HAGERSTOWN – Steam locomotive 202, a fixture of City Park for more than 70 years, will remain in Hagerstown after the City Council rejected a resolution to donate it to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in Cumberland.
The decision followed an outpouring of public testimony during the Aug. 26 council meeting, where residents described the engine as a symbol of community heritage and a gift meant to stay with Hagerstown’s children.
Residents rally for preservation
Dozens of residents filled the council chambers, many speaking passionately about their connection to the 1953 engine.
Radio host Lou Scally recalled climbing onto the locomotive as a child in the 1950s and urged the council to consider a public referendum. “This is not an old truck we’re selling. This is a piece of history that belongs to all the citizens of Hagerstown,” Scally said.
Former teacher Sam Cuthbert emphasized that the engine was donated to the city in 1953 specifically for its children. “Locomotive 202 belongs to some unknown child at some unknown point in the future who will touch one of its wheels and have a life-changing experience,” he said.
Emily Conrad, who worked in the city’s parks department, noted the investments already made at the site, including a pavilion, playground, new signage and restrooms. “If you sell 202 for a dollar, that doesn’t even cover the cost of removing the signage that celebrates its history here,” she said, adding that heritage tourism is just as vital as sports tourism.
In addition to public testimony, the city received 106 signed postcards and more than a dozen emails urging the council to keep the locomotive in City Park.
Symbol of history and identity
The steam engine has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984 and has become a landmark of City Park. Many speakers said its removal would represent another cultural loss for the community, comparing it to past closures of Discovery Station and the decline of the City Farmers Market.
Resident Curtis Ray noted that the preservation effort itself demonstrated the community’s values. “I don’t have much invested in the train itself, but I can appreciate how one man and one woman have spurred such a movement to bring people together in support of it,” he said.
Timeline: Locomotive 202 in Hagerstown
- 1953 — Western Maryland Railroad donates Locomotive 202 to the children of Hagerstown; the engine is placed in City Park.
- 1984 — Locomotive 202 is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2023 — Council votes for cosmetic restoration of the engine as part of City Park improvements.
- 2025 — Council rejects resolution to donate the 202 to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, keeping the engine in City Park.
Council rejects donation resolution
The proposed resolution would have transferred ownership of the engine to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for restoration and potential use in scenic tours. Under the agreement, if the group failed to restore the locomotive within 10 years, it would have been returned to the city.
After debate, the council voted the measure down. Several members stated that the strength of public opposition made it clear that the locomotive should remain in Hagerstown.
Next steps
With the council’s vote, locomotive 202 will remain under the city’s care. Advocates suggested pursuing nonprofit partnerships, similar to those used in other historic preservation efforts, to help cover restoration costs and maintain the site.
Council members thanked residents for their advocacy and emphasized that the decision reflected the community’s will.
