"Western Maryland" 501 emerges from Brush Tunnel to pick up passengers who have just photographed 2-8-0 No. 734 during the Western Maryland Scenic's farewell trip for the Consolidation. ... (more)

Conductor John Garner gives a thumbs up to engineer Kevin Rice as Western Maryland Scenic 2-8-0 prepares for a runby at Brush Tunnel. This was the first of two "Farewell to 734" charters... (more)

Classic scene from 734 Final photo freight.

"FEED THE BEAST"
Fireman Richard Butterworth slings a shovelful of coal into the hot belly of Baldwin 2-8-0 WMSR 734 between the Narrows and Helmstetter's Curve

"TUNNEL EXIT"
2-8-0 #734 screams out the west portal of Brush Tunnel on the former WMRY mainline out of Cumberland.

"FROM THE INSIDE"
Many have seen 734 round Helmstetter's Curve from the outside. Here's a view of the tremendous work done inside the cab as Fireman Richard Butterworth shovels coal in... (more)

Very early in the 734's 2005 season, she has fresh paint, smokebox with new graphite, bell and whistle polished, looking good here on the turntable.

It's Sunday morning, and 501 is set to tow 734 and her train over to Cumberland. The idea is to hold down 734's smoke in Ridgely, the folks are a complaing.

It's all about the plume! "Mountain Thunder" climbs the grade one more time; shortly it heads in for its 1472 day inspection.

An early Sunday morning, 734 gets ready. She's just spent the winter in the shop, now very clean, polished rods, whistle, bell and new graphite on her smoke box. A pretty sight for the patrons w... (more)

Photo charters need preparation It can be interesting to see what goes on before a photo charter starts. Here, the former main to Maryland Jct. and points west and east is occupied by the... (more)

Pump It Up! Usually a WMSR trip is done without refilling the tender, but on this day they chose to add water at the midpoint of the trip in Frostburg, with water pumped from a hydrant by ... (more)

A beautiful day at Helmstetter's Curve.

One Last Pull! 100-year old WMSR 734 pulls out of the yard in Ridgeley early in the morning to start what was expected to be its last day of service before its 1472-day inspection. Since t... (more)

Western Maryland Scenic 2-8-0 during a photo charter in 2011. This April 2nd and 9th will be the last photo charter for the 734. The locomotive goes in for a 1472 overhaul which could take 5 or mo... (more)