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Citizens press council to preserve Locomotive 202; advocates offer volunteer group and events
Summary
Speakers urged the Mayor and City Council to pursue restoration and long‑term preservation of steam Locomotive 202 and presented a citizen organization offering volunteer support, fundraising pledges and a calendar of events.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Multiple residents urged the Hagerstown Mayor and City Council on Feb. 25 to preserve and restore Locomotive 202, and members of a citizen group said they have formed an incorporated chapter of the National Railway Historical Society to support restoration, fundraising and public events.
Karen Dunn Swafford and other speakers described a volunteer effort, Hub City Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, that the group has begun to incorporate and said they already have donations and an approved Easter‑bunny community event planned at the locomotive site. “The fate of Locomotive 202, however, is in the hands of five people in this room,” Swafford said, and she urged the council to act.
Speakers presented past engineering estimates and a history of bid activity. Swafford said architecture plans from 2020 estimated a restoration cost of about $300,000 and a pavilion replacement cost of about $500,000 — a combined $800,000 — but that a later local bid arrived at approximately $3.3 million when solicited. She asked the city to pursue additional bids and not let the project lapse after what she called a five‑year pause.
Richard Roach, who said he and fellow volunteers have raised funds and organized events, said the group had more than $8,000 in donations or pledges and that the organization is prepared to host community activities at the site. “We believe we have a partnership,” Roach said, “we intend to move forward.”
James McGarity and other residents urged expedience because he said a state grant related to the locomotive expires Aug. 1 and that restoration work requires upfront payment for contractors with subsequent state reimbursement.
Council members thanked speakers for their professional approach and said they were willing to consider proposals. Council members noted staff and outside parties have been engaged in parallel conversations; the council did not take action on ownership or transfer at the meeting, but members encouraged the volunteer group to continue providing proposals, fundraising commitments and operational plans.
