Railroad history enthusiasts hope to keep iconic locomotive at Hagerstown City Park

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now) — The City Council in Hagerstown is considering a plan to have an iconic locomotive removed from the City Park’s railway heritage yard.

A plan to relocate the 202, as it is called, to Cumberland in western Maryland is facing pushback from a group of local historic railway enthusiasts.

The City Council could decide the locomotive’s fate next month.

A memo from the city’s public works director builds a framework for removing the 202 from the park to a private party in Cumberland. A grassroots group, Save the 202, is fighting that proposal.

“Railroads created Hagerstown,” said Karen Dunn Swafford with Save the 202. “It’s the history that makes Hagerstown what it is today.”

“At one time, three of every five households in Hagerstown had employees of the Western Maryland or other railroads,” said Richard Roche with Save the 202.

“This is the Hub City,” exclaimed Sharon Nally with Save the 202. “We are known for our railroad history. We are opposing the city plan. We sent more than 500 petition signatures.”

“We work with the Boys and Girls Clubs and the seniors in Hagerstown,” said Jeffrey Nally with Save the 202. “We want them to come out, and we’ll start doing programs with them. I just want to keep the history going for the railroad.”

The mayor and the council have held work sessions about the engine’s future, but have deferred official action.