Eastern Railroad Discussion > Western Maryland Scenic > Frostburg

When was Western Maryland Scenic re-opened to Frostburg? I understood the line was blocked result of a rock slide, and the last I had read suggested it was uncertain when, or even if, the line would be re-opened. Glad to see service resumed, even if I am behind the time.

all back to Normal all the way to Frostburg , Steam will be back next year , WMSRR taking donation to help finish 1309

Steam will be back next year IF they get a half million dollars.

This incident occurred on Sunday, October 8th.

It unfolded on the second trip up to Frostburg that day. No, it was not due to a rockslide, but was a technical malfunction with one of the locomotives.

I was on board, and once we were about to cross the Route 40 bridge in the Narrows, our 10 car consist had come to a complete stop, after reducing to probably no more than 10 mph for a few hundred feet. Then, the train was stationary for about 15 minutes. After that, the train backed down the grade, almost all the way passed the station, just enough for the #501 locomotive lead engine to uncouple and park on the track connecting the WM right-of-way to the rest of the world. Once complete, WM #502 pulled the consist back a couple hundred feet, enabling the passengers whom wanted to get off the train, and get a refund. My guess is about half of the train's worth of people got off.

About an hour later, the WM #501 locomotive had been recoupled to the head of the train, ready to try again. Once again, at about the same location in the Narrows, the train was at a standstill, not having passed the Route 40 bridge. For the last 100 feet or so, the train was moving at a speed slower than you would typically run an N scale train! Shortly after words, the train's crew decided to go back to Cumberland, and give all of the riders refunds.

I know much (if not all) of the reasoning and details why this incident occurred. However, I do not wish to divulge it for the sake of the Western Maryland Scenic's crewmembers' efforts that had been put into trying to please their guests.

Photo #1: The train when it was stationary in the Narrows the first time around.

Photo #2: A rare vantage-point at which illustrates the North Branch of the Potomac River's dam.

Photo #3: The WM locomotive part of the time it had been uncoupled.


Matthew

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Cumberland Wrote:
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> This incident occurred on Sunday, October 8th.
>
> It unfolded on the second trip up to Frostburg
> that day. No, it was not due to a rockslide, but
> was a technical malfunction with one of the
> locomotives.
>
> I was on board, and once we were about to cross
> the Route 40 bridge in the Narrows, our 10 car
> consist had come to a complete stop, after
> reducing to probably no more than 10 mph for a few
> hundred feet. Then, the train was stationary for
> about 15 minutes. After that, the train backed
> down the grade, almost all the way passed the
> station, just enough for the #501 locomotive lead
> engine to uncouple and park on the track
> connecting the WM right-of-way to the rest of the
> world. Once complete, WM #502 pulled the consist
> back a couple hundred feet, enabling the
> passengers whom wanted to get off the train, and
> get a refund. My guess is about half of the
> train's worth of people got off.
>
> About an hour later, the WM #501 locomotive had
> been recoupled to the head of the train, ready to
> try again. Once again, at about the same location
> in the Narrows, the train was at a standstill, not
> having passed the Route 40 bridge. For the last
> 100 feet or so, the train was moving at a speed
> slower than you would typically run an N scale
> train! Shortly after words, the train's crew
> decided to go back to Cumberland, and give all of
> the riders refunds.
>
> I know much (if not all) of the reasoning and
> details why this incident occurred. However, I do
> not wish to divulge it for the sake of the Western
> Maryland Scenic's crewmembers' efforts that had
> been put into trying to please their guests.
>
> Photo #1: The train when it was stationary in the
> Narrows the first time around.
>
> Photo #2: A rare vantage-point at which
> illustrates the North Branch of the Potomac
> River's dam.
>
> Photo #3: The WM locomotive part of the time it
> had been uncoupled.
>
>
> Matthew


Plugged Sand Pipes / Defective Sanders is what others had reported elsewhere....

Yep, that's pretty much what I heard about it as well.

Matthew

DTWilson Wrote:
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> Plugged Sand Pipes / Defective Sanders is what
> others had reported elsewhere....