A heritage railroad that operates from Cumberland in western Maryland, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad offers a choice of both steam and diesel locomotives. The steam locomotive is a 1916 Baldwin 2--8--0, Mountain Thunder in mint condition. RailsNW.com advises that the train travels through the mountains of western Maryland on a 32-mile round trip to Frostburg from May to December through the beautiful setting of the Allegheny Mountains. A guide explains the scenery, the culture and more than 300 years of American history along the route. Regular service leaves Cumberland Station at 11:30 a.m., returning at 3:00 p.m., stopping in Frostburg, Maryland, for approximately 90 minutes. During the stop, passengers may have lunch and go shopping. The line travels along the route of an abandoned Western Maryland Railroad line, traveling through "the Narrows" between Haystack Mountain and Wills Mountain and up the Allegheny Front to Frostburg.
The Walkersville Southern Railroad (WSR) is situated just north of Frederick, Maryland, and runs through Maryland farmland and the scenic Monocacy Valley. The Mountain Thunder engine takes passengers across a truss bridge and through mountain tunnels along its route. WSR's website informs passengers that regular trains are operated from May to October on weekends, but charters and special trains are available throughout the year.
The famed B&O (Baltimore & Ohio) railroad had its start in Maryland. According to the B&O Historical Society, the B&O Railroad was the first railroad in America that handled common carrier traffic, and ran for more than 180 years. In 1963, the B&O was taken over by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. The two operated as separate entities, both owned by one parent agent, and then in 1971, the two formally merged. In 1980, the Chessie System merged with Family Lines, ultimately leading to ownership and management by CSX Corporation, which still runs on the B&O lines today.
