Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

The Frostburg Flyer was a perfect way to spend a day with family. Fortunately for us, the 1309 Steam Locomotive was up and running (only weekends), and it chugged its way along the tracks for a slow, steady climb up the mountain to Frostburg. With temps in the 70's, we chose to sit in the open air car. The signs are correct, you will get covered in ash and soot, but I think that's all part of the experience. Most of it just brushed off when we stood up, but it was all over everything. If you didn't want this full experience, you can sit in the enclosed cars. The scenery was great, the conductor's narration was informative, and the services at the Frostburg station were plenty. Knowing that the diesel engine would pull us back down to Cumberland on the return trip, we rode in the open air car again, and that was just about perfect. No soot and ash on the return trip. If you're looking for a scenic ride, a family-friendly outing, and to live the steam train life first-hand, the Western MD Scenic Railroad is hard to beat.

It was a beautiful ride however, unless you want to get smacked with bits of coal and dust and bugs, I recommend sitting in the closed window area. It took a week for me to fully scrub all the coal or whatever was in the air from the trains smoke. It was a much better ride back when I realized that there was an area with closed windows. At the stop in Frostburg there’s a nice little eating area. The nachos were delicious. I highly recommend with the pulled pork. There’s a wonderful carriage museum. That was very educational. It was a nice little rest area. Overall I give the trip a 8.5 out of 10.

Magnificent engine. Stunning views. We did the lunch class. Food and drink service was good. Server was attentive. Kids might like the coach class better as it’s open. Both city Cumberland and Frostburg are stunning to walk around with lots of history. Train stopping for one and half hour at frostburg gave us the perfect time to explore the lovely city. This is a hidden gem we didn’t know about.

We purchased coach seats and sat in the open air car, which was the best way to experience the ride and scenery. There was a snack bar and museum at the Frostburg station so you didn't have to leave the stop while waiting for the return trip. We packed a lunch and ate outside on a picnic table at the station. The young conductor was knowledgeable and friendly.

This is once in a lifetime experience. The steam train is beautiful and pulls you along with ease. The Carriage Museum, Ice cream shoppe and coal miner’s memorial are enough to keep you busy if you don’t feel like climbing the stairs up to Frostburg. Definitely stop by if you are in the area.

We booked the dome class for 4 people and paid around $600 including the security fee, expecting a premium scenic experience. Unfortunately, the ride fell short in several ways. We had no idea that the train would do a round-trip without turning around, so we were stuck on the less scenic side for the entire journey. All the best views were on the opposite side. For the price, it would’ve been much fairer if the staff rotated tables or offered a lower price to ensure everyone got a balanced experience. The service and communication were poor. The person sharing route commentary stood near the entrance, and we could barely hear what was being said throughout the car. It felt unorganized and unengaging. The complimentary charcuterie board was also underwhelming — mostly just pretzels, a couple of stale cheese varieties, a few crackers, one type of salami, and bottled water. Definitely not what you’d expect for the price. Lastly, the condition of the dome car itself was concerning. The window above us was cracked, which made it uncomfortable (and a little scary) to sit beneath. Overall, this experience did not feel worth the money. We were excited about a relaxing, scenic ride, but left disappointed. This train has potential, but major improvements are needed in value, fairness, service quality, and maintenance. Seats(D3A, D3D)

The ride and the views were beautiful 😍 It was my first train ride and I enjoyed it. I gave it a 4/5 for a few reasons. First, it didn't specify that you only have a meal option if you book the lunch ride. We booked the Dome so we could have better views (totaly worth it), but we assumed we would be able to order food at an additional cost. That wasn't the case. However, they do provide light snacks and water, and you can purchase soda, tea, and alcohol. I don't think the 90-minute layover in Frostburg is enough time. We struggled to find a restaurant that was open and didn't have a long wait (we went on a Friday afternoon). We ate at "The Princess Restaurant," which has diner type food, and it was delicious and fast service. Also, the space between the table and seats on the train is rather cramped. I'm only 5'1", and I barely had leg room from the other couple sitting across from us. A larger man was sitting across us at our table, and he was very uncomfortable. Overall, it's still worth it, and we had a nice time! Just wanted to share a few details that may help others 😊

The train ride was great! The atmosphere and service were truly amazing experiences. My family and I will definitely do this again. We rode in the lounge class, and the drinks were delicious and unique.