WMSR Acquires Conemaugh & Black Lick SW7 No. 111

Published: February 17, 2026

Back in August, 2025 during a notable late-summer preservation move, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) announced it had acquired former Conemaugh & Black Lick Railroad (C&BL) EMD SW7 No. 111—an operable, classic end-cab switcher that the Maryland tourist line says will remain an active “working” locomotive rather than a static museum piece. Since that acquisition the locomotive has already been put to work - currently still adorned in its historic C&BL livery - leading excursions throughout the fall.

For Western Maryland Scenic, No. 111 represents a strategic kind of collection-building: acquiring something historically significant and operationally useful. The railroad’s own words emphasized continued service to the public and ongoing operation. For preservationists, that’s often the best-case outcome for a diesel locomotive: stable stewardship, regular maintenance, public visibility, and a real job to do.

And for riders, the impact may be immediate. If WMSR follows through on its stated plan, passengers on certain seasonal trains may find themselves behind a piece of Pennsylvania steel-country switching history—one that still wears its former owner’s colors (at least for now) and adds another chapter to a locomotive’s working life rather than ending it.

Conemaugh and Black Lick SW7 #104 runs light near the Little Conemaugh River on its way to the small yard on May 29, 2019. Jon Wright photo.

Preservation and Practicality

WMSR’s announcement, reported August 19, 2025, positioned No. 111 as both an artifact of heavy-industry railroading and a practical addition to the railroad’s operating fleet. The railroad described the locomotive as “fully functional,” and said it intended to use the switcher on some of its seasonal excursion trains—exactly the kind of assignment where a sure-footed, quick-starting yard engine can shine: short consists, frequent stops, and busy event-day switching.

Just as important as the locomotive itself is the preservation story behind the deal. According to Trains Magazine, the acquisition was completed with assistance from the Kovalchick family (known in preservation circles for their role with East Broad Top) and from JC and Annie McHugh of McHugh Locomotive and Equipment. WMSR Executive Director Wes Heinz publicly thanked those involved, emphasizing that No. 111 would continue serving the public as a “working part” of the railroad’s story—not simply an exhibit.

Timing, debut plans, and what WMSR said about paint

While the news broke in August, the locomotive had actually been acquired earlier in the summer: WMSR indicated No. 111 was acquired in June 2025, with plans to move it to Cumberland in time for a public debut during the railroad’s RailFest event.

For railfans, one of the immediate questions with any acquisition is: “Will it be repainted?” WMSR’s answer in 2025 was a thoughtful “not yet.” The railroad said the locomotive would initially retain its black-and-yellow Conemaugh & Black Lick appearance, but added that there were long-term plans for a “special and unique appearance” that would honor both its heritage and its future role in Maryland. That phrasing suggests WMSR is considering something more meaningful than a routine repaint—potentially a scheme that tells a story (C&BL roots, Western Maryland connections, or a commemorative design tied to WMSR’s own brand).

No. 111: a survivor from an industrial short line

What makes No. 111 especially compelling is not merely that it’s an SW7, but that it comes from a comparatively small, industry-rooted railroad whose identity was bound to steelmaking in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Trains noted that No. 111 was the last of 25 SW-type locomotives that served the Conemaugh & Black Lick, a line created by Bethlehem Steel to serve its Johnstown-area mills. More specifically, the railroad owned a total of fifteen SW7s, numbered 103-117, and all acquired new between 1949-1950. From a roster perspective, the constituted the largest individual diesel model the railroad owned.

Brief history: the Conemaugh & Black Lick Railroad

The Conemaugh & Black Lick Railroad’s story is classic “industry creates railroad.” It was formed to serve Bethlehem Steel’s Johnstown Works and related properties, providing the crucial link between mill trackage and interchange with the area’s larger rail systems. The railroad was incorporated on December 31, 1923, and organized shortly thereafter—an era when major manufacturers frequently relied on dedicated short lines to control switching, plant access, and interchange economics.

Geographically, C&BL was compact but busy. Historic valuation material places its owned trackage at a little over 2 miles (with some segments acquired from related companies), underscoring how these industrial carriers could be small in route-miles yet outsized in operational intensity. Over time, C&BL’s identity remained closely tied to Johnstown’s industrial landscape and the waterways that inspired its name—Conemaugh River and Black Lick Creek—operating between local industry and the national rail network.

Even as the region’s steel economy changed dramatically late in the 20th century, the C&BL continued as a freight operator serving remaining industries in the Johnstown area—an important reminder that some “mill railroads” didn’t vanish when peak steel did; they adapted.