WESTERN MARYLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
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Historical Snapshot: Western Maryland Railway Company On May 27, 1852, the company was first incorporated as the Baltimore, Carroll & Frederick Railroad Company. On March 21, 1853, the name was changed to the Western Maryland Railroad Company. the Western Maryland Railway Company came about after the bad times caused by the Financial Panic of 1907 when it purchased the W. M. R.R. at florclosure sale (November of 1909). The main line, as acquired, etended from Baltimore, Maryland to Elkins, Durbin, and Belington, West Virginia. Altogether, the line, including branches, was 393 miles in length. In 1910, The company constructed 83 miles of new railroad to connect with the Pittsburg & Lake Erie. By 1916, when the Western Maryland entered into yet another reorganization plan, they had leased several additional companies. They included: The Baltimore & Cumberland Valley Railroad and B. & C. V. Extension, the Baltimore & Harrisburg Railway, and the Washington & Franklyn Railway. Altogether, the leases amounted to about another 300 miles of main line. In addition to leasing these companies, they also owned or at least controled them through stock purchase. Likewise, They owned the West Virginia Central & Pittsburg Railway and the Maryland Smokeless Coal Company. The latter envolved 135,000 acres of coal rich land. On February 15, 1917, the company was consolidated as as approved by the reorganization plan. Many of its coal properties were leased to others. The majority of owned companys (except for the Baltimore & Cumberland Valley R.R. Extension [26.5 miles] and the Washington & Frankln Railway [19.10 miles] which remained leased,) were absorbed into the Western Maryland. Also, The George's Creek and Cumberland Railroad and the Connellsville & State Line Railway were included as new absorptions. In December of 1927 the company acquired control of the Chesapeake and Curtis Bay Railroad Co. In July of 1929 the W. M. acquired the West Midland Railroad. As of December 31, 1930 the Western Maryland had grown to 896 miles of owned, leased and trackae rights operated railroad. In the 1920's the Baltimore & Ohio began to buy up sufficient stock to control the Western Maryland. In 1929 the ICC put the B&O on notice that such was not going to happen and ordered they sell off their interest. That order, because of the economics of the Depression was extended many times. During the time of the ICC-s United States railroad restructuring plan it was decided that the B&O and WM might be best. The ICC decided that a trustee be appointed to manage The B&O holdings. As a result, the B&O suffered no financial loss, but, they also had no control. On January 17, 1950 seven newer subsidiaries were merged into the Western Maryland. They included: Greenbrier, Cheat & Elk R.R. Co. Somerset Coal Ry., Fairmont Helen's Run Railway Co., Fairmont Bingamon Railway Co., Chaffee Railway Co., Cumberland Railway Co., and Western Maryland Railway Terminal Company. As of December 31, 1960, The Western Maryland Railway Co. main line trackage totalled 840.66 miles. Total owned lines - 523.49 miles, branches - 158.05 miles, leasewd lines - 45.00 miles, trackage rights - 114.12 miles. In 1964 the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Baltimore & Ohio became the joint owners of the Western Maryland Railway. On February 26, 1973, all three were merged into the new Chessie System Incorporated.
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WM 2-8-6-0 #924
Image, Western Maryland 2-8-8-2 #924, 1930's Order No. WM924I A heavyweight Western Maryland Class L-2 compound 2-8-8-2 locomotive #924 pauses before the lens, between coal drags, in this 1930's view. The #924 was built by Lima during the 1917/1918 period. Shopping Cart 8.5" by 11" Image, Price - $ 5.00 [Add To Cart] --------------------WM GP40 #3798, 1965
Image, Western Maryland EMD GP40 diesel #3798, 1965 Order No. WM3798I Photographer; John R. Smith A lone Western Maryland GP40 diesel locomotive #3798 works the back yards of Bay City, Michigan, 1965. "Unit shown here...on a line going behind a friends house just off N, Trumbull Street." ...John R. Smith 8.5" by 11" Image, Price - $ 5.00 [Add To Cart] --------------------
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