Hagerstown considers donation of locomotive to Western Maryland Scenic Railroad with timeline and funding questions

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — City staff presented a proposed donation agreement under which the City of Hagerstown would transfer ownership of locomotive frame 202 to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) for $1 so the railroad can relocate and fully restore it for scenic operations.

According to the draft agreement discussed at the meeting, WMSR would bear all relocation and restoration costs, would transport the locomotive to its Cumberland, Maryland, facilities and would not use parts of the locomotive for other restorations without the city’s written consent. The agreement includes a proposed 10‑year target for completion of restoration work; WMSR also committed to a 25% discount for Hagerstown residents on operating-excursion tickets in perpetuity.

Council members pressed staff on timelines and contingencies. The draft agreement requires WMSR to transport the locomotive to its facilities within 180 days of closing; failure to do so would allow the city to terminate the agreement and retain the locomotive in City Park. Council members expressed concern that the contract contains limited intermediate benchmarks and asked whether the city should require WMSR to set aside funds or escrow amounts to guarantee relocation and progress, citing estimated moving costs of roughly $100,000 to $150,000.

City staff said WMSR has inspected the locomotive recently and believes it can be restored; staff also described earlier city restoration plans that had been costed at about $500,000 for cosmetic work and a later bid that returned a single offer near $3.3 million, which exceeded the city’s budget and led staff to seek alternatives.

No formal vote was taken at the work session. Staff said the draft donation agreement and its exhibit timeline will be refined with the railroad and legal counsel, and the matter will return to the council for formal consideration in a regular session.