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Western Maryland Scenic Chasing Tips
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Author:  Matt S [ Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Western Maryland Scenic Chasing Tips
Hi,
I put off this trip too long and now I guess there already building that ugly walkway along this line. So i really want to get some pictures of this line before it is too too late. Does anyone have any tips on chasing? Is it hard to follow? Is the route isloted or does it have a lot of easy road access.
How much of the pathway is built, how fast do the trains travel, would it be possible to chase on bike?
How many days should I set aside for this trip, riding isn't always a big deal for me, but I always buy a ticket to support the railroad.
thanks for any help
Matt

mstolzenfels@hotmail.com
Author:  Erik Ledbetter [ Mon Jan 26, 2004 9:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Western Maryland Scenic Chasing Tips
> Hi,
> I put off this trip too long and now I guess
> there already building that ugly walkway
> along this line. So i really want to get
> some pictures of this line before it is too
> too late. Does anyone have any tips on
> chasing? Is it hard to follow? Is the route
> isloted or does it have a lot of easy road
> access.

There are good photo opportunities at Cumberland station, and a little to the north there are some OK shots from overhead street bridges. You can pace the train in Cumberland Narrows and there are a few spots to set up a shot.

The classic photo spot is of course Helmstetter's curve--access via Cash Valley Road. After that there is no easy road access worth mentioning; the ROW is high up on the hillsides and the roads are in valleys. Next easy point of access is coming into the other terminal at Frostburg depot.

It is almost impossible to chase a regular run westbound and get more than 3 shots at it--one leaving Cumberland (either at the depot or just north of it from one of the overpasses), one at Helmstetter's, and one coming into Frostburg station. To get those three, you have to drive faster than may be wise and have luck with traffic. Getting from downtown to Helmstetter's ahead of the train can be a real crapshoot--it's a close-run thing.

The crews on 734 don't slack--it's track speed all the way up the hill and no dawdling--I'm not sure of the official ETT track speeds but I'd guess about 40 for much of the run.

Light is a problem as the departure is high noon glare daylight--11:30AM. Winter will give the best sun angles since you have no choice about the time of day.

Be aware that depending on loads, 734 may run with a GP-30 diesel helper cut in behind the tender.

Can't tell you where exactly the path is and is not as of now.

If you want my advice, I would not try the chase again myself—I did it once but it's tough timing to pull off, and I found that worrying about beating the train to the next setup sucked a lot of the fun and enjoyment out of really seeing 734. I would definitely ride one day--this is one of the best and most underrated mainline-style steam shows in the East--and on the other day I would set up 1 shot, probably at Helmstetters, go and enjoy the long layover at Frostburg, shoot the Frostburg departure, and call it a day.


eledbetter@rypn.org
Author:  John West [ Tue Jan 27, 2004 2:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Western Maryland Scenic Chasing Tips
Chasing the WMS is, as Eric pointed out, difficult. And riding the train is definitely worth it for at least one trip. But after a good ride, what I like to do is do a bit of hiking, and get one hopefully really good shot per trip. There are a lot of interesting shots along the line that are worth going for, but you'll only get one, or at best two. And not from you car. But hiking is good for both the body and the soul. And don't forget to take some time to just watch the 734 do its thing. Best show east of Cumbres.

jbwest@att.net
Author:  John Craft [ Tue Jan 27, 2004 8:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Western Maryland Scenic Chasing Tips *PIC*
> The classic photo spot is of course
> Helmstetter's curve--access via Cash Valley
> Road. After that there is no easy road
> access worth mentioning; the ROW is high up
> on the hillsides and the roads are in
> valleys.

I'm going to have to disagree with Erik on this one. There are several paved roads or good-quality gravel roads that cross the line between Helmstetter's and Frostburg. Erik is right that "chasing" won't yield more than a couple of shots, even for a daredevil, and you could spend days shooting and still not scratch the surface. Your most productive option is to sign on to a photo special - you pay a bit more, but you'll get many more excellent opportunities in a single day than you could get on your own. But if chasing the passenger trains is your only option, it's not as hopeless as it might sound.

As regards the hiking/biking path, I have heard that funding is exhausted again, and there won't be any work done this winter. If that's true, then the bike path probably won't get any further downhill than it did last fall (around Switch 9, about a mile downhill from Frostburg) until after the 2004 operating season. Don't take my word for any of this, though - check with the railroad.

Roads, from east to west (upgrade) after Cash Valley Road (follow along at MapQuest):

Proenty Road goes under the tracks just downhill from Brush Tunnel. This is by far the worst road that you might use to access the line, but on two occasions, once in snow, I've gotten a 2WD rental in, AND out - ;-)

Woodcock Hollow Road leads to Sunnyside Road, or crosses the tracks at the peak of the "Sunnyside Horseshoe." John West's advice to hike is well-taken here - the image below was taken from the upper side of the horseshoe (Woodcock Hollow Road runs between my position and the train, and the houses visible in the lower left are on Sunnyside Road).

Maple Drive is a dirt road that crosses the tracks just downhill from the old coal tipple.

Md. 638 crosses the line on a narrow bridge.

And depending on how intrepid you are, at one time you could also reach the WMS by way of abandoned C&P right of way in a couple of places.

JAC

Image
Author:  Erik Ledbetter [ Tue Jan 27, 2004 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Western Maryland Scenic Chasing Tips
> I'm going to have to disagree with Erik on
> this one. There are several paved roads or
> good-quality gravel roads that cross the
> line between Helmstetter's and Frostburg.

Completely agreed. I meant more "impractical" for chasing" than "absolutely nonexistant"--sorry for the lack of clarity on my part.

eledbetter@rypn.org
Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Tue Jan 27, 2004 10:40 am ]
Post subject:  Only one problem with photo specials........
> Your most productive option is to sign on to
> a photo special - you pay a bit more, but
> you'll get many more excellent opportunities
> in a single day than you could get on your
> own. But if chasing the passenger trains is
> your only option, it's not as hopeless as it
> might sound.

WMSR photo freights are like comparing the Disney World RR to the EBT or Cumbres & Toltec. Night and day, photo freights of the Franz caliber remain the *only* way to truly *experience* a railroad, be it WMSR, Cass, Nevada Northern, Ohio Central, etc.

Only problem with the WMSR, however--because of the pending bike trail and its attendant fences and pavement, this winter's Franz specials--held two weekends ago--are probably the last the RR will see, at least of any quality. If delays to the trail project occur, it's *possible* one more series of trips may occur in the spring. Go find Carl Franz and try to bribe your way onto the waiting list.

If not, however, take solace in the fact that you will then be able to ride a bicycle to all those wonderful locations!

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net
Author:  terry [ Thu Jan 29, 2004 1:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Western Maryland Scenic Chasing Tips
> There are good photo opportunities at
> Cumberland station, and a little to the
> north there are some OK shots from overhead
> street bridges. You can pace the train in
> Cumberland Narrows and there are a few spots
> to set up a shot.

> The classic photo spot is of course
> Helmstetter's curve--access via Cash Valley
> Road. After that there is no easy road
> access worth mentioning; the ROW is high up
> on the hillsides and the roads are in
> valleys. Next easy point of access is coming
> into the other terminal at Frostburg depot.

> It is almost impossible to chase a regular
> run westbound and get more than 3 shots at
> it--one leaving Cumberland (either at the
> depot or just north of it from one of the
> overpasses), one at Helmstetter's, and one
> coming into Frostburg station. To get those
> three, you have to drive faster than may be
> wise and have luck with traffic. Getting
> from downtown to Helmstetter's ahead of the
> train can be a real crapshoot--it's a
> close-run thing.

> The crews on 734 don't slack--it's track
> speed all the way up the hill and no
> dawdling--I'm not sure of the official ETT
> track speeds but I'd guess about 40 for much
> of the run.

> Light is a problem as the departure is high
> noon glare daylight--11:30AM. Winter will
> give the best sun angles since you have no
> choice about the time of day.

> Be aware that depending on loads, 734 may
> run with a GP-30 diesel helper cut in behind
> the tender.

> Can't tell you where exactly the path is and
> is not as of now.

> If you want my advice, I would not try the
> chase again myself—I did it once but it's
> tough timing to pull off, and I found that
> worrying about beating the train to the next
> setup sucked a lot of the fun and enjoyment
> out of really seeing 734. I would definitely
> ride one day--this is one of the best and
> most underrated mainline-style steam shows
> in the East--and on the other day I would
> set up 1 shot, probably at Helmstetters, go
> and enjoy the long layover at Frostburg,
> shoot the Frostburg departure, and call it a
> day.

Not enough hype about 734 coming up Helmstetter's curve.You've got it all.That baby put on the best show i've seen in years.Most tourist R.R.'s just cruise easily along but 734 comes charging up that curve for all she is worth.The smoke,going straight up like it's out of a shotgun.The tremendous sound of the steam whistle and bell.It is something to behold.I'm a railbuff and do railfanning in my area but don't ever see a show like that.Ride it first, then chase it. You won't regret it.

sevengrand@winbeam.com
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