As one of the most prolific charter locomotives in the US, "Western Maryland 734" has truly assumed the role she was brought in to play iwhen she was acquired by the Western Maryland Scenic Railway from the Illinois Railway Museum in the early 1990s. Painted and modified to some degree to look like a Western Maryland engine, some young railfans may actually assume that she's native to this line. But of course, those of us who've been around a while know that this engine, was built in 1916 for the Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad, in Michigan, where she spent most of her "working" career. She's a relative new-comer to Maryland. It is perhaps fitting that as she turns 100 years old this year, this engine will get a much-needed break from her steady service over the past 15 years. When this particular photo charter was run in February of 2016, the Locomotive had fewer than 5 service days remaining on her current FRA Form 4. She's scheduled to run a couple of special events in the spring of 2016, and then be sidelined for a number of years, while she undergoes an FRA 1,472-day boiler inspection, and perhaps other repairs. We'll miss the 734, but she'll be back some day.