RARE No. 1309 Steam Locomotive & No. 561 Return to WMSR Cumberland MD Station at MD RAILFEST 2026

Time signatures: 0:00 - Whistles blares & crossing gate lowers 0:21 - Red No. 561 diesel engine appears 0:27 - No. 561 starts to cross street 0:39 - First railcar appears 1:46 - Generator railcar appears 1:53 - No. 1309 steam locomotive appears 2:06 - Camera turns to follow No. 1309 2:17 - No. 1309 releases lots of steam on both sides 3:15 - No. 1309 finally parks & lets out a quick toot 3:40 - End screen text begins Watch this interesting MEDIUM-LENGTH (approx. 4 min., 00 sec.) video of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's (WMSR) Helmstetter's Highball train being pulled by the RED No. 561 diesel engine with the magnificent No. 1309 steam locomotive at the rear during MARYLAND RAILFEST 2026. This train ride begins at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad train station in Cumberland, MD, and rides out to Helmstetter's Curve, stops, and then returns to the same station. (1) The video shows the train crossing a street and returning to the WMSR Station in Cumberland, MD. First the bright red No. 561 diesel locomotive appears, then the railcars follow, and finally the amazing No. 1309 steam locomotive appears at the end of the train. The No. 1309 parks next to the No. 111 blue locomotive. The Great Allegheny Passage (a 150-mile bike trail from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA), can be seen next to the rail tracks. (2) The WMSR "is a heritage railroad based in Cumberland, Maryland, that operates passenger excursion trains and occasional freight trains using both steam and diesel locomotives over ex-Western Maryland Railway (WM) tracks between Cumberland and Frostburg. The railroad offers coach and first-class service, murder mystery excursions, and special seasonal trips." (3) Train rides that the WMSR offers include The Polar Express Train Ride, Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Allegheny Winter Express, Allegheny Mountain Dinner Train, and Helmstetter's Highball. (4) Here is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad website: https://wmsr.com/ The No. 1309 steam locomotive, aka the "Maryland Thunder," is repeatedly shown up ahead pulling the WMSR train on this ride. And it is definitely the star of the show! It is a special locomotive, for it is the LARGEST STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IN REGULAR SERVICE in the eastern US, and it "is the only articulated steam locomotive operating east of the Mississippi River." (5) Enjoy watching this entertaining video of the Helmstetter's Highball train ride with the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad passenger train that departs and returns to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad train station in Cumberland, Maryland, in the eastern US!!! Continue watching this series of videos to see the whole Helmstetter's Highball train ride. Continue watching with Helmstetter's Highball Train Ride Part 3. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, LIKING, AND SUBSCRIBING to my channel!!!!! Sources: (1) https://wmsr.com/marylandrailfest (2) https://gaptrail.org/ (3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western... (4) https://wmsr.com/ (5) https://steamgiants.com/survivors/ope... #train #railroad #railfan #westernmarylandscenicrailroad #wmsrtrainstation #1309 #1309locomotive #baldwinrail #baldwinlocomotive #2662 #steamlocomotive #steamloco #steamlocomotives #helmstetterscurve #helmstettershighball #polarexpress #murdermysterydinnertrain #alleghenywinterexpress #chesapeake&ohiorailway #railyard #trainyard #cumberlandmdtrainstation #marylandvideographer #maryland #marylandusa #westernmaryland #cumberlandmd #cumberland #cumberlandmaryland #railfan #historicplaces #trainspotting #railspotting #railspotter #passengertrain #streetcrossing #historictrains #historictrain #historictravel #wmsr #wmsrrailfest #railfest #no111 #111