In addition to ongoing maintenance and restoration work, the railroad finished its largest project ever in 2025. The crossing at Pennsylvania Avenue and the landscaping around our station and museum building received a major facelift! This included a friendlier pedestrian walkway and new signals protecting both the traffic and the pedestrians. The Town of Walkersville helped create a “pocket park” next to the station, and a brick gathering area was added across the street.
We also have been renovating the upstairs area of the north of the museum building from dingy unused space into meeting space for our volunteers. It was finished and used for our training and meetings in 2025
Upstairs Room Before Construction -2024
During Construction-January 2025
Training Day -2025
We have also started of the restoration of another 44-Ton Locomotive: Smokey Mountain #440
The locomotive is historically significant whereas it is the oldest surviving 44-ton GE locomotive, and one of the oldest diesel engines in existence. It is very fortunate that it has found its way to Walkersville, which has restored and currently operates two other GE 44-ton engines along with a collection of similar switching locomotives.
In December 2025 the locomotive was moved into the WSRR engine house and disassembly begun. The restoration will attempt to refurbish as much original equipment as possible including the controls, the generators, the compressors and traction motors. The original Caterpillar D1700 engines are intended to be re-used. 100% of the wiring will be replaced and the switch gear will be re-conditioned and re-installed. The result will be a tuned and serviceable locomotive.
Pennsylvania Ave Crossing
