Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
On the final weekend of October 2023, I was on my way to chase N&W 611 in Virginia when I learned that it has been taken out of service for a staybolt failure. To salvage my weekend, I changed course to the Cass and Western Maryland Scenic Railroads. Upon arriving in Cumberland, I found out that the 611 had been repaired and would run on Sunday the 29th, but I had already paid for a second hotel room so I stayed put and took the opportunity to walk along the Great Allegheny Passage trail to Brush Tunnel. I set up my main camera just inside the tunnel portal, and when I heard the train rounding Helmstetter's Curve I set it recording and ran to the other end of the 1,000ft bore with my other camera. 1309 made a spectacular show as it lead the final Frostburg Flyer of the year into the tunnel, filling it with noise and so much smoke and steam that I had to wait several minutes before going to retrieve my camera. While I was initially disappointed to miss the 611 excursions I think it was well worth the side trip to see Maryland's Mallet dive underneath the Allegheny mountains.
On the final weekend of October 2023, I was on my way to chase N&W 611 in Virginia when I learned that it has been taken out of service for a staybolt failure. To salvage my weekend, I changed course to the Cass and Western Maryland Scenic Railroads. Upon arriving in Cumberland, I found out that the 611 had been repaired and would run on Sunday the 29th, but I had already paid for a second hotel room so I stayed put and took the opportunity to walk along the Great Allegheny Passage trail to Brush Tunnel. I set up my main camera just inside the tunnel portal, and when I heard the train rounding Helmstetter's Curve I set it recording and ran to the other end of the 1,000ft bore with my other camera. 1309 made a spectacular show as it lead the final Frostburg Flyer of the year into the tunnel, filling it with noise and so much smoke and steam that I had to wait several minutes before going to retrieve my camera. While I was initially disappointed to miss the 611 excursions I think it was well worth the side trip to see Maryland's Mallet dive underneath the Allegheny mountains.
