Maryland Midland Railway
Encyclopedia
The Maryland Midland Railway is a Class III
short-line railroad operating about 63 miles of track
in central Maryland
. 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. 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).
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. 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.
(CSXT) at two points:
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
short-line railroad operating about 63 miles of track
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
in central Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It was originally headquartered in the former Western Maryland Railway
Western Maryland Railway
The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...
station
Union Bridge Station
Union Bridge Station is a historic railway station in Union Bridge, Carroll County, Maryland. It was built in 1902 as a stop for the Western Maryland Railway. It is representative of the rural railway stations constructed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
in Union Bridge, Maryland
Union Bridge, Maryland
Union Bridge is a town in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The population was 989 at the 2000 census.Much of the town was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Union Bridge Historic District in 1994.-Geography:...
, however it is now located in a new facility across the street from the old station. 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
Highfield-Cascade, Maryland
Highfield-Cascade is a census-designated place in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,141 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Highfield-Cascade is located at ....
(west) to Glyndon, Maryland
Glyndon, Maryland
Glyndon, Maryland is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1871 by Dr. Charles A. Leas, the village is located in the northwest section of Baltimore County and serves primarily as a residential suburb of metropolitan Baltimore City...
(east), via a short two mile loop through Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Franklin County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
, and from Woodsboro, Maryland
Woodsboro, Maryland
Woodsboro is a town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States that was granted to Joseph Wood in 1693. The population was 846 at the 2000 census.-History:...
(south) to Taneytown, Maryland
Taneytown, Maryland
Taneytown is a city in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,128 at the 2000 census. was founded in 1754. Of the town George Washington once wrote "Tan-nee town is but a small place with only the Street through wch. the road passes, built on...
(north).
History
Operations began in 1980 over a section of ex-Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
line from Taneytown
Taneytown, Maryland
Taneytown is a city in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,128 at the 2000 census. was founded in 1754. Of the town George Washington once wrote "Tan-nee town is but a small place with only the Street through wch. the road passes, built on...
to Walkersville, Maryland
Walkersville, Maryland
Walkersville is a town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,805 per the 2010 census.-History:Crum Road Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978...
. Starting in 1983 the ex-Western Maryland Railway
Western Maryland Railway
The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...
line from Emory Grove
Glyndon Historic District
Glyndon Historic District is a national historic district in Glyndon, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a turn-of-the-20th-century community northeast of Reisterstown, Maryland, that began as a summer resort. The district is residential except for a small business district located at...
to Highfield
Highfield-Cascade, Maryland
Highfield-Cascade is a census-designated place in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,141 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Highfield-Cascade is located at ....
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. By 2006, it owned a fleet of ten locomotives; three GP9
EMD GP9
An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including...
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. 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.Interchanges
Maryland Midland Railway connects with CSX TransportationCSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
(CSXT) at two points:
- Highfield, Maryland
- Emory Grove, MarylandGlyndon Historic DistrictGlyndon Historic District is a national historic district in Glyndon, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a turn-of-the-20th-century community northeast of Reisterstown, Maryland, that began as a summer resort. The district is residential except for a small business district located at...