by ES44AH » Tue Jul 19, 2016 8:45 am
Three steam locomotives make up the M&N steam program. All former B&O, they operated as revenue engines for a short time when the railroad was founded. Now, they are used for excursions service. The Steam Heritage Shops are located at the Martinsburg Shops in Martinsburg, WV.
Steam Roster:
5300: B&O P-7 "President Washington" 4-6-2
5594: B&O T-3b 4-8-2
7600: B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4
Locomotive History:
B&O 5300: The first of 20 4-6-2 Pacifics built by Baldwin for the B&O in 1927. The Pacifics were known as the President class, all 20 were named after US Presidents. B&O 5300 was names for the Nations first President, George Washington. President Washington, and the other 19 Pacifics, were famous for leading such name trains as Capitol Limited, National Limited, and Royal Blue. All 20 wore B&O's Olive Green until 1944 when they were painted into B&O blue. In 1956, the President Washington became B&O 100, and in 1957 was retired. Originally, all 20 were to be scrapped, but B&O 100 was saved and restored to as built condition. The Locomotive was put on display at the B&O Roundhouse museum. In 2012, as part of the M&N's 50th anniversary, 5300 was returned to steam.
B&O 5594: Built in 1948, the 5594 was the last home built 4-8-2, Built by the B&O at the Mt.Clare shops. The T-class Mountains were designed heavy passenger locomotives, used mostly on passenger trains west of Cumberland. In the 1940's, the larger T-2 and T-3 freight, due to traffic increase from, WW2. The Mountains were retired in the early 1950's. 5594 was stored in a scrapyard and in 1962 was bought by the M&N. in 1965, 5594 ran under her own power and hauled revenue freight again, as well as excursions. Today, 5594 only pulls excursions.
B&O 7600: B&O's ultimate steam power, the EM-1 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone. 30 EM-1 were some of B&O's most modern steam locomotives, but werent actually desired by the B&O. Due to wartime restrictions, the B&O could not purchase newer EMD FT diesel, the only choice was steam. The EM-1 eventually made a name for itself as the premier heavy freight engine over the West End. By the late 1950s, the B&O finally started buying diesels and the EM-1 were sent to Ohio for ore service. All 30 were retired in 1960. When the M&N was formed in 1962, word of a surviving EM-1 reached the Power Department. B&O 7600 and a sister EM-1 were spared by the scrappers torch. Both were bought, the unnumbered EM-1 became a parts donor for 7600. The 7600 was used primarily as a helper engine, and in 1971 was reassigned to excursion service.
Western Maryland-The Fast Freight Line.