Western Maryland #734 Fall Color Spectacular

Published Feb 22, 2019 By Robert Blue

Western Maryland #734 On A 1.75% grade!

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad runs a Baldwin 2-8-0 “Consolidation” type locomotive #734 built in 1916. One of many locomotives to come out of the Baldwin locomotive works, she replaced the American type 4-4-0 locomotives that had been the most popular up until then.

“Consolidation” was the key word, since they replaced 4 driving wheels with 8 replacing the 4 wheel leading truck with just 2 wheels. They were therefore “consolidating” the power into the driving wheels instead.

Western Maryland #734 is currently non operational but hopefully will run the rails again someday.

Let us know if you have ever had a chance to take this excursion train or one like it! We would love to hear about your experience!