Hagerstown has three great claims to transportation history, and I fear we may lose the key piece of one of them (Opinion)

Hagerstown has a rich history in transportation, including planes, trains, and automobiles, with part of Hagerstown’s history kept secret from the nation until 1995. But now, in part due to pressure from forces outside of Hagerstown and Washington County, we may lose one of the key pieces of our rich history – Western Maryland Locomotive 202.

Strategically located at the intersection of the Warrior Trading Path (now U.S. Route 11) and the First National Road (now U.S. Route 40), Hagerstown became a vital hub for early transportation networks, facilitating trade and travel via covered wagons and nearby river routes. And while these early roads established Hagerstown as an important part of national transportation, it wasn’t until the early 1800’s that the true importance of Hagerstown to the nation would begin to take shape.

The arrival of the railroad in 1834 marked a transformative era for Hagerstown, cementing its status as the “Hub City.” This nickname reflects the convergence of major rail lines, including the Western Maryland, Baltimore and Ohio (B&O), and Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O), which radiated from the city like spokes on a wagon wheel. These rail connections fueled economic growth, establishing Hagerstown as a critical center for commerce and industry throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. The railroad industry became the backbone of the local economy, supporting both freight and passenger services.

But the railroad isn’t Hagerstown’s only claim to transportation history. The Crawford Automobile Company, an American manufacturer headquartered in Hagerstown, produced vehicles from 1905 to 1923. Following its acquisition by the M. P. Moller Pipe Organ Co., the company introduced a sporty variant known as the Dagmar, which remained in production until 1927. Early Crawford models utilized chain-drive technology until 1907, while the 1911–1914 models incorporated transaxles. Subsequent designs featured brass trim, disc-covered wooden artillery wheels, and Continental six-cylinder engines.

And in aviation, the Fairchild Aircraft facility in Hagerstown served as a cornerstone of aviation manufacturing, notably producing iconic aircraft such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the C-119 Flying Boxcar. The facility, which employed up to 10,000 workers during its peak in the early 1950s, was instrumental in the development and production of the A-10, a rugged close-air-support aircraft with over 700 units built, the last completed in Hagerstown in 1984. Earlier, the C-119 Flying Boxcar, produced from 1947 to 1955 with over 1,100 units, played a pivotal role in military transport and gained historical significance in the early U.S. space program. Notably, a modified C-119B worked to perform a groundbreaking mid-air catch of a Corona spy satellite capsule in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, marking the first successful retrieval of a payload from space and demonstrating the aircraft’s versatility in supporting cutting-edge aerospace missions. This amazing bit of Hagerstown history was completely unknown to the public until it was declassified in 1995.

Hagerstown’s contributions to transportation history continue today. In 1961 Mack Truck established a powertrain manufacturing plant in Hagerstown, marking a significant shift from its previous facility in Plainfield, New Jersey. This $45 million investment on a 280-acre site led to the production of heavy-duty diesel engines, transmissions, and drivelines, which have since been integral to every Mack truck. The facility, expanded to 1.5 million square feet, has evolved with advanced robotics and automation, reflecting a commitment to quality and innovation. Celebrating 50 years of operation in 2011, the plant has been a cornerstone of Mack’s integrated manufacturing process, driving the brand’s reputation for reliability and durability, especially as it adapted to modern demands like fuel efficiency and electromobility under Volvo’s ownership since the 2000’s.

We are fortunate enough that Washington County’s Rural Heritage Museum has several Dagmar automobiles, the Hagerstown Aviation Museum possesses several aircraft manufactured by Fairchild (with continuing efforts to get us an A-10 Warthog if the DoD can ever find something to replace it), and the City of Hagerstown has an original steam locomotive from the Western Maryland Railroad. These priceless artifacts represent the cornerstone of what built our area, our community, and put Hagerstown on the map as a critical part of the nation’s transportation. The fact that the City of Hagerstown, known as the Hub City for its railroad history, is fortunate enough to have one of the steam locomotives from the Western Maryland Railroad is incredible, and it is absolutely baffling that anyone would ever want to give up that priceless artifact of Hagerstown’s history.

And while some may argue that the locomotive should be given to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) in Cumberland, so that the scenic railroad can attempt to restore it to operational condition, as I’ve previously mentioned most of the support for this effort comes from outside Hagerstown and Washington County.

I want to be clear – I absolutely respect WMSR and very much understand why they would want Locomotive 202. To have the last main line Western Maryland steam locomotive would be very symbolic for WMSR, and I certainly don’t fault them for wanting it. And at the same time, I do understand where the City is coming from – the locomotive’s shelter is not sufficient to fully protect it from the elements, and there are ongoing costs to maintain the locomotive’s cosmetic appearance. The cost to properly shelter the locomotive, as well as perform a cosmetic restoration, has been estimated to be costly for the City of Hagerstown. And while the Save Locomotive 202 group has raised questions regarding the validity of the restoration and preservation estimates, what I truly question is the wisdom of simply giving away the crown jewel of City Park’s Train Hub regardless of the costs. After all, how can there be a successful train hub if there is no train for visitors to examine up-close?

The Save Locomotive 202 group has done an excellent job in providing Hagerstown City Council an alternative to giving away this priceless piece of Hagerstown’s history. Unfortunately, Hagerstown’s staff continues to recommend that the City donate the locomotive to the WMSR, an hour’s drive away from Hagerstown. I question how many of Hagerstown’s children will be able to visit WMSR to see the locomotive which once was within walking distance of their homes. I question how many lost opportunities Hagerstown will have for people from outside of our area who would have stopped in to see Locomotive 202, and in the process patronized local businesses in our area. And finally, I question why Hagerstown would want to give away such a vital part of its own history – a part of why Hagerstown was named the Hub City in the first place. If costs are truly a concern, the City of Hagerstown has a pile of rocks called “Pod” sitting next to the lake which is supposedly worth between $300,000 to $400,000. And whereas a priceless steam locomotive is much more important to the history of the city than a pile of rocks, I and likely many others would be very happy to see that horrendous display of “art” (and I use that term very loosely) be sold to pay for proper preservation of the City’s history.

I do thank the Mayor and Council for hearing out the Save Locomotive 202 group for multiple sessions, and giving them a chance to provide options to keep the locomotive local. With that said, I know that there are many residents in Hagerstown who feel as I do, that Locomotive 202 should stay in Hagerstown, for the benefit of not only the children of Hagerstown as it was originally donated, but also for the benefit of local businesses who undoubtedly see increased patronage any time an out-of-town visitor comes to see the historic locomotive. I’d also like to encourage Hagerstown residents to use their voices, and show up to the August 26th Hagerstown Mayor and Council meeting to speak regarding the agenda item, and encourage Hagerstown’s city council to vote against donating the locomotive to WMSR.

Opinion article by Ken Buckler. All opinions are his own, and do not reflect those of our clients or sponsors.

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