July 21st, 2025 by WCBC Radio

Cumberland’s preserved historic elements serve as the area’s main tourist attraction, and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is one of them.  Wes Heinz, director of WMSR, says about 70% of visitors come from areas like Washington, D.C, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Richmond and Roanoke, Virginia specifically to ride the train…

  

“Last year we carried about 82,000 people, so, somewhere around 56-60,000 people came from outside the region to ride the train.  There’s an algorithm out there the State Tourism has, so we kind of know that at least half of those people stayed in hotel rooms, AirBnBs, resorts and whatnot.  So, we know we’re making a tremendous impact on the area.”