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Hagerstown council rejects donation of Steam Locomotive No. 202 after weeks of public appeals to keep it
Summary
On Aug. 26, 2025, the Hagerstown mayor and city council declined to approve a resolution to donate Steam Locomotive No. 202 to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Development Corporation; public speakers urged the council to keep the engine in City Park.
On Aug. 26, 2025, the Hagerstown mayor and city council declined to approve a resolution to donate Steam Locomotive No. 202 to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Development Corporation (WMSR). The donation measure would have conveyed the locomotive “as is” to WMSR, contingent on WMSR restoring the engine to meet or surpass Federal Railroad Administration standards (49 CFR part 230) within 10 years or else return it to the city.
The issue drew sustained public comment at the meeting. Dozens of speakers and more than 100 signed postcards urged the council to keep the locomotive in City Park, calling the engine a long-standing local landmark and a resource for children. Several speakers asked the council to delay or reverse the proposed transfer and to put the matter to a referendum.
Why it mattered: Locomotive No. 202 has been displayed in City Park since 1953 and is referenced in local preservation materials. Supporters said the engine provides…
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