Amtrak
Amtrak service in Cumberland continues a more than 150 year tradition. The eastbound destination is Union Station in Washington, DC Westbound, the traveler goes up the Sandpatch Grade, and to Chicago, via Pittsburgh. Amtrak's Capital Limited continues the tradition of B&O's Capital Limited, which last ran on April 30, 1971.
The National Passenger Rail Corporation operates the Capitol Limited from Washington, DC through Cumberland once per day in each direction. This line generally follows the Potomac River on the northern bank, or Maryland side, until Harper's Ferry. There, the rail line emerges from a tunnel to cross the canal and the Potomac on a bridge. It will swing south to Martinsburg, WV, and stay south of the river until crossing back into Maryland before Cumberland. The path from Washington to Cumberland, and westward to Pittsburgh, follows B&O track.
Western Maryland Passenger service featured their K2 Pacific class locomotives, and Green & Gold cars. Later, RS-3 diesels replaced the steamers. Western Maryland's last passenger run to Hagerstown was May 30, 1953. The last passenger service out of the Cumberland Station was on January 4, 1958, to Elkins.
Pennsylvania Railroad passenger service to Bedford was offered from the Western Maryland Station. Service ended in 1936.
The current waiting shed for Amtrak service, and a postal facility sit on the original site of the magnificent Queen City Station. This was a 150 room hotel constructed by the B&O with ornate gardens and fountains. The station was demolished in 19xx, an act which spurred on conservation efforts for architecturally and historically significant structures.
A lot of interesting passenger equipment has passed through town, including numerous examples of privately owned railcars (known as Private Varnish), Amtrak's experimental TurboTrain of the 19xx's, and the luxury American-European Express. The Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus Train still passes through town on its way between major shows.
