Thought these would be of interest here, especially to the TVRM folks. Pictures were sent by Stewart Rhine and show their No 611, running on the M & P as USA No 2628.

It operated on the Maryland & Penna Railroad during the Korean War, 1950-51. The Army wanted to test the Franklin Rotary-Cam Poppet Valve system on the M&P's tough grades. The M&P was originally a three foot gauge line and it had steep grades and tight curves. This was thought to be like the type of service the Baldwin would see overseas so the M&P was the shortline of choice in the Baltimore - Washington DC area. The line had 111 wooden trestles in 77 miles! The south end (Maryland Division) was removed in 1958. - Stewart Rhine

USA No 2628 at the M&P enginehouse, April 1951


USA 2628 M&P coal dock, summer 1950


USA 2628 with M&P passenger train, North Ave. station, 1950

Two questions:

1. There seems to be an "addition" above the sand dome on the 2628 that I hadn't noticed on other U.S.A. 2-8-0's. Did I just miss this in other photos, or was the sand dome on the 2628 in some way different?

2. Isn't there some kind of MA & PA Preservation Society that it trying to preserve a portion of the railroad? Unfortunately, no Maryland & Pennsylvania steam locomotives still exist, but the 2628 (611) still does. Has there ever been any thought to trying to acquire her and bringing her back?

Les

Les,

The Ma & Pa Preservation Society at Muddy Creek Forks, PA is a small operation that has its hands full. Their next project is to get a new prime mover for their SW9, M&PA #82. Since it is not connected to any live trackage, I don't see them taking on such a project. I would love to be proved wrong however.

Kevin -

Thanks. I didn't realize that they actually had one of the old Ma & Pa diesels. That is something anyway. Do they have plans to eventually run the 82 over their ex-Ma & Pa trackage? That is, if they actually HAVE some trackage.

Les

Les,

They have about a four mile stretch of track that is undergoing some work. Right now the only thing that can run on it are speeders.

check out this link;www.maandparailroad.com.

Kevin