Western Maryland Railway-Helmstetter Curve

Map

Map shows the Narrows north to Ellerslie/State Line (the railline marked abandoned in the Pennsylvania RR in MD) and west to Barrelville. Helmstetter's Curve on the WM is the line to the upper left of Colony Heights. Note the railline is called Allegany Central. This DeLorme map renamed the scenic railroad after the Allegheny Central, a preexisting rail name of the short lived operator Jack Showalter. One hopes that this was a incorrect revision, the Western Maryland was not renamed. Following closely to the Mt. Savage Rd on the map is the abandoned Cumberland and Pennsylvania line along Jennings Run. WM and C&P would meet below Frostburg, at this point, WM is over 200 feet higher in elevation. A person not knowing the ultimate goal of the WM when driving up this valley on the Mt. Savage Rd would wonder at the reason WM was cut out of the mountainside when a wide clear streamside route was available. The reason becomes apparent when the C&P route requires three switchbacks to climb from Mt. Savage to Frostburg. Brush Tunnel crossed under a spur ridge on this map where the dotted red line from Kreigbaum (Proenty Hollow road) crosses the WM.

Classic Curve

Thursday October 7,1999
The first train on the fall foliage schedule at milemarker 171.

Helmstetter's Farm, Oct. 31, 1999
Although this setting is experiencing some new development, the owners of the Helmstetter farm continue to provide a link to earlier views of the curve with its fine condition and working fields.

Pounding up the mountain!
Hairpin or horseshoe curves are a mainline railroad's equivalent to a switchback.

WM's railroute has been climbing steadily since leaving Cumberland. This view in August at Helmstetter's shows the elevation gained on B&O's Sandpatch grade which is in the valley below. Helmstetter's farm crossing is a little less than 6 miles from Cumberland station but already 1000 foot elevation. At 6 miles from Viaduct Junction, the B&O was at State Line at 720 foot elevation. December, 1999. Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
Cass Scenic Railroad, home of Western Maryland Shay No.6

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