It's May 28th 1978, and this eastbound freight train is seen at Keystone PA, on the west slope of the B&O's Sand Patch grade. The Western Maryland as a thru route to Connellsville has been severed about three years at this point, and this classic Western Maryland consist was worth the chase (there were multiple slides of this chase, this being the only one I won). 7573 is leading the charge with an unknown WM B unit. 7573 became CSX 8424, and was one of the engines chosen to be rebuilt into an SD40-2. She was unceremoniously scrapped in 2012 at Huntington, WV. The B unit probably had very little time left in 1978, and likely went to Pielet Bros on an EMD trade-in. Photo by James P Marcus, JL Sessa collection.
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This slide is completely unmarked, aside from being labeled "Cumberland" and having a October 1977 processing date. 7151 looks like it has been freshened up for an event, possibly an excursion along with GM50. JL Sessa collection.
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Here's a roster of a classic brute, WM 7573. Originally numbered 7473, this SD40 was one of five ordered by the Western Maryland in summer of 1966. The WM would order seven more SD40s in two separate orders after pleasing results with the initial five. Taken in Brunswick on September 12th 1981, the 7573 shows off the effects of 15 years of hard work. Of note behind the cab is the onboard flange oiler system the WM installed on it's six axle fleet. Coupled to a C&O SD40, this pair is mostly likely working as helper set for any heavy eastbounds over the OML or Met. In the background, a mow car from the Brunswick work train can be seen. Frank Litzenberg photo, JL Sessa collection.
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It's May 7th 1988, and this WM class B-36 boxcar is showing signs of wear from 19 years of service. Fifteen of this class of boxcar were built by ACF in 1969 as lot # 11-06558. I could be remembering things wrong, but I want to say many of this class were in Kingsford Charcoal service but I may be wrong. Ken Lehman shot this car in Cumberland, JL Sessa collection.
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Built as Western Maryland Rwy #3798 in 1971, this GP40 became the last active locomotive in WM paint by the late 1980s. Seen wearing it's CSXT number, #6573 sits behind the shop in Cumberland MD on October 29th 1990. Definitely showing signs of wear after 19 years of service at this point, she has a little less than two years left on CSX before suffering an electrical fire while on the (evil) former C&O out of Newport News. CSX retired #6573 after the fire in 1992. The engine currently wears Indiana Southern paint and the number 4041. It has long since had it's dynamic brakes removed, along with some other changes but is apparently still running. Note the heavily worn stencil on the battery box cover, denoting the significance of being the last WM painted unit. A keen eye will note a former WM C19 class covered hopper on the right side in the background, one of fifty built by ACF in 1970 for the Western Maryland. It is perhaps hauling sand for the servicing of engines at the ready tracks in this photo. Marc Grinter photo, my collection.
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