Cumberland, Maryland

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Cumberland, Maryland: Appalachian Mountain Gateway and Railroad Hub

Once a bustling river town, Cumberland, Maryland, transformed into a railroad powerhouse, its tracks weaving the lifeblood of the Appalachian coal trade. From its humble beginnings along the Potomac, it emerged as a gateway to the West, driven by iron rails and steam.

Early History

Located in Allegany County at coordinates 39.650°N 78.762°W and an elevation of 627 feet (191 m), Cumberland was founded in 1787 as a trading post, leveraging the Potomac River for flatboat commerce in furs and crops. The National Road (1811) and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (1850) enhanced its role as a transportation hub, but railroads redefined its destiny, tapping the rich Georges Creek coalfields and fostering manufacturing growth.

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad

The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O), America’s first common-carrier railroad, arrived in 1842, establishing Cumberland as its western terminus until 1853. The B&O constructed extensive yards, a roundhouse, and Mount Savage shops (1840s), handling coal trains from Allegany mines to Baltimore, with steam locomotives tackling the Allegheny Plateau’s steep grades. The Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad (1851, later B&O) connected Pittsburgh, boosting coal and freight traffic.

Western Maryland Railway

The Western Maryland Railway (WM) reached Cumberland in 1906, adding yards and shops for coal, lumber, and mixed freight, linking to Hagerstown. Operations on the B&O’s Cumberland Division and WM’s Connellsville Subdivision included heavy coal drags, passenger trains, and maintenance, with Cumberland as a critical crew change hub. At its peak, up to 40 daily trains moved millions of tons of coal annually, fueling industrial growth.

The city’s population surged from 6,000 in 1850 to over 20,000 by 1900, driven by rail and coal jobs. The B&O’s Queen City Station (1876) and WM’s facilities were central to this boom, supporting both freight and passenger services like the Capitol Limited.

Cumberland Today

Today, CSX Transportation, successor to both B&O and WM (via Chessie System mergers by 1987), operates the Mexico Yard and mainline on the Keystone Subdivision, handling 20-30 daily freights, including intermodal, chemicals, and reduced coal due to market declines. Amtrak’s Capitol Limited stops daily at the restored Western Maryland Station (1913), now a museum and excursion hub, connecting Chicago to Washington, D.C. Historic rail sites, like the C&O Canal terminus, preserve Cumberland’s legacy as a rail-driven gateway, blending history with modern logistics.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the collective railroad history data points on this website are verified across multiple sources.

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Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the railroads or model railroading.

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