The best way to sing the praises of a trip on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is to begin by pointing out what it is not.
This quaint, historic train is not Europe’s intriguing Orient Express making its way from Istanbul, Turkey, to Calais, France. Nor is it Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer traveling from coastal Vancouver to Calgary, taking in the stunning scenery and relaxing by day in a sleek dome car.
Rather, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is a great opportunity for Washingtonians to travel back in time aboard a train bound from Cumberland to Frostburg and back again. In the period of 3 1/2 hours, this historic train operates over ex-Western Maryland Railway tracks and allows for a layover in the quaint town of Frostburg for dining, exploring Main Street or watching the crew turn the engine on a grand turntable.
What makes this trip — so close to home, so educational and ever so easy on the wallet — intriguing?
“The main thing is, we have a 1916 Baldwin steam engine to pull our trains,” said Donna Corely, office manager at the Cumberland station. “There are not too many steam engines around. Ours has been dubbed ‘The hardest working steam engine in the United States.’ This is because of the [land] grade.”
Indeed, the WMSR follows an abandoned line and heads north through the “Narrows”, a deep gorge formed by the passage of Wills Creek between Haystack Mountain and Wills Mountain. It then lumbers toward the Allegheny Front through a water gap formed by Jennings Run, past Mount Savage and on to Cumberland.
Naturally, the scenery is stunningly rugged and beautiful no matter the season. October, with fares priced slightly higher, offers the sublime splendor of the breathtaking foliage.
The steam trains are operated once a day every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with a diesel engine train running on Thursday. Travelers have their choice of first class or coach fare, with first class providing a separate car and on- board lunch. Twice a month, the line offers a Saturday murder mystery evening with the train departing Cumberland at 6 p.m. and dinner served onboard.
Jill Watkins, of the central reservation office, books the WMSR and other train trips worldwide. Of the Cumberland to Frostburg excursion, she notes that “most people are looking for a weekend getaway town close to home. And if the [trip] is scenic and interesting and more than a two-hour ride, we’re for it.”
Several packages are offered by local hotels, such as the Cumberland Holiday Inn, Rocky Gap Lodge and Fairfield Inn, for overnight stays and train trip. These are booked through central reservations or the hotel.
“[WMSR] is the old romantic train ride,” Corely said. “It’s the smoke and the steam and the chug-chug-chug.”
