WM Fast Freight Pack

History The Western Maryland Railway was one of the more compact Class 1s of the steam era, with their 1941 slogan proclaiming themselves as the 'Fast Freight Line'. Like most other Appalachian roads, they carried heavy coal loads over steep grades, and as such, needed powerful locomotives to get the job done. This led to some very impressive machines, the likes of which were rarely equaled by other railroads. While the road was known for freight, they also had passenger trains pulled by very light 4-6-2 'Pacific' locomotives of the K-1 and K-2 class. the K-2s were built in 1912, coinciding with the Connelsville extension's construction, and pulled the railroad's premier passenger trains, until they were discontinued in 1917. However, the K-2s remained in service, on coach class passenger trains, sometimes only 2 cars long. Of the wheel arrangements on the WM, the most ubiquitous was the 2-8-0 'Consolidations', broadly categorized as the H classes. The most modern of these locomotives were the H-9s, all 50 built in 1921 by Baldwin. Sporting a large boiler, and increased driver diameter than most 2-8-0s typically do, they were highly suitable for drag freights over the WM's mountainous tracks, and were highly successful locomotives, so much so that they inspired the Reading Railroad's own heavy duty Connies, the I-10sa class. Despite their capabilities, more was needed of the railroad by the mid 20s, and the H-9s would once again prove their adaptability, with a new class of locomotive. Design crews from the WM and Baldwin expanded the H-9 design from a 2-8-0 into a 2-10-0 'Decapod' type, maintaining the 61 inch driver diameter and increasing the size of other key components. The result was the I-2 class, one of the heaviest and strongest decapods ever built. Despite their impressive stats, their running gear were not properly balanced at first, resulting in any wheelslip being devastating for the track, as well as difficulties in running the locomotives over 40mph.