Maryland Midland Railway

Maryland Midland Railway
Reporting mark	MMID
Locale	Carroll and Frederick Counties, Maryland
Dates of operation	1980–
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge)
Length	63 mi. (currently in service), 74 mi. total[1][2]
Headquarters	Union Bridge, Maryland

The Maryland Midland Railway (reporting mark MMID) is a Class III short-line railroad operating about 63 miles of track in central Maryland.^[1][2] It was originally headquartered in the former Western Maryland Railway station in Union Bridge, Maryland, however it is now located in a new facility across the street from the old station.^[3] The railroad has been 87.4% owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc since 2008, with Lehigh Cement (the largest shipper on the line) retaining a 12.6% interest.

The railway currently operates on track from Highfield, Maryland (west) to Glyndon, Maryland (east), via a short two mile loop through Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and from Woodsboro, Maryland (south) to Taneytown, Maryland (north).^[2]

History

Operations began in 1980 over a section of ex-Pennsylvania Railroad line from Taneytown to Walkersville, Maryland. Starting in 1983 the ex-Western Maryland Railway line from Emory Grove to Highfield was purchased from CSXT in sections.

The railroad's business grew from trains pulling 200 freight cars per year in the 1980s to 18,000 freight cars in 2006.^[2] By 2006, it owned a fleet of ten locomotives; three GP9 low hoods, and seven GP38-3, all of EMD build. Its rolling stock also included 410 freight cars owned and/or leased.

In 2008, the railroad was purchased by Genesee & Wyoming, a US-based corporation which owns multiple railroad shortlines in the United States and Australia.

Passenger excursion line

From 1990 to 1995, the EnterTRAINment Line provided passenger excursions on the Maryland Midland Railway system. This service was discontinued when EnterTRAINment went out of business in May 1995.^[4][5] More recently, Maryland Midland has been a freight-only line, except for occasional trips by stockholders and the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum, located in an adjoining building in Union Bridge.^[2]

Interchanges

Maryland Midland Railway connects with CSX Transportation (CSXT) at two points:

• Highfield, Maryland
• Emory Grove, Maryland

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Facts & Stats: Freight Rail. Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Ed Waters, Jr. (June 27, 2006). "Heading off on another track: Maryland Midland’s retiring president reflects on his career and the direction of the railway business". Frederick News-Post. http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/archives/display_detail.htm?StoryID=58890. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
3. ^ Jackie Powder (April 28, 1994). "New Railway headquarters to have Victorian look". Baltimore Sun. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/maryland-midland. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
4. ^ J. Shelley Hopkins (May 2005). "B&O Lounge/Observation Car 3302". The Bull Sheet. http://www.bullsheet.com/news/hoopercar.html. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
5. ^ Donna R. Engle (December 17, 1995). "Railway negotiating for new dinner train". Baltimore Sun. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/maryland-midland. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 

External links

• Maryland Midland Railway
• Walkersville Southern Railroad