Does anyone know if the Maryland Midland runs on a regular schedule or do their trains run at different times on different days? Do they interchange with CSX at Highfield or Glyndon or both? Do they work the cement plant every day? Do they switch Westminster every day? Someone said that they switch a fuel dealer in Taneytown, does anyone know anything about that?
I’d like to spend a day or two fanning, but I’d like some idea of the trains they run. Is the office receptive to railfans?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jcopilot
To reply: The Maryland Midland’s headquarters are in Union Bridge MD and it was recently purchased by Genesse and Wyoming. One of its major customers is the Lehigh Portland Cement plant which still owns part of the railroad. The crews generally go to the interchange first, and then they work the cement plant when they return to Union Bridge. The Maryland Mdiland used to access the Lehigh Prtland Cement plant by a track which ran up Farquhar Street in Union Bridge. However, a by pass around the east end of Union Bridge was recently opened so the trains no longer access the cement plant by street running
The Maryland Midland does not seem to run on any type of a regular schedule; if they don’t have any traffic they don’t run. They interchange with the CSX at Highfield although they might go all the way east to Glyndon to interchange with CSX as well.
In the winter months a daytime crew might go to a stone quarry near Woodsboro, MD on what was formerly the Pennsy’s branch to Frederick, MD. They will pick up the loaded cars of gravel at the quarry, and take them to a Congoleum Plant near Finksburg, MD which is east of Westminster. There they will drop the loaded gravel cars and pick up the empties and take them back to the quarry; this train is called the “Stone Train.” Another crew is called later to go to either Highfield or Glyndon.
As of last December the office was receptive to railfans to get information about where the Maryland Midland’s trains are, when they are called, and where they are going, but you cannot go into their yard or their engine terminal in Union Bridge.
Thanks for the info, Rudy. I’m glad to hear the office hasn’t turned sour on railfans like so many other RRs.
Jcopilot