Rolling on Rails
For a century, railroads were a critical cog in the US passenger transportation system. Today they still play a big role in moving freight, but passenger service is significant only in a few big metropolitan areas. Fortunately, there are still about 200 heritage railroads in operation, many offering short haul rides that are perfect for railroad buffs looking for a mystery dinner ride, say, or just wanting to share their love of railroads with their kids or grandkids.
Today—a beautiful fall Saturday—we hopped in the XC90 and motored down Route 15 South to meet up with two of our grandchildren, their parents, our middle son, and our daughter-in-law’s parents to take a one-hour ride on the Walkersville Southern Railroad in Walkersville, Maryland.
The 6.72-mile heritage railway was originally built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1872. The diesel engine was pulling two open-air cars and a pair of 1920s passenger cars with comfortably cushioned seats that can be arranged in file or facing each other. When facing each other, the seats on one side of the aisle can comfortably fit a family of six, and on the other, four persons. The ride through Maryland farm country passes over a small creek at one point, and rumbles by a 100-year-old lime kiln, which, I’ll confess, I failed to spot.
In addition to these simple late-morning and afternoon excursions, the railroad offers dining excursions in a newly refurbished dining car and specialty events like rides with Santa during the Christmas season.
The trip to Walkersville from southcentral Pennsylvania is an easy and scenic one. Route 15 is mostly smooth, well-marked and not terribly heavily traveled, making it a perfect highway for taking advantage of the Volvo’s Pilot Assist feature. My wife chose to ride in the back seat and let our middle son sit up front, and with the great weather, I opened the screen on the sunroof to let her enjoy the view. It was fine for a bit, but as the sun heated up and began pouring into the vehicle, we had to close it.
Our entire family enjoyed the adventure, especially our five-year-old grandson, whose passion for trains is remarkable for someone so young. (I believe he may have inherited it from my paternal grandfather, who also had a passion for trains.) He was, of course, wearing his engineer’s cap.
Mileage: 8,037
This old engine, no longer in use, sits outside the Walkersville Southern Railroad station house.