About us

The Chesapeake Railway Association ("Chessie") is a non-profit railroad education and historic preservation group with close ties to the Walkersville Southern Railroad on which Chessie's four pieces of rolling stock are maintained and operated. Chessie members don't just "talk rail" - they take an active part in the preservation and operation of railroad equipment for present and future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

Chessie began with a handful of members in Laurel, Maryland in the late 1960s and today numbers approximately 150. Over the years we've held regular membership meetings in Laurel, Calverton, Gaithersburg, and today we meet at the Bauer Drive Community Center in Rockville, Maryland.

We're a friendly, rail-oriented group with mixed rail interests and backgrounds. Some of our members are current or former railway employees, while others enjoy trains as a hobby. Whatever your background, you'll find you're among friends in Chessie.