By Railfan & Railroad Staff
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad announced on January 15, that it had signed a long-term lease for the dormant Georges Creek Railway, a former Western Maryland route that connects approximately 14 miles between Westernport and Carlos, Maryland. The line will be operated as the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s Georges Creek Division.
The Maryland tourist railroad hopes to offer both freight and passenger service on the route. WMSR is establishing a separate business entity that will emulate other tourist operations with independent freight operations like the Tennessee Valley, Everett, and Naugatuck railroads.
CSX Transportation operated the line into the 2000s. In the mid-2000s, the Georges Creek Railway was established to provide service. At the time, a papermill in Luke was the largest rail-served customer. That mill later shut down and the short line ceased operations in 2019. The railroad is now owned by Eighteen Thirty Group, LLC, which has been in talks with WMSR for over two years about possibly operating the line. WMSR Executive Director Wesley Heinz said in a press release that CSX has also supported the deal. The Class I connects with the route at Westernport on its former Baltimore & Ohio Mountain Subdivision.
A map of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s Georges Creek Division.
“CSX has been courteous enough to identify opportunities for WMSR, and the Georges Creek Division could help us fulfill these requests,” Heinz said. “Our staff has spent countless hours imagining a revitalization of the railroad line and how WMSR can use its vision to bring economic development to the Georges Creek Valley through tourism and rail services. WMSR envisions developing rapport with community leadership that can spur small-business growth while bringing family-friendly, tourist experiences through our operation.”
The WMSR also said it hopes to establish a tourist train service on the route, as early as this year.
“The WMSR doesn’t own the railroad between Cumberland and Frostburg,” Heinz said. “The ability to expand our schedule is limited in its current configuration. The Georges Creek Division initiative allows the Scenic to craft our future as we see fit.”
The railroad has also acquired two diesel locomotives to operate the line, both of which are familiar to the former WM route: GP9s 25 and 30, both of which feature the WM’s recognizable chop nose.