Wes Morgenstern

The Western Maryland was one of several railroads merged into the CSX system. By modern standards it was a “regional railroad” that spanned Maryland and reached into West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Today sections of the WM are part of the rails-to-trails system and the section of the former mainline from Cumberland to Frostburg , Maryland is a tourist railroad.

This book, complied by the Western Maryland Historical Society, is a collection of interviews of 29 employee who worked for the Western Maryland . The occupations of the individuals are diverse and cover positions of both labor and management: Maintenance (1), Engineman (14), WM Police (1), Brakeman (1), Clerk (1), Baltimore District Sales Manager (1), Roundhouse Foreman (1), Foreman of Wharves (1), Conductor (4), President (1), Vice President – Operations (1), Trackman (1), and Fireman (1). The book is oversized and the interviews vary in length from 6 to 9 pages.

While the interview form is the same for each individual (introduction, brief life history with a lead to the how and why of seeking WM employment, WM training, and memorable experiences) there is extreme diversity with respect to each of the individual stories including those within the same occupation. . Each interview is illustrated with one or two pertinent photos. The book is well written and edited and is an excellent single book introduction to first person accounts of railroad life. See Common Knowledge for an example of the writing style. (Text Length - 176 pages, Total Length - 176 pages.) (Book Dimensions inches LxWxH - 8.75 x .625 x 11.25)… (mais)