Rail, then trail.
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad invites bicyclists to enjoy both by riding its passenger train from Cumberland to Frostburg and then returning to Cumberland along the Great Allegheny Passage.
“Let Mountain Thunder do the work,” the railroad says on its Website, referring to the vintage steam locomotives that huffs and puffs its way 15.5 miles to Frostburg, a 1,300-foot change in elevation.
Along the way, the train climbs through the Narrows, the rock cut through the Allegheny Front that was America’s first Gateway to the West. The route now is used by CSX Transportation, Amtrak and Route 40 and once served the Baltimore & Ohio and the Cumberland & Pennsylvania railroads.
After leaving the Narrows, the train and its restored coaches crosses a double-truss steel bridge over Route 40 before chugging north past Wills Mountain and heading for Mount Savage. It then sweeps around Helmstetter’s Curve, a half-mile arc that overlooks Cash Valley.
Next up is the 914 foot Brush Tunnel once used as the location for a Pontiac commercial. A hairpin turn and a noticeable increase in grade follows at Woodcock Hollow.
Passengers have a 90-minute layover in Frostburg after the train stops at the Cumberland & Pennsylvania depot. The conductor rolls bicycles from the baggage car out to their riders.
But, before riding down the serpentine spur trail to the GAP, wait a few minutes to watch the engineer ease the locomotive and its tender (coal car) on to a turntable to turn it around for the trip back to Cumberland. It’s a great photo opportunity and the turntable operator gives it a few extra spins to accommodate everyone.
On the layover, passengers can climb a long flight of wooden stairs to reach Frostburg’s Main Street, visit the Thrasher Carriage Museum across from the C&P Depot — just show your train ticket — or dine at the Trail Inn Café next to the museum.
The bike ride back to Cumberland parallels the scenic railroad, occasionally crosses over the tracks and is delightfully downhill. Some call it the “Cumberland Coast.”
Because the Brush Tunnel is shared by the train and the trail, ride or walk your bike through it before Mountain Thunder arrives and fills it with smoke.
In addition to daily inspections and more extensive ones based on service days, steam locomotives receive a comprehensive inspection every 1,472 service days or 15 years, whichever comes first. Federal law requires the current locomotive to be almost completely disassembled.
Fortunately, the Western Maryland acquired a Chesapeake & Ohio locomotive from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum last year and plans to have it in operation for the 2016 season. It said it will be the largest articulated steam locomotive in regular operation in the country.
The standard coach fares for adults, seniors (60-plus) and children 12 and younger are $35, $33 and $18, respectively. There’s a $5 fee for a bike.
Information: www.wmsr.com; 1-800-872-4650. The railroad station is located at 13 Canal Street in Cumberland.
Eat, Play, Ride
More than 80 bicyclists and some walkers participated in the Fourth Annual Eat, Play, Ride fundraiser May 16 for the Armstrong Trail.
Toni Henry, president of the all-volunteer Armstrong Rails to Trails Association (ARTA), said projects under consideration this year include resurfacing 1 mile of trail, adding benches and installing historic signs.
The trail, owned by the Allegheny Valley Land Trust and a major segment of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail, is rich in railroad and mining history and travels past many waterfalls and two locks and dams.
Information: www.armstrongrailstotrails.org.
Larry Walsh writes about recreational bicycling for the Post-Gazette.
First Published: May 23, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
