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June 8, 2024: Cumberland

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  Recently, my girlfriend Melissa and I were looking for a weekend destination that we could get to in a few hours' drive from the D.C. area. Knowing my passion for riding the rails, she mentioned that a work colleague of hers had recently taken the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland with her child. Suffice to say, it was time to make a date with the Frostburg Flyer.  The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad operates excursion trains between Cumberland and Frostburg during the year, usually a few days a week. The trains run through the Allegheny Mountains around several sharp curves and offer some gorgeous views of the mountains and the Cumberland Narrows. Even though it's only a 16-mile trip each direction, the train goes at a pretty slow speed most of the way, so it takes about an hour and a half by train to go from Cumberland to Frostburg. From the D.C. region it's about a two-hour drive to Cumberland. Some may elect to take Amtrak's Capitol Limited, which le
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Dec. 29, 2023: Roanoke

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  I admit I've been falling behind a bit when it comes to blogging some of my train adventures lately. Guess seeing a train or riding on one's a bit easier than doing the write-up afterwards.  During the holiday period in December I was looking for a train trip I could take within a day's journey or less from the D.C. area. Roanoke, Va jumped off the map at me. The main reason, is that it's home to the Virginia Transportation Museum. I had seen pictures of the museum but hadn't been there. Amtrak had conveniently begun regional service to Roanoke in 2017 as part of its effort to expand service to various destinations in Virginia. Amtrak had last served Roanoke in 1979! I hopped on Northeast Regional train 151 from Union Station at 8:15 a.m. on Dec. 29. The train had originated in New York, as many Northeast Corridor trains do.  The trip down to Roanoke was very enjoyable. The first 15 minutes are pretty much the same as any trip south of D.C. on the train. But after
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