"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)

Heading Back Down! A freight prepares to leave the passing siding at Frostburg and head down the hill to Cumberland with a few carloads of freight. A Lerro Productions photo charter.

Western Maryland extra 734 west traverses Helmstetters Curve on its way to Frostburg.

Working in the Woods! WMSR 734 takes one more trainload uphill before her 1472-day inspection. I took a similar shot in post-color fall as a vertical, see Railroad: Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
Locomotive: Steam 2-8-0
Location: Mt. Savage, Maryland, USA
Locomotive #: WMSR 734
Train ID: Unknown
Photo Date: February 17, 2016

Under cloudy skies and fading light Western Maryland Scenic's 2-8-0 easily brings a mixed freight east from Brush Tunnel around Helmsteters's Curve and in a few minuets be running the Narrows of C... (more)

This one is for Walter!! Years ago I saw a wonderful shot by Walter Scriptunas, this one. I usually don't want to c... (more)