Isabella Flores
The Western Maryland Railway repainted its entire roster from the original Fast Freight Fireball logo to the Speed Style WM monogram within 10 years, starting in 1954. While there is no exact date for when the SD35s were repainted, photographic evidence suggests they were still in the older black and yellow trim scheme as late as August and November 1968.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Repainting of SD35s | Still in the older black and yellow trim scheme as late as August and November 1968 |
| Repainting of SD40s | In the Circus scheme by June 1969 |
| Original "Fast Freight" Fireball logo replaced by | Speed Style WM monogram |
| Time taken to repaint the entire roster | Less than 10 years |
| First appearance of red/white/black "circus colors" | Summer 1969 on the third order of GP-40s |
| SD40s delivered in the new scheme | Summer 1969 |
| Western Maryland Railway Station built | 1913 |
| WMSR's initial goal for the Georges Creek Railway | To revitalise the trackage and operate it as a separate business entity called the Georges Creek Division |
| WMSR's excursion trains | Start in Cumberland at the Western Maryland Railway Station |
| WMSR's collection of lightweight-style passenger coaches | Restored to service in green and gold livery or used for parts to restore other coaches |
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What You'll Learn
- Western Maryland Railway's repainting of SD35s to black and yellow trim by November 1968
- The replacement of the original Fast Freight Fireball logo with the Speed Style WM monogram
- The introduction of the circus colours of red, white and black in 1969
- The use of multiple paint schemes on equipment, including the older black and yellow trim
- The restoration of passenger coaches in green and gold livery by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
Western Maryland Railway's repainting of SD35s to black and yellow trim by November 1968
The Western Maryland Railway (WM) had a variety of paint schemes for its equipment and locomotives. While some equipment, such as brick buildings, were left unpainted, other equipment, such as freight cars, passenger coaches, and locomotives, underwent different painting schemes over time.
In the early 20th century, around 1903, freight cars displayed a white circle with "W.M." on the left and the car number in a white circle on the right. From 1906 to 1912, the "Interlaced WM herald" was removed from this scheme. Around 1912, freight cars featured the words "Western Maryland" with "W.M." and a small number underneath. Boxcars and gondolas were painted "box car red," while open hoppers were black.
By the early 1940s, the open hoppers changed from black to box car red. In 1943, the periods were removed from the WM reporting marks. In 1952, there were experiments with new paint schemes, such as a large herald and a color fireball, as well as the introduction of "speed lettering." During this period, the original "fast Freight" Fireball logo was in use and would be replaced by the Speed Style WM monogram beginning in 1954, with the entire roster being repainted within less than a decade.
By the late 1960s, the red, white, and black "circus colors" were introduced, first appearing on the third order of GP-40s in the summer of 1969. SD-40s were delivered in this new scheme around the same time. Interestingly, photographic evidence suggests that the SD35s were still in the older black and yellow trim scheme as late as August and November 1968, indicating that the transition to the new "circus colors" scheme was gradual, with multiple paint schemes coexisting during this period.
Today, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) has restored many passenger coaches to their former green and gold livery, with some coaches painted with the names of local towns and benefactors. The WMSR has also acquired former WM locomotives and continues to operate out of the former WM's car shops, showcasing the ongoing preservation and evolution of the Western Maryland Railway's legacy.
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The replacement of the original Fast Freight Fireball logo with the Speed Style WM monogram
The Western Maryland Railway's famous "Fireball" logo was introduced in 1940, first appearing on Challengers. The "Fireball" logo was designed to showcase the company's high-speed service. During this time, the company also introduced the slogan "The Fast Freight Line".
In 1952, the "Fireball" logo was replaced with the stylized speed-lettering on freight cars, and in 1954 on diesels. This new logo was the Speed Style WM monogram. The entire roster was repainted within less than 10 years. The switch to the new logo was gradual, as equipment was only repainted when shopped for repairs. Thus, it was common to see multiple paint schemes even on the same class of equipment.
The new Speed Style WM monogram was part of the company's updated livery, which featured red, white, and black "circus colors". These colors first appeared on the third order of GP-40s in the summer of 1969. The new livery was also applied to SD40s delivered around the same time.
The Western Maryland Railway, also known as "Wild Mary", was renowned for its extremely fast, efficient, and high-quality service. The company's focus on speed and efficiency is reflected in the evolution of its logo and livery, from the "Fireball" logo to the Speed Style WM monogram and the vibrant "circus colors".
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The introduction of the circus colours of red, white and black in 1969
The Western Maryland Railway introduced its circus colours of red, white, and black in June 1969. This new colour scheme replaced the previous black and yellow trim, with the first SD40s in the new colours shot in June of that year. The red, white, and black "circus colours" first appeared on the third order of GP-40s in the summer of 1969, with SD-40s also delivered in the new colour scheme around the same time.
The Western Maryland Railway did not repaint all equipment at once. Instead, it was typical for equipment to be painted when shopped for repairs, so it was common to see multiple paint schemes, even on the same class of equipment. This means that in the year or two following a scheme change, both the old and new schemes were very common. New equipment was always painted in the current scheme, however.
The original "fast Freight" Fireball logo was replaced by the Speed Style WM monogram beginning in 1954, and the entire roster was repainted within less than 10 years. The "Circus" colour scheme replaced the "Speed Style" lettering in June 1969, as noted above.
The circus colour scheme was short-lived, however, as it was replaced by a new stencilling design in 1973, just four years after its introduction.
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The use of multiple paint schemes on equipment, including the older black and yellow trim
The Western Maryland Railway employed a variety of paint schemes on its equipment over the years, including both the older black and yellow trim and newer ""circus" colours. The use of multiple paint schemes was common, even within the same class of equipment. This was due to the WM's practice of painting equipment when it was shopped for repairs rather than all at once. As a result, in the year or two following a scheme change, it was typical to see both the old and new paint schemes in use simultaneously.
The black and yellow trim scheme was used on the SD35s as late as August and November 1968, as evidenced by online photographs. However, by June 1969, some SD40s and old F units had been repainted in the new "circus" scheme, featuring red, white, and black colours. This change coincided with the introduction of the Speed Style WM monogram, which replaced the original "fast Freight" Fireball logo beginning in 1954. Within less than a decade, the entire roster had been repainted in the new colours.
The Western Maryland Railway's passenger equipment, on the other hand, was painted Pullman Green with gold lettering. Freight equipment also underwent various paint schemes over the years. Around 1903, freight cars displayed a white circle with "W.M." on the left and the car number in a white circle on the right. From 1906 to 1912, the interlaced WM herald was removed from the 1906 scheme. Around 1912, freight cars featured "Western Maryland" with "W.M." and a small number underneath.
Boxcars and gondolas were typically painted "box car red", while open hoppers were black until the early 1940s when they were also changed to box car red. In 1934, freight cars introduced a round herald with "Western Maryland", and in 1937, the "fast freight line" was added to the centre of this design. In April 1952, a new experimental paint scheme was introduced, featuring a large herald and a colour fireball. This was followed by the adoption of the ""speed lettering" scheme in March 1952, first appearing on hopper car 16274 with five stripes.
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The restoration of passenger coaches in green and gold livery by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) has meticulously restored several lightweight-style passenger coaches to their former glory, adorning them in the iconic green and gold livery. This painstaking process has involved not just the application of the distinctive colours but also the replication of intricate details, ensuring an authentic and immersive experience for passengers.
The restoration of these coaches is a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship of the WMSR team, who have spared no effort in preserving the railway's rich history and heritage. The green and gold livery, also known as the Pullman Green scheme, is a signature look for the Western Maryland line, with gold lettering and intricate stencilling adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the coaches.
The process of restoring the passenger coaches is a complex and meticulous endeavour. The WMSR has sourced coaches from various places, including acquiring them from CSX and other sources, and has even utilised parts from other coaches to complete the restoration process. The exterior painting is just one aspect of the restoration, and the interior of the coaches has also received a thorough makeover to match the original design.
The interiors of the coaches have been meticulously crafted to match the original specifications. The WM coaches featured blue seat covers with white head protectors, creating a sense of comfort and elegance for passengers. The car walls and window shades were light grey, providing a neutral backdrop for the vibrant colours of the livery to shine through. The ceiling was cream-coloured, adding a touch of warmth and softness to the overall design aesthetic.
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's attention to detail extends beyond the passenger coaches themselves. The railway has also meticulously restored other equipment, including locomotives and freight cars, to ensure the entire experience is immersive and authentic. The WMSR's dedication to preservation and historical accuracy has earned it a reputation for excellence, attracting tourists and railway enthusiasts alike.
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Frequently asked questions
The Western Maryland Railway appears to have repainted the SD35s at some point between August 1968 and June 1969.
The SD35s were repainted in the "'Circus' colour scheme", which featured red, white and black.
The previous colour scheme was black and yellow.
Western Maryland Railway has used various colour schemes over the years, including:
- Pullman Green with gold lettering for passenger equipment.
- Box car red for freight cars and open hoppers.
- Medium grey with crimson red trim for buildings.
Yes, brick buildings were not painted. Additionally, not all equipment was repainted at once, so it was common to see multiple paint schemes simultaneously.
