image description

Engine 1309 Returns to Full Time Service

May 9th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Mountain Thunder roared into the Western Maryland Rail Station in Cumberland just before 11 Friday morning- returning to full time service. Following seven years of restoration, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad board celebrated with an  inauguration ceremony for steam locomotive 1309- announcing that it will be running several times a week- and will be put to use at years end once again for  the popular Polar Express excursions. Scenic Railroad board chair Mike McKay…

Much of the ceremony focused on Jack Showalter, the veteran railroader who moved to Cumberland with his family in the 1980’s and became the first operators of the scenic railroad. Jack passed in 2014, but his daughter Sally was on hand for the ceremony…