Walkersville Southern Railroad, Maryland

The original railway line was built between 1869 and 1872 that went between Walkersville and Frederick.  As this was built just after the Civil War, it was used heavily during the rebuilding process of our country. The entire line ran from Columbia, Pennsylvania, through York and Hanover, into Maryland, running through Taneytown, Keymar, Woodsboro, Walkersville, and finally into Frederick. In 1968 the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with the New York Central creating the Penn Central Railroad.  Unfortunately within three years the new railroad filed for bankruptcy and then in 1972 Hurricane Agnes flooding destroyed the bridge over the Monocacy River.  The line was then purchased by the State of Maryland who only used the section north of Walkersville.  Beginning in 1991 a flock of volunteers began clearing the tracks and in general caring for the rail line.  In 1993, the Maryland Department of Transportation selected Walkersville Southern as the operator for the Walkersville-Frederick line. With the completion of the bridge restoration project in March 1996, the first trains in more than 20 years crossed the Monocacy River.

Later in the month we went back to Walkersville for the Santa Train ride so Owen could visit with Santa. He still loved seeing the tractors better than Santa.