CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has announced plans for the 2025 edition of RailFest, its event celebrating heritage railroading, community, and mountain adventure. RailFest 2025: A Return to the Rails, is set for Sept. 12-14.
Planned events include:
— A “Sunset on the Mountains” train departing Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.
— Helmstetter Highball trips on Sept. 13-14, featuring 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, the restored Chesapeake & Ohio locomotive that was the last steam locomotive built by Baldwin for domestic service. These trips will be the first of their kind between Cumberland and the landmark Helmstetter’s Cuve.
— “Burning BBQ on the Rails” on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m., the only dinner train of the season scheduled to be powered by No. 1309. It will feature meals from Dry Bones BBQ of Corriganville, Md.
More than 25 vendors will be on hand at the Canal Place Amphitheater, offering regional crafts, foods, and goods. Live music will be featured throughout the weekend.
“RailFest is our way of honoring the legacy of American railroading while offering something fresh for every visitor,” Wes Heinz, executive director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, said in a press release. “Whether you’re here for the trains, the food, or the music, there’s no better place to be this September.”
The event is made possible through a Community Service Grant from CSX Transportation; the railroad thanks CSX for its support of Western Maryland Scenic and its community-oriented approach to sharing Cumberland’s railroading history.
Tickets and a full schedule are available at the Western Maryland Scenic website.
