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Western Maryland Diesel Roster

The Western Maryland diesel roster was mostly a mix of EMD and Alco products, with Baldwin and GE models also making up the roster. For a complete/all-time Western Maryland diesel roster please click here. This list of surviving Erie diesel locomotives will be categorized by original numbers the railroad assigned its units and where they are today, whether in operation, cosmetically restored, or in some state of preservation at railroad museums and tourist railroads. Also, just as something to keep in mind if you are not aware, while some locomotives may be painted/preserved in WM colors this does not necessarily mean that they are of WM heritage (and likewise, some locomotives may be of WM heritage that are not in WM colors).

While the Western Maryland Railway, affectionately known as the Wild Mary was never a large carrier (only roughly a 700-mile system) although for those who followed it, it was a legendary line. The railroad was built over rough terrain and thus used numerous tunnels and bridges to achieve a manageable grade. While difficult to operate from a railroad perspective, the WM allowed for some of the most fantastic photography one could ever hope or wish for with everything from big 4-8-4s bursting from Knobley Tunnel and crossing the Potomac River to brawny 4-6-6-4s lugging freight through legendary Helmstetter’s Curve.

To put it bluntly, what a fantastic scenic railroad the entire WM main line (especially through Maryland and West Virginia) would have made if it were all still intact today. It would easily rival anything offered today from other famous tourist lines like the Strasburg Railroad or the Durango & Silverton.

American Locomotive Company (Alco)

· Alco S2 #144: Preserved at the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum as International Nickel Company #203.

· Alco FA-2 #202: Preserved by the Western Maryland Historical Society as WM #202.

· Alco FA-2 #303: In operation on the West Virginia Central in freight and passenger service as WM #303.

· Alco RS3 #195: Preserved at the B&O Railroad Museum as WM #195.

Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

· EMD F7A #236: Preserved by the B&O Railroad Museum as WM #236.

· EMD BL2 #81: Preserved by the B&O Railroad Museum as WM #81.

· EMD BL2 #82: In operation on the West Virginia Central in freight and passenger service as WM #82.

General Electric (GE)

· GE 44-tonner #76: In operation on the Delaware & Ulster Railroad as #76.

Also, it should be noted that some former Western Maryland switcher and road units continue to remain in some state of operation and in active revenue service with Class Is, Regionals, shortlines, or leasing companies. To learn more about the disposition of these locomotives please click here to visit The Diesel Shop.

While this list will continually be updated it certainly does not completely cover every surviving unit, which was on the Western Maryland diesel roster. So, if you know of any other survivors out there, whether they are parked and gleaming in a museum or sitting out in the weeds along a forgotten siding please let me know so we can keep this list growing, and you will be given full credit for your help.

For more information on the all types of classic diesel locomotives consider Mike Schafer’s Vintage Diesel Locomotives which looks at virtually all of the classic builders and models from Alco PAs to early EMD Geeps. If you’re interested in classic FMs, or diesels in general, this book gives an excellent general history of both.

You may also want to consider the book Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the title implies the book looks at the history and development of the diesel locomotives, covering 200 pages, from its earliest beginnings to the newest designs and models operated today. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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