Western Maryland Class J-1

The Western Maryland J-1 class, also known as the Potomac, was a class of twelve 4-8-4 "Potomac" type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1947. They were operated by the Western Maryland Railway (WM) in revenue service until the mid-1950s. Like most railroads in the South, the WM did not choose the more common name "Northern", going with the name "Potomac" for their 4-8-4s instead.
They were built to haul freight on the WM mainline and all were retired by 1954.
==History==
The Western Maryland Railway (WM) was the last North American railroad to adopt the 4-8-4 "Northern" type, and as a railroad that primarily ran within the Southeastern United States, the WM chose to call their 4-8-4s "Potomacs", as named after the Potomac River. 
These new locomotives were the last new steam locomotives the WM purchased, and as such, they were very modern, efficient and powerful, as well as having relatively large boilers. They also held Timken roller bearings on every driver and tender axle and on the back end of the eccentric rod. All link motion pins used needle bearings. When running at forty-five miles per hour, the "Potomacs" had nearly the same performance as the larger M-2 class 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" types.
On the 1.75% grade west out of Cumberland, Maryland, the Potomacs were limited 1,180 tons unassisted. On level trackage, they were capable of running upwards while pulling 5,500 tons, with an 8,000-ton limit for downhill journeys.
==Disposition==
Due to coming when most railroads were starting to dieselize, the "Potomacs" did not have long careers, being in service for only seven years before being retired and put into storage in Hagerstown and Cumberland in 1954. They remained there until 1957, when the equipment trusts ran out and were subsequently scrapped. None of the J-1s have been preserved expect for a bell from 1403 that is located in the WMSR Cumberland station.
==Stock list==
Image	Loco No.	Build date(s)	Retired	Status
 	1401 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1402 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1403 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped expect for its bell
 	1404 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1405 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1406 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1407 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1408 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1409 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1410 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1411 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
 	1412 	January 1947 	By 1954	Scrapped
==Gallery==
File:Western Maryland’s locomotives.jpeg
Category:Western Maryland locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Scrapped steam locomotives
Category:Scrapped locomotives
Category:American steam locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:4-8-4 steam locomotives
Category:4-8-4 locomotives
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:Built in 1947
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives of the United States
Category:Freight locomotives