All Aboard!  Oakland B&O Museum Update

Winter Hours: 
Friday & Saturday 10 - 3:00 ~ Sunday 12 - 3:00

New Addition to the Model Train: The "88" Bridge!
The latest addition to the museum's fantastic HO gauge model layout, built by Dave Nordeck, is a replica of the original “The 88 Bridge” west of Oakland over the Youghiogheny River. Nordeck is seen installing the bridge in the picture at right, and the picture below shows his finished work. This has been a work in progress that started in his home in Hazelton, WV years ago.  

The new addition depicts the area around the Baltimore and Ohio railroad bridge about a mile west of Oakland, MD. The bridge was referred as "The 88 Bridge" because it was the eighty-eighth railroad bridge on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from Baltimore. This scene is made to appear as it would have looked during the Civil War era. 

The bridge was a Fink Through-Truss Bridge of approximately 180' span with a center white sandstone abutment. The bridge model has been greatly reduced in length to fit the available space of this HO (1/87th) Scale model railroad layout. 

During the Civil War, in April, 1863, the bridge was burned by Confederate troops during the Jones-Imboden Raid conducted in this area under the direction of Confederate Generals William "Grumble" Jones and John Imboden. The raids were intended to disrupt rail traffic carrying Union supplies and troops, and to forestall the statehood movement in the western part of Virginia (West Virginia was formed two months later as a Union state). The bridge was quickly rebuilt due to the importance of maintaining Federal control of the railroad. 

The building on the hill to the right of the bridge is a facsimile of the blockhouse that was built by the Union Army to house soldiers tasked with defending the bridge from Confederate attempts to destroy this strategic crossing of the Youghiogheny River. The defensive fort was constructed late in the summer of 1863, after the Jones-lmboden Raid. 
1920 Baldwin Steam Engine.  Photo by Rob Kitchen
Have you heard?

We're getting an engine to display at the museum!

...And we need your help!

We made an offer to purchase a 1920 Baldwin Steam Engine with coal hopper.

At right, you can see a similar engine. Isn't it beautiful? It would be a perfect addition to our downtown location!

We need your help to finish out this fundraising campaign! Below you can find information about joining us to support efforts such as acquiring the engine, updating & maintaining our displays, maintaining our building, and more. Please consider joining us as a member, and if you can, sending in a little extra to support the purchase & updating of the new engine!

Because of the engine project, we have had very generous people gift our museum with both a B&O Train Bell and a Steam Engine Whistle!

With your help, we will have the engine very soon!
And remember...

The Oakland B&O Museum Needs YOU in 2018! 

If you haven't already, please consider joining or renewing your membership with the Museum today! 

Dear "Friend of Oakland B&O Museum"

It's time for our annual membership campaign! We appreciate the support of our faithful members and donors, which enables us to grow and expand our exhibits and services at the Oakland B&O Museum! 

In addition to the engine above, we have also developed a library and research room on the second floor of the museum, which will soon be open to the public on an appointment basis. 

We have been working to expand our educational programs and are partnering with Garrett College to br ing fantastic speakers in our continuing summer lecture series. Our children's activities are a big part of our mission, including the Polar Express, Santa & Mrs. Claus, children's crafts and story telling, the Huff 'n Puff, and more. 

We will have County 4 th graders and High School American History students this spring at the museum, adult continuing education from Garrett College Railroads of Garrett County 4 part series in April & May (visit our website and facebook to learn more).  

We greatly appreciate your support of the museum, and encourage you to join as a member for 2018. Our membership levels are as follows: 

  • $10.00 Friend
  • $25.00 Brakeman
  • $50.00 Fireman
  • $100.00 Conductor
  • $250.00 Engineer
  • $500.00 Station Master

Your continuing membership, at whatever level you may wish to participate, will be greatly appreciated. 

You can donate online using our new, secured "@Pay" portal here or  download a donation form here. Please send your membership donation by March 31 ( be sure to note "B&O Membership" in the memo line) to:

Oakland Heritage Community Foundation, Inc.
Oakland B&O Museum Membership
15 South Third Street
Oakland, MD 21550

We are also in urgent need of volunteers at the station. If you would like to participate, please contact Terry Helbig at 301-616-0661.

Oakland B&O Museum   |    oaklandbandomuseum.org