Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum in Union Bridge, Maryland

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Union Bridge, Maryland · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Depot museumOpen Sundays and Wednesdays, and by appointment

Housed in the 1902 station, main offices and express shed of the Western Maryland Railway in Union Bridge, this society-run museum keeps alive the memory of the line that called itself a true "Fast Freight Line."

  • Society founded in 1967
  • 1902 station and office complex
  • N-scale East Subdivision layout
  • Lurgan Subdivision CTC panel
  • Large WM photo archive

Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum at a glance

Hours
Sundays 1 pm to 4 pm; Wednesdays 9 am to 3 pm (closed 11:30 am to 12:30 pm for lunch); and by appointment
Admission
Not posted online; call 410-775-0150
Plan for
About 1 hour
Best for
Western Maryland fans, modelers and rail historians
Best ages
School-age kids and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Union Bridge.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Keeping the Fast Freight Line in living memory

For 125 years the Western Maryland ran as an independent railroad, and it earned its reputation for moving freight quickly. The society describes a workforce proud of its skill, from the dock laborers at Port Covington in Baltimore up to the company's top officers. Today the WM itself is gone, its surviving lines folded into CSX Transportation and several shortline railroads.

The Western Maryland Railway Historical Society formed in 1967 to keep that history from slipping away. With the railroad's own cooperation, members set up a museum in Union Bridge in the buildings that had served as the station, the company's main offices and the express shed, a complex built in 1902. The society is one of only a handful of railroad historical groups that owns and operates its own museum, which gives members and the public a permanent place to study the collection.

Over the decades the society has given programs to community groups, published educational material drawn from its holdings, and opened its records to people researching railroad history. Its modelers have been just as busy, building a permanent layout of the line through Union Bridge and a traveling modular layout that represents the society at train shows. The society notes that it is independent and not affiliated with CSX, its predecessors, or the Genesee & Wyoming owned Maryland Midland Railway.

Callers boards, a CTC panel and the East Sub in N scale

The complex holds an extensive collection of Western Maryland artifacts and memorabilia, a large photo archive, archival records that came straight from the railroad, and a railroader's library of historical and technical books about the WM and neighboring lines. Among the major exhibits are the callers boards from the Hagerstown, Maryland and Ridgeley, West Virginia terminals, where crews were called to work, and the Centralized Traffic Control panel that governed most of the Lurgan Subdivision.

Model railroads are a big part of a visit. A permanent N-scale layout recreates the East Subdivision from Union Bridge to Twin Bridges, west of Thurmont, as it looked in the 1950s, and a 4 by 16 foot HO layout sits in the depot building. The society's modular group builds HO modules of scenes along the old WM that can join into a layout as large as 30 by 70 feet for shows and events.

Don’t miss

  1. The N-scale East Subdivision layoutA permanent model of the line from Union Bridge to Twin Bridges in the 1950s, so you can see the town you are standing in as the railroad knew it.
  2. Callers boards from Hagerstown and RidgeleyThese boards tracked which crews were called for which trains, a working tool from two of the WM's busiest terminals.
  3. The Lurgan Subdivision CTC panelThe control panel dispatchers used to run most of the Lurgan Subdivision, a rare piece of railroad signaling history.
  4. The 1902 station complexThe station, main office building and express shed are themselves the largest artifacts in the collection.
  5. The HO layout in the depotA 4 by 16 foot layout on display in the depot building.

Model trains for young eyes, archives for older ones

Young train fans will spend most of their time at the layouts: the long N-scale scene of Union Bridge and the hills toward Thurmont, and the HO layout in the depot. It is a small, quiet, volunteer-run museum focused on artifacts and records rather than rides or play areas, so it suits curious school-age kids more than toddlers who need to run.

Older kids working on a history project or a model railroad of their own can get real value from the photo archive and library, and the volunteers on duty are the people who know the WM best.

Plan your visit: tips for Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum

  • On Wednesdays the museum closes for lunch from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, so plan around that hour.
  • Tour groups are welcome with at least 30 days notice; call and leave a message to set a time.
  • The society sells exclusive HO models, including WM GP40 #3798 and cabooses, by email or mail order.
  • Researchers should ask ahead about using the archive and library.

Run by members of the society

The Western Maryland Railway Historical Society, Inc. is a membership organization, and its members staff the museum, care for the archives and build the layouts. You can help by becoming a member, buying from the gift shop or the society's exclusive model line, or donating railroad items, which the society says are always welcome.

More rail stops in Carroll and Frederick counties

The Walkersville Southern Railroad is about 11 miles away and adds a real train ride to the day. The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, about 30 miles west, covers the WM's big shop town, and the Brunswick Heritage Museum is also about 30 miles away. Browse train museums across Maryland for more.

Every train museum in Maryland

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Those callers boards stop me every time I think about them: real railroaders waiting to hear their names, then heading out to run the trains. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand to help Rally aboard, and I always pictured him as one of those proud, careful railroad people. My mom would have loved knowing their story is kept so carefully in Union Bridge.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum: 20 common questions

What is the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum?

It is the museum of the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society, a group founded in 1967 to preserve the history of the Western Maryland Railway. The museum fills the railroad's 1902 station, main offices and express shed in Union Bridge with artifacts, memorabilia, a photo archive, railroad records, a library and model railroad layouts.

Where is the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum?

The museum is at 41 North Main Street in Union Bridge, Maryland 21791, in Carroll County. It occupies the old Western Maryland Railway station and office complex in town. The society does not post parking details online, so call 410-775-0150 if you need directions or have questions about where to park.

What are the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open to the public on Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm and on Wednesdays from 9 am to 3 pm, with a lunch closing from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. It is also open by appointment. Volunteers staff it, so call ahead around holidays.

How much does it cost to visit the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum?

The society does not post an admission price on its website. Call 410-775-0150 and leave a message to ask about current admission or suggested donations before your visit. Because the museum is run by a nonprofit society, membership and donations are what keep the doors open, so consider leaving something if you enjoyed it.

When was the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society founded?

The society was founded in 1967 to preserve a portion of American railroad history, focused on the Western Maryland Railway. With the railroad's cooperation, it set up its museum in the Union Bridge buildings that once served as the station, the company's main offices and the express shed, all built in 1902.

What was the Western Maryland Railway?

The Western Maryland was an independent railroad for 125 years and built a reputation as a true fast freight line, with employees known for their skill and pride, from the docks at Port Covington to the top officers. Its remaining lines now serve as links in CSX Transportation and several shortline railroads.

Is there a model train layout at the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum?

Yes. A permanent N-scale layout shows the East Subdivision of the Western Maryland Railway from Union Bridge to Twin Bridges, west of Thurmont, as it was in the 1950s. There is also a 4 by 16 foot HO layout on display in the depot building, which younger visitors usually enjoy.

What is the WMRHS modular layout?

The society supports a modular group that builds interconnected HO-scale modules showing scenes along the former Western Maryland Railway. Joined together, the layout can reach 30 by 70 feet. It travels to train shows and appears at certain society and community events rather than staying at the museum full time.

What are the main exhibits at the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum?

Major exhibits include the callers boards from Hagerstown, Maryland and Ridgeley, West Virginia, and the Centralized Traffic Control panel for most of the Lurgan Subdivision. Around them are Western Maryland artifacts and memorabilia, archival material that came directly from the railroad, and a large collection of photographs.

Can researchers use the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society archives?

Yes. Making historical records available to groups and individuals researching railroad history is part of the society's mission. The museum holds a large photo archive, original Western Maryland Railway records and a railroader's library of historical and technical publications about the WM and other regional lines. Call ahead to arrange research time.

Does the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum offer group tours?

Yes. Tour groups are welcome with at least 30 days advance notice. To arrange a time, call 410-775-0150 and leave a message, or write to WMRHS, P.O. Box 395, Union Bridge, MD 21791-0395. Appointments outside regular hours are also possible, which helps for school or club groups.

Can you ride a train at the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum?

No train rides are offered at the museum; it is a collection of artifacts, archives and model layouts. For a ride the same day, the Walkersville Southern Railroad is about 11 miles away. The Union Bridge museum pairs well with a ride there if your kids want time aboard a real train.

Is the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum good for kids?

It works best for school-age kids who like model trains and railroad history. The N-scale and HO layouts are the main attraction for children. It is a quiet, artifact-focused museum without a play area or rides, so families with toddlers may want a shorter visit paired with a nearby train ride.

Does the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society have a gift shop?

Yes, the society runs a gift shop, and it also sells exclusive HO-scale models. Its latest releases include Western Maryland GP40 #3798 and red, white and blue cabooses. To order, email wmrhsmodels@gmail.com or mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to WMRHS Models, PO Box 395, Union Bridge, MD 21791.

How do I join the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society?

The society offers memberships, and its website has a Become a Member page with details. Members support the museum, archives and layouts, and the museum serves as the focal point for society activities and events. You can also call 410-775-0150 or email wmrhs1118@gmail.com with membership questions.

Can I donate railroad items to the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society?

Yes. The society says donations of railroad items are always welcome, and it also accepts monetary donations through its website. Items related to the Western Maryland Railway or other regional lines help grow the archive and exhibits. Contact the society before dropping anything off so volunteers can plan for it.

Is the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society affiliated with CSX?

No. The society states that it is not affiliated in any way with CSX, its predecessors, or the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad (Maryland Midland Railway). It is an independent nonprofit historical society, even though the museum was established with the cooperation of the Western Maryland Railway itself.

How do I contact the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum?

Call 410-775-0150 and leave a message, email wmrhs1118@gmail.com, or write to WMRHS, P.O. Box 395, Union Bridge, MD 21791-0395. Model orders go to wmrhsmodels@gmail.com. Because volunteers return calls, allow a little time for a reply, especially when planning a group visit.

How long does a visit to the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum take?

Most visitors can see the exhibits and layouts in about an hour. Rail fans who want to study the callers boards, the CTC panel and the photo collection, or talk with volunteers about the Western Maryland, can easily stay through the full Sunday afternoon session.

What train museums are near Union Bridge, Maryland?

The Walkersville Southern Railroad is about 11 miles away. The Northern Central Railway of York in New Freedom, Pennsylvania is about 28 miles, the Ellicott City Station Museum about 29 miles, and the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum and Brunswick Heritage Museum are each about 30 miles from Union Bridge.

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