Maryland Dinner Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Last revised: September 23, 2026
By: Adam Burns
Maryland’s plated dinner train is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s Allegheny Mountain Dinner Train from Cumberland. Boarding starts at 6:30 p.m. The train leaves at 7:00 p.m. and is back about 10:00 p.m. Chefs cook a three-course meal on board. The excursion is 21 and older. Saturday evenings, April through October, are the listed pattern on the Frostburg Flyer page. Walkersville Southern has run seated dinners. Confirm that calendar before you book a table there.
The WMSR has blossomed into one of the most popular excursion experiences in the country operating between Cumberland and Frostburg. They feature many different trains throughout the season provided in either a first class or lounge setting, including dome service. WMSR photo.
At a glance
| Host | Town | 2026 meal | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Maryland Scenic Railroad | Cumberland | Allegheny Mountain Dinner Train, Saturday 7:00 p.m., April–October as listed. Three hours. Three courses cooked on board. 21+. Confirm the fare on the railroad | Dining guide |
Assigned seating. Advance tickets. Confirm any date after October. American-Rails.com does not sell tickets. Information compiled September 23, 2026.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
(Cumberland): WMSR runs the former Western Maryland Railway climb from Cumberland toward Frostburg, about 16 miles one way on the daytime Frostburg Flyer, including the Narrows, Helmstetter’s Curve, and Brush Tunnel. The dinner train uses that mountain railroad as a rolling dining room. The product launched in 2023. Food is cooked in a kitchen car. The three courses are a salad, a choice of entrée, and a signature dessert. Full bar service is sold on board. Non-alcoholic drinks are complimentary on the dinner description. Seating is assigned. Arrive about 45 minutes ahead. Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 #1309 is the steam star when she is on the Flyer calendar. Read the dinner date before you count on steam. Outside alcohol stays off the train. Service animals are the pets the railroad allows. Refunds run up to two weeks out. Inside two weeks, the credit is in-house for the same calendar year.
2026: Saturday evenings at 7:00 p.m., April through October, are the pattern on the Flyer page. The class notes are the dining guide. Daytime rides are the 2026 scenic guide. Book on wmsr.com.
Mystery, Polar, and Walkersville
These are other tickets.
- WMSR Murder Mystery Dinner is 21+, every other Friday in the railroad’s listing, with The Fowl Players of Perryville. Boarding 6:30 p.m., depart 7:00 p.m., return about 10:00 p.m. The meal is three courses plus the show.
- Polar Express in Cumberland is a Polar ticket. Use the Polar hub.
- Walkersville Southern boards the restored Pennsylvania Railroad depot at 34 West Pennsylvania Avenue. Trains magazine’s February 24, 2026 profile still describes dinner trains on limited Saturdays from May through November, and mystery trains with dinner on select dates. The railroad’s public fare sheet lists coach, parlor, and caboose prices and does not post a dinner fare. Confirm the 2026 dates on wsrr.org before you treat it as a booked table. The mystery page is Walkersville’s murder-mystery trains.
Related reading
Always verify 2026 dates, menus, and prices on the railroad’s official site. American-Rails.com does not sell tickets.
The WMSR has blossomed into one of the most popular excursion experiences in the country operating between Cumberland and Frostburg. They feature many different trains throughout the season provided in either a first class or lounge setting. Their five classes of service include:
- Standard Coach
- Deluxe Coach
- Deluxe Open Air
- Club Lounge
- Dome Car
All but standard coach provide some sort of on-board refreshment and snack. In addition, the railroad has now launched three-course dinner trains as well known as the "Allegheny Mountain Dinner Train." These trips begin boarding at 6:30 PM and depart Cumberland at 7 PM and last three hours. They also offer a bar with alcoholic beverages.
Launched in 2023 the railroad states:
"The Allegheny Mountain Dinner Train is a fine dining experienced offered by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Your trip into the mountains will begin in Cumberland, where our friendly wait staff will show you to your table and start you off with some refreshments.
With a full bar available onboard, one can enjoy our wine & beer selections or one of our named specialty cocktails. Rolling along the rock cliffs, creeks, streams and trees, our chefs will be busy preparing your three course meal onboard in the kitchen car. Take in the sunset and evening views as your enjoy your three course meal with friends or family."
Today, the Western Maryland Scenic maintains nearly 17 miles of the former Western Maryland Railway corridor from Cumberland to Frostburg. This segment includes several scenic locations which includes "The Narrows", just west of Cumberland, 914-foot Brush Tunnel, and finally famous "Helmstetter's Curve."
This particular part of the old WM was its Connellsville Extension that once extended all of the way to Connellsville, Pennsylvania. However, the line was abandoned west of Frostburg in 1975 and today is part of the Great Allegheny Passage.
Today, the railroad operates diesel-powered trains as well as recently restored Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 #1309. The big Mallet has quickly became its star attraction and has allowed the WMSR to regain its footing after the locomotive's restoration became embroiled in years of delays and setbacks. Today, WMSR remains one of the state's top tourism destinations enjoying more than 40,000 riders annually.
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