Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

Discussion in 'Non Disney Photos / Mobile Phone Photos' started by mSummers, Oct 26, 2008.

  1. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    I thought I'd share some photos I've taken on a series of trips up to Cumberland, Maryland to see the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. The WMSR runs along the old Western Maryland Railroad tracks between Cumberland and Frostburg, Maryland. The track in this location averages a 2% grade, causing the engine to work hard and put on a good show. I'll break it up into a couple of posts to keep it from getting too long.

    The Western Maryland Station, built in 1913, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973

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    Since we're here very early, we'll drive over to the WMSR shops in Ridgeley, WV to check out the steam engine going through its preparations for the day's excursion to Frostburg

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    When the engine is ready, they bring it over the bridge into Cumberland and into the station.

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    As usual, they've put on a good show of coming over the bridge, smoke billowing from the stack, cylinder cocks open, and the engineer blowing the whistle.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2014
  2. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    Here's the train sitting in the station while the passengers board. On the busiest days, the train will be up to 14 cars long with 2 diesel helpers.

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    Occasionally, they'll lubricate the locomotive at the station. Here, the fireman oils part of the crosshead assembly.

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    After leaving the station, the train heads through the narrows and around Helmstetter's Curve.

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    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2014
  3. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    After rounding the curve, the train proceeds to Brush Tunnel.

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    From there, the train heads across a couple of grade crossings, and then she charges up the hill toward the Parkersburg Road overpass

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    Believe me, they don't call her Mountain Thunder for nothing!
     
  4. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    After passing under Parkersburg Road, the train climbs the steepest part of the trip into Frostburg and arrives at the historic Frostburg Depot, built in 1891

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    After all the passengers are off the train, the engine is turned around on the turntable for the return trip.

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    After a 1.5hr layover at Frostburg, the train makes the return trip to Cumberland, arriving about 45 minutes later.

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    Hope you enjoyed the trip
     
  5. goofmick

    goofmick Member

    Nice, nothing like an old steam engine.
     
  6. goofy101

    goofy101 Member

    Great shots
     
  7. PolynesianMedic

    PolynesianMedic Global Moderator Staff Member

    Great shots! How did you manage to get them? Driving ahead of the train? Nice work, the colors of the leaves are beautiful.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2014
  8. Craig

    Craig Member Staff Member

    Very cool, thanks for sharing.
     
  9. gary

    gary Member

    nice shots, from one of the best scenic rail rides there is, at least imho, in the east, and you posted helmstetter's curve before i could ask about it, do you have any from inside the curve?
     
  10. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    Thanks guys.

    Poly, yes, I drove ahead of the train. The problem with the WMSR is that the line doesn't parallel a road, so it's very hard to get more than 2 shots while the train is moving between stations, so it took several trips to get all of those.

    Gary, I didn't try any shots from the inside of the curve. The brush is very tall, so I'm not sure you could get a shot right now if you tried.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2014
  11. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    Here's a few more that I took this month:

    Ridgeley Yard

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    Truss Bridge over Rt 40

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    Helmstetter's Curve

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  12. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    Signal Bridge at Trimble Road

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    Frostburg Depot

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  13. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    And last but not least, here's #734 waiting to pull the "Polar Express"

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  14. PolynesianMedic

    PolynesianMedic Global Moderator Staff Member

    These new shots are terrific! Nice work and thanks for posting!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2014
  15. HW

    HW Member

    great series but that last one is my fav. reminds me of something from film noir
     
  16. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    Thanks guys. The last one is my favorite too. There were 5 photographers shooting the train that night and one of them new the engine crew, so he got them to put on a good show for us.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2014
  17. PolynesianMedic

    PolynesianMedic Global Moderator Staff Member

    That is always helpful!
     
  18. Roger

    Roger Member Staff Member

    Mike, what lens did you use?
     
  19. Deniz

    Deniz Member

    These are really awesome! I like the last one for the artistic quality, but I really like the one before it because it seems like the start (or end) of any great western story.
     
  20. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    Thanks Deniz!
     

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