The Western Maryland K-2 was a class of 9

4-6-2 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and two trailing wheels on one axle. The locomotiv ...

"Pacific" type steam locomotives built by the

Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) was an American manufacturer of railroad locomotives from 1825 to 1951. Originally located in Philadelphia, it moved to nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania, in the early 20th century. The company was for decades t ...

in 1912 and operated by the Western Maryland Railway until the early 1950s. They pulled passenger trains until retirement and only one survives, No. 202.

History

When delivered to the Western Maryland, the locomotives were put in passenger service and were put to work on the newly completed Connellsville extension in 1912. They hauled passenger trains between Baltimore, MD, and Chicago, IL, including the first class ''Chicago Limited'' and ''Baltimore Limited''. However, they were abandoned by 1917. Despite that, the locomotive would continue to haul passenger trains until the early 1950s. By 1938, all of the K-2s had their Baker valve gear replaced with Walschaert valve gear. In 1947, Nos. 201, 202, 204 and 206 were converted to burn oil to comply with smoke regulations in

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

. Following the conversion, the four K-2s would stay east of

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

for the rest of their career. Nos. 204 and 205 were eventually used in thaw service to thaw coal in hoppers before they were unloaded into ships at Port Covington, the WM port in Baltimore. Before retirement, No. 204 was considered the belle of the road. As the railroad was dieselising, retirement started in 1952 and by 1954, all of the K-2s have been retired.

Preservation

Only one K-2 has been preserved, No. 202. It was retired in 1952 and in 1953, the Western Maryland had decided to donate it to the children of Hagerstown and place it on display in Hagerstown City Park. Today, it is still on display there. On June 7, 1984, the locomotive was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

. It is one of only two surviving Western Maryland steam locomotives and the only surviving mainline WM steam locomotive.

Roster

References

{{reflist Western Maryland Railway 4-6-2 locomotives Baldwin locomotives Passenger locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1912 Standard gauge locomotives of the United States Steam locomotives of the United States