Michael Spring is living the dream at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Since 2023, the 22-year-old has been a full-time employee at his favorite tourist line. He serves as a conductor and student engineer for the excursion operations out of Cumberland, Md., in addition to being a shop mechanic at the yard facility in Ridgeley, W.Va.
How did you get involved in rail preservation?
Michael Spring: Rail preservation for me started when I was about 15 years old. My whole dream was to always work for a railroad, specifically the Western Maryland Scenic. Where I lived at the time, there was a smaller tourist railroad closer to me called the Walkersville Southern, so I started out there volunteering.
The Western Maryland Scenic then came into play back in December of 2021. I came up to see No. 1309 pull its inaugural Polar Express train for that year, and met CMO Nathaniel Watts and Executive Director Wesley Heinz. I started out joining the railroad in January 2022 as an onboard staff member and periodically working in the yard when I was able to. It was off and on between this and my full-time job, but then I decided to make the Western Maryland Scenic as my full-time. That’s when I became a conductor, shop mechanic, student engineer, and everything else.
As a young preservationist at age 22 what have you found to be the most challenging aspects in the industry?
Michael Spring: Two things for me.
One was confidence. Starting off, you have never really done this before. You’re also starting out with a bunch of guys who have been doing this for an extended period of time. For you being the new guy not knowing how to do anything, that can be challenging.
Secondly, a big thing for me and I hate to say it, is when certain individuals that work for a Class One or bigger railroad see what you’re doing and tell you that you are not a real railroader. All because of the fact that you’re working for a small heritage line. For some people interested in rail preservation, that scares them away. It makes them feel like they’re not good enough. But for me personally, that kind of lit a spark under me. A fire, actually.
It made me want to show them that they were wrong and that we are in fact real railroaders. We come out here because we want to, not because it’s a job, but because we love what we do and want to show the people what we have.
What’s been the most rewarding for you so far?
Michael Spring: It’s being able to see what we’ve accomplished as a group. Last year, we were all working on No. 1309. Once we got it back under steam and pulling 14-car trains for all of the people that came out to see it, you have to give yourself credit. You think about all the hours put in to make this run, and when you can see it run again, that’s a rewarding thing for me.
There’s also the relationships you build in this type of industry. I’ve met people that I’ve become good buddies with when working here. Cameron [Stefan], the guy you interviewed, he and I are roommates.
Where do you see rail preservation as it is today and what do you hope it’ll become for the future?
Michael Spring: In all honesty, we need more young guys. I think what I touched on when I brought up how certain individuals say that you’re not a real railroader, it deters a lot of the younger generation from coming out to work for tourist lines. I still think we’re in a good spot for this railroad specifically because a lot of us are younger.
Right now, the oldest guy that we have is our CMO, and he’s only in his early 40s. It’s a young group, but that’s what I’d like to see more of in terms of railroad preservation. A lot of the older guys that still do it now are in the 70s and 80s. While it’s fantastic to learn from them, what happens when they’re not here? If we don’t see a growing number of younger individuals who want to contribute, then there really is no rail preservation.
What advice would you give for any young person looking to get involved in the industry?
Michael Spring: If you want to work for the railroad, and especially rail preservation, you will have the chance to do so. You may not have the experience working with machinery, tools and things like that right away, but there is a task for everyone at a tourist railroad that you will always be able to learn from. When I started here, the amount that I know now compared to then is a night-and-day difference.
If there are younger folks out there who want to do this, I would also tell them to speak up and say, “I want to come work for the railroad. I don’t know how to do much but I want to come and learn.” There’s always a place for people like that. And just show that you’re committed to learning and dedicated to putting in the effort that we try to match every day to make the railroads around the country the best they can be.
