Rolling Stock
Over the years Chessie has acquired several rail cars, all of which are now located on the Walkersville Southern Railroad in Walkersville, Maryland, a short distance northeast of Frederick, on a southern portion of the former Pennsylvania Railroad's Frederick Secondary.
Our acquisition was the former Wabash 2827, one of only two cabooses of its kind known to be operation. It has been restored to service in a "second life" of providing passenger service on the WSRR, and on at least one special charter run it was used as a platform for a marriage of a local couple.
Chessie later acquired the former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 923 , one of six of its type purchased by the RF&P. It is currently under restoration as a passenger carrier and, in keeping with the wishes of the RF&P employees who donated it to our group, it will retain the logo of the now-gone RF&P. If you'd like to take part in the 923's restoration, please contact us.
In 2003 the Chessie roster expanded to include the former Long Island Railroad commuter coach 7045. Following the cessation of operations on the West Virginia Northern Railroad in 1999 and the subsequent removal of track, the car was stranded on isolated track in West Virginia. The owner donated the car to Chessie, and we arranged for its trucking to Walkersville, where it was repaired and restored for passenger service. Through the generosity of a matching grant from the Potomac Chapter, NRHS, all of seats were reupholstered at the prison industry shops of State Use Industries in Hagerstown, Maryland. The 7045 is now in service on the WSRR and its comfortable seats allow riders to enjoy leisurely, old-fashioned trips from days of old.
Chessie's largest acquisition, the Meadow Lark, arrived in Walkersville in 2006. Follow the link for information on this Pullman parlor car and frequent updates regarding its restoration and eventual operation.
Our latest acquisition is 20-ton Davenport locomotive that was in danger of being scrapped in Kentucky. Financed by member donations, it was moved via truck to the Walkersville Southern Railroad enginehouse in Walkersville, MD, and now awaits restoration to operating status. The locomotive was built in 1942 as US Army 7707 and was used at Baltimore long-closed Fort Holabird, then sold for commercial use after the war. It has now returned to its home state to run on rails again. This picture shows the ex-7707 when it arrived at the WSRR last fall.