The Western Maryland Railway (reporting mark WM) was an American Class I railroad (1852–1983) which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation.The Western Maryland Railway (reporting mark WM) was an American Class I railroad (1852–1983) 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 a property of the Chessie System holding company in 1973, although it continued independent operations until May 1975 after which time many of its lines were abandoned in favor of parallel Baltimore and Ohio Railroad lines. In 1983 it was fully merged into the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which later was also merged with the former Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad into the Chessie System in 1987, which is now renamed as CSX Transportation.
Freight Equipment
| Around 1912 freight cars had "Western Maryland" with "W.M." and a small number under it. Boxcars and gondolas painted "box car red" and open hoppers were painted black. |
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| Around 1920 freight cars had the "Western Maryland" removed. 50500-50649 series gondolas were an exception. | |
| Around 1934 freight cars had a round herald with "Western Maryland" added. | |
| In 1937 freight cars had "fast freight line" added to the center of the round herald. | |
| Early 1940's open hoppers were changed from black to box car red. | |
| About 1943 freight cars had the periods removed from WM reporting marks. | |
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| April 1952 box car 29140 experimentally painted with large herald and color fireball. | |
| March 3, 1952 "Speed Lettering" scheme introduced. Hopper car 16274 was first painted with 5 stripes. All cars were box car red with white lettering except covered hoppers and open hoppers 85001-85200 and 63700-63899 (limestone cars) which were grey with black lettering. |
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| December 1952 to March 1953 Hopper cars 13401-14400 built with speed lettering and 4 stripes. | |
| July 1953 freight car reporting marks changed to sans serif style "block lettering". | |
Diesel Locomotives
| Fireball -- 1941-April 1954 | |
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| Speed Lettering -- April 1954 - June 1969 | |
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| Circus -- June 1969 - 1973 | |
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Cabooses
| About 1945 - Bright red body; yellow grabs; roof, steps, end platforms, smokestack black. | |
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| 1957 - Everything freight car red except yellow grabs. | |
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| Presumably 1969: | |
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