The Only Civilized Way To Travel

Great Northern's Empire Builder.

The B&O's Capitol Limited.

On the Erie


The grandeur of passenger travel is such that little written word is needed.

Last Run of the Season

734 made its last run for 2009. Wanting to capture my favorite subject in the snow I grabbed my trusty camera and headed out. I wasn't disappointed. The first four photos were taken at the east end of the narrows. The last photo was taken at the Helmstetter farm.

It's That Time of Year

A Great Weekend

Where the Road Takes Me

Thunder Road

Must...Pedal...Faster

Woodcock Hollow II

Woodcock Hollow III

Lap Water Station I

Lap Water Station II

Goody Two Shoes...my partner in crime.

My Little Buddy & 734

Goody Two Shoes and me took our grandson to Helmstetters Curve to see 734 today.

One of the Flock Comes Home to Roost

It would seem that the Western Maryland Railway is far from gone, even though they were merged into the Chessie System nearly thirty years ago. Miles of former-WMRY track is still in use, a number of WMRY train stations still stand and are in use, and quite a bit of rolling stock is still around. Also still hanging around are more than just a few diesel locomotives from the once proud fleet. Just last year, FA-2 #302 came home and is awaiting rebuild and painting in Beilington, WV. GP-9 #25was returned to service on the George's Creek Railway in a fresh coat of jet black paint with yellow speed lettering. And now, sister engine #39 is home in Western Maryland.

Here's 39 while still in service. At Elkins, WV in 1972

In tourist service at Gettysburg, PA in 1991.

Back on home rails, July 11, 2009

photos by the Camera Totin' Idiot, unless otherwise noted.

Old and dear memories die hard, as do legends.

Wordless Wednesday

Old Faithful

Growing up in Corriganville, not far from the Western Maryland tracks, it was natural that I spent a lot of time watching trains. My friends and I mostly hung around Brush Tunnel and watched the trains go by. Other times, when we were feeling adventerous, we'd head down the tracks and end up at Helmstetter's Curve and the farm that sat in the middle of the curve and atch the trains. Years later, after I picked up a camera I captured the farm on film quite a few times. Here are a few snaps.




These next two photos were taken three weeks ago while I was riding the train. Starting into the curve, I remember thinking, 'I gotta get the farm on film as I go by.' Glad now I did.


Even my mentor, Bill Price, captured the Helmstetter barn on film in the 1950's.

Photo by William P. Price.

Last week the unthinkable happened. The barn burned down. No human life was lost, but several head of cattle and the family dog perished in the fire.

Photo from the Cumberland Times-News.

It's very sad, as a landmark I've know since I was a boy is now gone. Still, life goes on, and who knows, maybe they'll rebuild.

What's the Big Deal?

Since I started this blog I've posted dozens of photos of my favorite subject; steam locomotive 734. Many of you have no doubt wondered what the big deal is. Watch the movie and find out.

There's just something about a steam engine.

Happy Fourth Everyone

Goody Two Shoes 'n me started our Fourth of July out yesterday by going to a free concert on the downtown mall. The main attraction was a local band, Queen City Funk & Soul. And they are very good. They sang songs by Earth Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang, the Blues Brothers, the Bar-Kays, Steely Dan, Tower of Power, and Aretha. Here are some snaps from the evening.






A small portion of the crowd that came out last night.

Goody Two Shoes (in the back) and my little sister, a.k.a 'the Runt' in the foreground.




Today was kind of a ho-hum day. Caught the scenic railroad up above Mt. Savage. I was surprised to find they were actually running. Usually they don't run on holidays.

Photographed a dragon fly.

Went to the car show at the fairgrounds. Didn't stay all that long.

Wordless Wednesday

For more WW mayhem, click here

Happy Fathers Day...From Me to Me.

Having a rare summer Saturday to myself...I didn't have to work and Goody Two Shoes was at an all day crop...I plunked down twenty bucks and bought a one-way ticket for the scenic railroad. Why one way? They have a thing where cyclists pay $20 and they and their bikes are taken to Frostburg and then you can hop on your bike and pedal your heart out.

I've wanted to do this for sometime and yesterday was my only chance to do it this summer. Business where I work has picked up and we're working a lot of Saturdays.

Except for a little sprinkle on the ride down the mountian the day was perfect. The ride up the hill was great and all total I took 191 photos. Now, my only problem is culling them down to ten or so for this post. Soooo....here we go.

734 pulling into the station.

Heading out of town.

Passing the old interchange track at City Jct.

Climbing into the Narrows.

Crossing the bridge over the National Highway at the west end of the narrows.

Rounding Helmstetter's Curve

The Helmstetter farm.

At Brush Tunnel

In the tunnel.

Coming out the upper end.

Above Woodcock Hollow.

On the hill above Mt. Savage...where I went to high school...a very long time ago.

Passing under an old Western Maryland signal bridge.

Just below Frostburg. 734 is leaving Western Maryland rails and swinging onto the old Cumberland and Pennsylvania...and the steepest part of the hill.

Tight curves and steep grades mark the last leg of the run to Frostburg.

Crossing over the old Western Maryland...now part of the bike trail. In less than a mile the train has climbed fifty linear feet.

734 on the turntable at Frostburg.

Look for the red glow under 734's boiler. It's not reflected sunlight...its the glow from the boiler. By the way, I gave up on just posting a dozen photos a while back.

A parting shot of 734 before I head down the mountian.

Photographed a grey squirrel at the Woodcock Hollow Trail shelter.

Ran into rain coming down the mountian. Ended up taking shelter in Brush Tunnel.

Had a little snack and dried off while I waited for things to clear.

Two last shots from my day. 734 coming into the narrows.

Crossing Baltimore Street at the end of another successful run.

The rocking and rolling of the cars made it a little difficult taking pictures. The cinders stung my arms as I leaned out to take my photos. I couldn't breathe in the tunnel. And I got rained on coming down the mountian. But I had fun.

If yesterday was a song it would be Travis Tritt's 'Great Day to Be Alive.' Enjoy the photos everyone and Happy Father's Day.