Mount Savage Railroad

Mount Savage Railroad

Company type	Private
Industry	Railroad transportation
Founded	1838
Defunct	1854
Fate	Integrated into Western Maryland Railway predecessor lines
Headquarters	Mount Savage, Maryland , United States
Area served	Allegany County, Maryland
Products	Rail transport services

The Mount Savage Railroad was managed by the Maryland and New York Coal and Iron Company in Mount Savage, Maryland between 1845 and 1854. Spanning 14.9 miles (24 km), the route connected Frostburg with Cumberland, Maryland.

History

Inaugurated on September 24, 1845, this railroad was pioneering in the United States for utilizing iron rails produced domestically, thereby eliminating dependence on British imports.

Integration of Mount Savage into regional transport networks

Prior to this rail line, Mount Savage did not have an effective means to transport its manufactured products. By linking to Cumberland, the railroad provided access to significant transportation corridors including the National Road, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Additionally, the junction at Cumberland Narrows offered a connection to the Potomac Wharf Branch.

The Potomac Wharf Branch

Constructed circa 1850 by the Maryland Mining Company as an extension of the Eckhart Branch Railroad, this Maryland branch line crossed over Wills Creek but has since been dismantled.

National Road

At Cumberland, the Mount Savage Railroad linked with the National Road—an early major thoroughfare completed in 1824—that connected turnpike routes across the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania to Baltimore, Maryland.

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

The rail line established by the Maryland and New York Coal and Iron Company was designed to interface with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, supporting industrial manufacturing as well as the movement of raw materials and finished goods. The Cumberland Wharf enabled further shipping access through the C&O Canal extending to Washington, D.C..

Rail yard configuration

The Mount Savage rail yard included a twelve-stall roundhouse which doubled as a passenger station. In close proximity were a fire clay brick refractory and Ramsey Glazed Brick Works. Several switch tracks connected local factories and furnaces to the main track heading toward Cumberland. Subsequent expansions linked to the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad, establishing a connection between Mount Savage and Frostburg following its completion in the 1850s.

Mountain Thunder on The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

The Mountain Thunder (Locomotive No. 734) is a restored Baldwin steam engine from 1916 that runs along 32 miles of track between Cumberland and Frostburg. This 3½-hour excursion departs from Cumberland Station, traversing notable sites such as The Narrows, Helmstetter Curve, Brush Tunnel, and Woodcock Hollow before arriving at Frostburg. Passengers witness the historic Frostburg Depot turntable prior to returning to Cumberland. The railroad offers three distinct trip experiences: first-class Excursion Trains featuring meals; adult-targeted Murder Mystery Trains with dinner and changing storylines from May through December; and seasonal Santa Express rides in December where Santa Claus interacts with riders. These diverse journeys provide rich opportunities to explore the area’s scenic railway heritage.

The Allegheny Highlands Trail

Spanning 135 miles, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) connects Duquesne, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh), to Cumberland, Maryland, providing a route for both cyclists and hikers. The Allegheny Highlands Trail portion extends 20.47 miles from Cumberland to the Mason-Dixon line, running parallel to the historic Mount Savage railroad. Featuring a crushed limestone surface, this trail was developed in stages: from the Mason-Dixon line to Frostburg in September 2004, Frostburg to Woodmount Hollow by August 2005, and finally Woodmount Hollow to Cumberland in December 2006. Open to bikers, walkers, and pets alike, it offers a picturesque natural setting alongside preserved rail heritage.

See also

• Mount Savage Iron Works