque backdrop for Q317, westbound by the 1885 Baldwin station.

With a fairly short train, 317 had little trouble reaching the summit at Altamont - 48 minutes to get here from Piedmont.

The grade is only about .5% in Piedmont, but in another few miles it will more than quadruple as 317 ascends 17 Mile Grade.

The yard at Keyser is just a shell of its former self, but there's still activity to be found here - Q317, B770, and B875 were all in the yard on this Monday afternoon.

Only three miles to go until 317 reaches Grafton, a welcome sight after traversing the West End's infamous grades.

Five EMD products lead 317 into Grafton where he'll do a bit of switching.

A good looking set of YN2 power leads 317 west from Grafton in my 1,500th RP photo.

317 emerges from Kingwood Tunnel, one of only two bores on the Mountain Sub. The original tunnel (long abandoned) from the line's construction in 1849 still stands, to the left of the present tun... (more)

A wild lashup including two GP30s and a former RF&P unit leads 317 past Hardman's venerable Q Tower.

Emerging from the late afternoon shadows, 317 approaches Piedmont and the base of legendary 17 Mile Grade.

A steep grade and numerous sharp curves force 317's four units to work hard while climbing towards Altamont.

Q317 and its eastbound counterpart Q316 are the only remnants of the numerous through freights which once polished the rails of the ex-B&O St. Louis main.

In the company of four large SDs, diminutive GP38 #2111 looks slightly out of place.

Just a few minutes out of Cumberland Terminal, 317 is enjoying an easy run in the Potomac River Valley. It's an easy run on this part of the Mountain Sub, the hard part comes west of Piedmont.