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The sights and sounds of this massive train, with its loud, low whistle, gleaming golden
bell, and billowing clouds of steam, will leave you breathless. It’s special enough to
witness the 1309 chugging along the track—imagine the thrill of being on board!
ADVENTURES ALONG THE TRACK
There are countless ways to enjoy the WMSR, including a variety of rides and classes of
services, and the majority all start at the grand red-brick station in Cumberland. Book
the Frostburg Flyer for a 4.5-hour, there-and-back excursion to Frostburg. Spend a 90-
minute break shopping and dining, or linger at the historic Frostburg Depot, built in 1891,
for an exciting sight: the diesel trains detach from passenger cars and reverse directions
on the turntable.
For a special outing with a loved one, check out the three-hour evening rides offered
throughout the year for adults over 21: Allegheny Mountain Dinner Trains, which include a
multi-course meal and access to a full bar, and Moonlight on the Mountain, a ride
featuring acoustic music, access to the rail bar, and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Guests
are encouraged to walk to the open-air car to enjoy the night sky. Seasonal excursions
include Spring Fling Express—a family-friendly ride with a fun craft, Ice Cream Trains —
a short and sweet ride, and Pumpkin Patch Trains—an hour-long ride to a fall-themed stop
that includes apple cider and a free pumpkin. (Halloween costumes are encouraged!)
Everyone needs to experience The Polar Express Train Ride™ at least once—though you’ll
likely want it to become a holiday tradition. Cozy up in your holiday pajamas, sip on hot
chocolate, nibble on cookies, and be dazzled by singing, dancing, and a reading of The
Polar Express™.
FEATURES TO WATCH FOR
If your ideal way to enjoy nature is from a seated position, you’re in luck.
Passengers will see some of the greatest sights in Mountain Maryland from the
comfort of their train car!
• Come with a charged phone or camera battery—you’ll want to start snapping
photos as soon as you arrive at the Cumberland station.
• A breathtaking ride through the famous Narrows between Wills Mountain and
Haystack Mountain kicks off the route, which takes passengers past
Helmstetter’s Curve (a spectacular view of Cash Valley and one of the most
photographed railroad features on the East Coast) and through Brush Tunnel,
which was built in 1911 and is 914 feet long.
• Take in the views of Mount Savage, a 19th-century mining town where the first
rolled iron rails in the United States were manufactured in 1844.
• Catch the site of Bone Cave, where fossils of 41 genera of mammals were found,
including those of a saber-toothed cat that is now on permanent exhibit in the
Ice Age Mammal exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History.
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