Abundant sunshine, steam locomotives, Amtrak’s Exhibit Train, and a variety of model train display and vendors are just a few of the amenities offered at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s Steel Wheels Festival in Cumberland. Steam railroading is potent in the Queen City this weekend… I awoke early this morning to the sound of 2-8-0 No. 734’s unmistakable whistle as it disembarked from the railroad’s Ridgley shops across the river in West Virginia with its Frostburg passenger train in tow.
At the railroad’s Cumberland Station, visiting steamer Lehigh Valley Coal Co. 0-6-0 No. 126 is providing guests with a unique “behind the throttle” experience that allows the public to operate the tank engine toward Maryland Junction across the Potomac River. Amtrak’s exhibit train is on site, visiting Cumberland for the first time since its debut commemorating the 40th Anniversary in 2012.
Interested in the restoration progress of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309? Railroad officials are providing narrative shop tours highlighting the restoration progress and details of the historic Mallet locomotive. For photographers, the sun is shining, the trains are running, and the leaves are turning!
WMSR's recently painted Plymouth diesel spots Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 alongside 2-8-0 No. 734 for Friday's night photo session at the railroad's Ridgeley shops in West Virginia on September 26, 2014.
If you are in the Cumberland area this weekend, stop by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for an opportunity to catch up on the steam railroad enthusiasm in western Maryland. 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM both today and Sunday. Cheers!
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