B&O Railroad Museum hosting Railfest Steam Days
B&O Railroad Museum will be hosting the Railfest Steam Days and celebrating “old-fashioned” railroading during the weekend of October 13 & 14. This year’s event will focus on Civil War period steam power and include a Civil War encampment.
A Mason Locomotive (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Visitors will see two operating historic steam engines from the Museum’s collection. Climb aboard and ride behind the historic #4 St. Elizabeth. Built in 1950 by the H. K. Porter Company, the St. Elizabeth hauled coal for the U.S. Government’s St. Elizabeth Hospital in Washington D.C.
Joining the St. Elizabeth will be the William Mason, the only operating Civil War steam engine in America, that pulled President Lincoln’s inaugural train. Built in 1856 by the Mason Machine Works in Taunton, Massachusetts, the William Mason’s design represents the most popular passenger locomotive configuration in the mid-19th century. Its 4-4-0 wheel arrangement, artistic curves, and elegant beauty, were widely recognized and so closely associated with American railroading that similarly designed locomotives became known as “American” type locomotives.
Passengers will ride west to the Whistle Stop Gateway located near the Museum’s Restoration Facility where they will be able to leave the train and visit a Civil War camp and see the William Mason under steam. In camp members of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry, Company E and the 1st Maryland Volunteer Infantry will be on hand to talk about the life of Union soldiers during the war and will conduct demonstrations and military drill.
Joining the celebrations will be the Blacksmiths Guild of Central Maryland who will demonstrate their unique skills and craftsmanship performing one of the most essential jobs necessary for the successful operation of early railroads.
Daily programs will also include guided tours of the Museum’s new Civil War exhibit “The War Came by Train” featuring many of the Museum’s unique and one-of-a-kind Civil War period rail equipment.
Come experience a bygone era of railroading!
