A tireless driver sits on the ground at the WMSR as 734 is serviced and readied for the days trip, heavy fog has lifted a bit but is still hanging in tight just a little higher in the mountains.

Smoke Screen. While 734 sat between photo runs at Helmstetter's, wind and temperature conditions combined to obscure the engine in her own escaping steam and almost completely block... (more)

734 has just entered Brush Run Tunnel on the way back to Cumberland.

Mountain Thunder roars into Brush Tunnel on a cold winter day.

#734 storms up the grade at West Tie Pile. MM 176.1

Fast Freight! #734 flies past Coal Tipple west of Trimble Road

Just A Tease. The day's first runby was conducted in the Cumberland Narrows, to take advantage of the strong early-morning backlighting. The strong sunlight held the promise of a s... (more)

The first regular excursion to Frostburg for the Western Maryland Scenic Railway is greeted by some eager passengers, coming out of storage and into Cumberland Station.

734 makes her first trip of 2010 around the famous curve, now sporting John Helmstetter's new barn.

Here 734 gets pretty for her debut May 1. The shop boys have started a fire, no steam yet, but the water's getting warm! Shiny black paint reflects the morning blue sky, as she gets masking tape r... (more)

Her smokebox front and all the smokebox innards in place, 734 will soon be ready to roll out of the shop.

WMSR's Nick Bennett cuts a few stubborn bolts from the smokebox as the fellas get the old girl ready for next week. Nick has also fired and ran the 734. Next to 734 is a 2-6-0 owned by the Everett... (more)

734 works upgrade high above Mt Savage. This is typical of most of her run, grade and curves! Note in this 2003 photo there is no trail alongside the ROW. That would come later.

While the 150 or so photographers riding the Helmstetter Farm Fund trip were pretty excited to see 734 strut her stuff, the cows don't seem especially interested. They were more concerned with th... (more)

Framed by trees and a fence along the edge of one of John Helmstetter's fields, 734 makes a run up the hill towards Frostburg as she rounds the curve that bears the name of the farm it surrounds.