The Ma & Pa Railroad through the Muddy Creek Valley is again open for rail traffic after parts of the track were closed due to severe damage sustained in the flash flood of Aug. 31, 2018. The scenic rail line is operated by the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad Preservation Society as part of the Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village.
In the flood, a 30-foot steel bridge was washed away, two other bridges were damaged, and about 900 feet of track was destroyed. A contractor hired by the preservation society worked through the winter to restore the railroad. Most of the line was open in time for the society to support the regular trout stocking of Muddy Creek by Trout Unlimited. In fact, the first train to run on the north end of the line since the flood was a fish train.
On April 17, the final rails were bolted in place at the foot of Guinston Forge Road just south of Laurel. Some ballasting and final adjustment of the track alignment remains to be done, but the entire railroad is now passable. Track repairs are expected to be finished for the season opening of the Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village.
The Society has scheduled its annual volunteer day, at which current and new volunteers will receive training to staff the museum at Muddy Creek Forks and operate the railroad. The volunteer day will be held on Saturday, May 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the A.M. Grove General Store at Muddy Creek Forks, 1258 Muddy Creek Forks Road, Airville.
The society's corps of volunteers welcomes museum visitors with educational historic interpretation, hosts tours and special events, and operates the trains at the Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village. Train operators, store clerks, millers, station agents, and other period-specific positions are among the volunteer opportunities. New volunteers are always welcome to participate and become a part of the museum that is open regularly from early June through mid-December.
Historic interpreters provide a glimpse of what life was like during the early 20th century, when Muddy Creek Forks was a busy commercial village centered on the railroad. Signs are purposely minimized in the Heritage Village to encourage personal interaction with the docents.
The annual train operator session, also held on volunteer day, is open to anyone age 18 and older. It provides refresher training for current operators and an introduction to the rules and practical training required for new operators to be certified.
Volunteer day is also a good time to explore behind-the-scenes opportunities, including track work, right-of-way maintenance, mechanical work, carpentry, welding, painting, masonry, and lawn and garden care. People with all kinds of interests and skill are needed.
Coffee and doughnuts and lunch will be provided as well as the resource and educational materials volunteers will need for their roles as docents or train operators. Following the required training, volunteers have the opportunity to work in various roles according to their specific interests and availability.
Individuals interested in volunteering or wanting additional information are asked to contact the Ma & Pa Railroad Preservation Society at volunteer@MaAndPaRailroad.com or call Bob Wieners at 443-922-9216. Advance registration for the volunteer day/operator training is required to provide an accurate attendee count for lunch and for preparation of docent manuals and other materials.
The 2019 season of the Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village will open on Sunday, June 2. There are a dozen special event weekends scheduled this season. The village is located at 1258 Muddy Creek Forks Road, Airville. Additional information is available at http://www.MaAndPaRailroad.com.
The society has also announced that a new logo has been created for Ma & Pa Railroad Heritage Village. Freelance illustrator Jim Starr of Stewartstown designed the logo as a donation to the society. The logo was designed to capture the essence of the Heritage Village buildings and to give the train equal visual weight, representing the central role of the railroad.
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