Western Maryland Chapter National Railway Historical Society

APRIL 20 SOCIAL MEETING PROGRAM will feature Wesley Heinz, WMSR general manager, who will give an informative talk about the 1309 steam engine and the 2022 excursion train season to guests and members of the WM Chapter NRHS attending the next monthly meeting, which will be held at 7 PM in the Cumberland Railroad Museum at 17 Howard Street, among the shops at Canal Place in Cumberland MD. Admission is free and open to the public.

MARCH 16 SOCIAL MEETING of the WM Chapter NRHS will be held at 7 PM on Wednesday evening in the Cumberland Railroad Museum at 17 Howard Street, among the shops at Canal Place in Cumberland MD. Admission is free and open to the public. Nearest parking is available in the area beneath the Interstate Route 68 bridge on the north side of Howard Street, opposite the historic Footer’s Dye Works building. Parking space is free on a first-come basis. Be careful when crossing Howard Street because motor vehicles do not always fully stop at the bottom of westbound Exit 43B ramp. WM Chapter Meeting Program Chairman Jeff Geiger will show the 89-minute video program, Cass & Mower Logging Trains, on the 55-inch 4K Ultra HD screen mounted on the west wall of the Cumberland Railroad Museum. Viewers will see geared steam locomotives power trains up steep mountain grades to lofty Bald Knob, which has the summit elevation of 4,842 feet, making it the third highest point in the Mountain State. Unforgettable scenes capture the trains operating in spring, autumn and winter, including shots filmed in blinding blizzards. Seen in action will be Western Maryland Shay No. 6, the largest and last Shay engine, on the
Durbin Branch. The spectacular event is the traditional all Shay steam engine race near the Cass station. This video program includes 15 minutes of footage showing actual logging operations of the Mower Lumber Company, such as using log loaders and skidders, log trains being loaded, switched, dumped, and logs being dragged by a continuous chain into the sawmill. Don’t miss out on this very informative and interesting event.
PREVIEW OF APRL 20 SOCIAL MEETING, which will feature an informative talk by Wesley Heinz, general manager for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. He will discuss the return of the 2-6-6-2 Mallet-designed, articulated, compound steam locomotive 1309 to operating condition, as well as highlights of the 2022 excursion train season that will begin regular trips from Cumberland to Frostburg and back. More details will be published in the April 2022 issue of The Automatic Block.

MEETING PROGRAM ON FEBRUARY 16 will feature railroad photographer Tom Biery presenting an interesting photographic slide show titled “Last Fifty Years of Railroading in the Cumberland Area.” This social meeting will begin at 7 PM on Wednesday evening, February 16, in the Cumber-land Railroad Museum at 17 Howard Street among the shops at Canal Place near the historic Footer’s Dye Works building. Admission is free and open to the public.

WM CHAPTER BUSINESS MEETING ON JAN. 19 will be held at 7 PM in the Cumberland Railroad Museum at 17 Howard Street among the shops at Canal Place in Cumberland MD. Nearest parking is available in the area beneath the Inter-state Route 68 bridge on the north side of Howard Street, opposite the historic Footer’s Dye Works building. Parking space is free on a first-come basis. Be careful when crossing Howard Street because motor vehicles do not always fully stop at the bot-tom of the ramp for westbound Exit 43B.
President Tom Biery will present his annual ad-dress on the current conditions of the Western Maryland Chapter NRHS and its goals for 2022.
Among the items of business to consider are approval of new members and the proposed budget for 2022. Other items will include planning the programs for social meetings and finishing the work of completely securing the historic heavyweight passenger railcar that is now in the WMSR Yard at Ridgeley, West Virginia. One major action for the coming year is continuing to develop the new Cumberland Railroad Museum among the shops at Canal Place into a significant attraction. All chapter members should come and share their thoughts and recommendations about future activities for the Western Maryland Chapter NRHS.

All Western Maryland Chapter members, family and friends are cordially invited to attend the holiday party on Wednesday, December 15, at 6 PM (please note the hour-earlier time), which will be held on the second level of City Lights American Grill & Bar at 59 Baltimore Street in Cumberland, Maryland. Parking is available in the public parking lot off Pershing Street; use the south entrance to the restaurant. Guests can order their individual meals from the regular menu. For more information about the cuisine selection, visit the City Lights website (citylightsamericangrill.com/dinner.html). This occasion will be a strictly informal event with good food and fine fellowship, celebrating the completion of yearly activities and the beginning of the winter season. No individual reservations are required, just come and enjoy the festivities. Best wishes are extended for a joyous holiday season and happiness that continues throughout the coming year!