Western Maryland #202 at Hagerstown City Park for static display.
Western Maryland No. 202 is a preserved class K-2 4-6-2 "pacific" type steam locomotive that sits on display at Hagerstown City Park in Hagerstown, MD.
History[]
Built in 1912 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Western Maryland Railway the locomotive was used for pulling various passenger trains of the WM over the course of 40 years.
No. 202 pulled its last revenue freight assignment in 1952, and it was subsequently retired after a 40-year career and donated "to the children of Hagerstown", to be displayed in City Park, Hagerstown, Maryland.
In 1983, No. 202 was purchased by John Long, who started an effort to restore the locomotive to operating condition, but unfortunately passed away before it could be completed. After he died, ownership of No. 202 reverted to the City of Hagerstown. In the late 1980s, the line that ran between Cumberland and Frostburg was sold to the then-new Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR), who started looking for a steam locomotive to operate on their trackage.
Today the locomotive is on static display at Hagerstown City Park in Hagerstown, MD and No. 202 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Trivia[]
- It is one of only two surviving Western Maryland steam locomotives and the only surviving mainline Western Maryland steam locomotive.
- In 1938, the locomotive was refitted with Walschaert valve gear, replacing its original Baker valve gear.
- The WMSR initially wanted to restore No. 202, since it was an authentic Western Maryland locomotive. However, due to its low tractive effort and the city of Hagerstown choosing to retain ownership of the locomotive, restoration and subsequent operation of No. 202 on the WMSR never came to fruition, and it has since remained in the park under the auspices of the Hagerstown City Park Train Hub.
- In 1947, it was converted to burn oil and stayed east of Cumberland after the conversion.
Gallery[]
