Walkersville Southern Railroad facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Walkersville, Maryland |
| Locale | Frederick County, Maryland |
| Dates of operation | 1995–present |
| Predecessor | Penn Central Transportation Company |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 6.72 miles (11 km) |
| Other | |
| Website | http://www.wsrr.org/ |
The Walkersville Southern Railroad (also known as WS) is a special kind of train line called a heritage railway. It is about 6.72 miles (11 kilometers) long. This railway is located in Walkersville, Maryland. It runs from south of Woodsboro to just north of Frederick, Maryland. The railroad uses old tracks and structures that have a long history.
Contents
History of the Railroad
The tracks and buildings used by the Walkersville Southern Railroad were first built by the Frederick and Pennsylvania Line Railroad Company. This original railroad connected Frederick to the Pennsylvania-Maryland state line. This line was near the Mason–Dixon line, close to Kingsdale, Pennsylvania.
Building the First Tracks
Work on the railroad began in 1869. It cost a lot of money to build. The line officially opened on October 8, 1872. Soon after, a bigger company called the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) started to manage it.
In 1896, the Pennsylvania Railroad bought the line completely. They renamed it the Frederick and Northern Railroad Company. Over the years, this railroad merged with other lines many times. Eventually, it became part of the Penn Central company in 1968.
Challenges and Rebirth
One important business that used the railroad early on was a lime kiln in Walkersville. This kiln made fertilizer, which was shipped to farmers in the area. The railroad was very important for local businesses.
In 1972, a big storm called Hurricane Agnes washed out the bridge over the Monocacy River. Because of this, the train line stopped being used for a while. The state of Maryland took over the line in 1982.
Bringing Trains Back to Life
Volunteers started working to fix up the old train line in 1991. They wanted to bring trains back to Walkersville. In 1993, the state allowed the Walkersville Southern Railroad to operate the line.
Tourist trains started running in 1995, going as far as the Monocacy River. The damaged bridge was rebuilt and finished in 1996. After that, trains could cross the river again, 23 years after the hurricane. By 1998, the line was rebuilt all the way to Maryland Route 26 in Frederick.
Future Plans
The railroad once planned to go even further into downtown Frederick. However, there was too much car traffic on Route 26. Also, many businesses had moved away from Frederick. So, the plans to extend the line into the city were stopped. Now, the old tracks south of Route 26 might become a path for hikers and bikers.
In 2008, Maryland gave the railroad rights to use three more miles of track to the north. This new section connects to the Maryland Midland Railway. In 2013, a special steam train even used part of this newly fixed track. The northern part of the line was fully restored by 2014.
How the Railroad Operates Today
Today, the Walkersville Southern Railroad offers fun train rides for visitors.
Train Schedule
The railroad usually runs two or three round trips on Saturdays and Sundays. These trips happen in May, June, September, and October. In July and August, trains run only on Saturdays.
Special Events
The railroad also hosts many special events throughout the year. These include exciting trips for train fans, sometimes with visiting steam engines. During the Christmas season, they have popular Santa trains. Sometimes, people with their own special rail equipment can even use the tracks.
Unique Locomotives
The Walkersville Southern Railroad often uses unique diesel locomotives. These are older, industrial engines that you don't often see on modern railways.
In 2012, a steam locomotive ran on the railway for the first time in over 60 years! It was called "Flagg Coal 75," a small 0-4-0T tank engine. Another steam engine, Lehigh Valley Coal 126, visited in 2013. In 2018, Jeddo Coal 85, another steam engine, started operating there.
Train Equipment
The Walkersville Southern Railroad has many different types of trains and cars.
Diesel Locomotives (Engines)
These are the diesel engines that pull the trains.
| Number | Image | Builder | Type | Date Built | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSRR 1 | [1] | Plymouth Locomotive Works | 18-ton switcher | 1941 | On Display | Used to be with the Wilmington & Western Railroad. |
| WSRR 2 | [2] | Davenport Locomotive Works | 25-ton switcher | 1939 | Working | Used for track maintenance. |
| WSRR 3 | [3] | Davenport Locomotive Works | 20-ton switcher | 1942 | Stored | Was US Army 7707 during World War II. |
| ex-WMSR #7 | [4] | Plymouth Locomotive Works | Plymouth CR4 | 1960 | Working | Came from the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. |
| ex-AFC #9 | [5] | General Electric Transportation | GE 45-ton switcher | June 1943 | Working | Was built for the US Navy. |
| ex-DGVR 45 | [6] | General Electric Transportation | GE 45-ton switcher | June 1943 | Working | Was US Army 7496 during World War II. |
| ex-GN #5201 | [7] | General Electric Transportation | GE 44-ton switcher | 1940 | Waiting for Fixes | Believed to be the oldest of its kind still around. |
| WSRR 101 | [8] | Electro-Motive Division | EMD Model 40 | August 1942 | Out of Service | One of only 11 ever built. Was US Army 7954. |
| nee-PRR, ex- SRC 9331 | [9] | General Electric Transportation | GE 44-ton switcher | 1948 | Working | Used to be with the Pennsylvania Railroad and Strasburg Rail Road. |
| PRR 9339 | [10] | General Electric Transportation | GE 44-ton switcher | 1948 | Working | Also originally a Pennsylvania Railroad engine. |
| ex-Marion Industrial Center 45 | General Electric Transportation | GE 45-Ton Switcher | January 1944 | Working | Was US Army 8538, used overseas in Iran during WWII. | |
| WSRR 99 | [11] | General Electric Transportation | GE 25-Ton Switcher | 1937-1938 (?) | Track Maintenance | Worked at a plant in Iowa. |
Rolling Stock (Train Cars)
These are the cars that the locomotives pull, used for passengers or other purposes.
| Type | Image | Quantity | Builder | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open excursion car | [12] | Two cars; #10 and #11 | Unknown | Both working | Used mostly on summer trains for open-air rides. |
| LIRR P54D | [13] | Five cars | American Car and Foundry | Four working | Used all year. Some are dining cars. |
| Troop Sleeper #7478 | [14] | One car | Pullman-Standard | Working | Used as a kitchen car for dinner trains. Was a US Army car in WWII. |
| Solarium Observation Car | [15] | One car | Pullman-Standard | Working | Part of the dinner train. It was once on the Southern Pacific "Lark" train. |
| RF&P Caboose 923 | [16] | One car | International Car Company | Working | Used with all tourist trains. |
| Wabash C-17 Caboose 2827 | [17] | One car | Decatur (OH) Shops, Wabash Railroad | Working | Used with dinner trains. |
| PRR N5 caboose 477532 | [18] | One car | Unknown | Working, but not for public | Being fixed up inside. |
The Pullman solarium car, called the Meadow Lark, is used on dinner trains. It helps provide power for the train and is a dressing room for actors. The railroad also has other private train cars. For example, there is a privately owned PRR N5 caboose in the yard.
The Walkersville Southern also has other cars not used for public rides. These include an old US Navy ammunition box car, which is used as a shop. There are also two ballast hopper cars for track maintenance.
Walkersville Southern Railroad Museum
The railroad has a small museum in an old building. It is right across the street from the historic 1890s Walkersville Depot. Inside the museum, you can see old railroad items and a model railroad.
More Facts
The Walkersville Southern Railroad has two main parts: the North Division and the South Division. These sections run from the train yard to the end of the line in each direction.
See also
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- List of Maryland railroads
