"Mountain Thunder" sits waiting for passengers at the Western Maryland Railway Station in Cumberland, Maryland, Saturday, August 28, 2010. The 1916 Baldwin Locomotive Works engine #43105 known regionally as "Mountain Thunder" is currently (09/2010) owned by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) with the engine No. 734 which offers three hour round trip tours from Cumberland to Frostburg using the restored locomotive. The Western Maryland Railway Station is part of the Canal Place Heritage Area in Cumberland, MA, the first in the State of Maryland.
The WMSR No. 734 or L.S.&.I. RR No. 34 (Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad) was released from Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA on April 16, 1916. She was built with 57 inch drivers and a operating pressure of 185 psi. She worked in the L.S.&.I.'s base in Marquette,Michigan and worked with her sisters (33, 35 and 36) dock switching and pulling iron ore hoppers in Michigan's upper peninsula until 1956 when she was retired. She sat in the Marquette deadline until 1971 when she and No. 35 were bought by the IRR (Illinois Railroad Museum). No. 34 sat at the IRM until 1992 when she was bought by the WMSR for restoration. She was restored in a year by the shop forces at WMSR and put into service in 1993. The WMSR crew also modified her to make her look more like an original WMRR engine. She now has several improvements: A 200psi boiler pressure, a small snow plow called a rock knocker and trailing behind her is a huge 6 axle ex NYC Mohawk tender from engine 2663. Her bell is off of WM H-9 2-8-0 No. 816. She is currently 94 years old and the largest 2-8-0 in service in the United States. She is also one of the most recognized scenic railroad steamers active today. WMSR also renumbered her and while the many improvements were made to make her look like a WMRY 2-8-0, she represents every class of the WMRY's 2-8-0's. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)