Western Maryland Scenic launches a 2-8-0 restoration campaign to Railfan & Railroad Restoration

Western Maryland Scenic has partnered with the PBS program great paintings to raise money to recover 2-8-0 locomotives 734, which most recently operated on Maryland-based tourist rail in 2016.

Baldwin’s locomotive works built a 2-8-8-type locomotive in 1916 for the Lake Superior & Ishpeming railway, an iron ore road in Michigan. The locomotive was used until the 1960s, when it was sold to a tourist railway and eventually at the Illinois Railway Museum. In 1992, WMSR acquired it and restored it to look like a Locomotive of Western Maryland H-Class.

The locomotive will be restored for WMSR route between Cumberland and Frostburg, MD. The locomotive will join the other WMSR steam engine, the former Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 1309.

The railway has not placed the time line to complete Locomotive 734. By this month, it is currently indoors at the WMSR store in Ridgeley, W.VA., where it will be prepared to evaluate the operating gear, ultrasound, and more. To help financing the restoration, on February 1, great paintings were announced, that it would match any donation made to the efforts of up to $ 10,000.

“I am constantly impressed with the work done by the new management and staff at WMSR,” said creator and producer Robert Van Kemp. “Their vision for the railway line and the infusion of fresh ideas, such as new places and experiences, really capture the essence of the days of glory of the railway line. It is inspiring to see how they carry a new life on the railway and make it an unforgettable experience for riders of all ages. I am proud that I am part of their mission to help preserve and present part of the historic railway fund of this nation and look forward to the coincided funds set by their fan base. “

For more information, visit the Mountainthunder734.org website. –Justin franz