April 12th, 2018 by WCBC Radio

Think you have what it takes to cycle faster than a diesel train? Teams of cyclists are invited to challenge the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) 501, 2250 HP Diesel locomotive as they climb Mt. Savage in this face-off between man, machine, and mountain! Mountain Maryland Trails will host the inaugural 3M Challenge on Saturday, September 8, 2018. A timed challenge between cyclists and the diesel train locomotive, the 3M Challenge will follow a 15.3 mile stretch of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP Trail) alongside the WMSR railroad tracks, from Cumberland, MD, to Frostburg, MD. Eighteen teams, of up to six riders per team, can enter the challenge with a minimum $250 donation to Mountain Maryland Trails. Funds will support maintenance and development projects in the Maryland portion of the Great Allegheny Passage, including support for the Borden Tunnel Lighting Project.

 

Teams will choose their start time based on the amount of money they raise, with teams departing from the Western Maryland Railway Station every 10 minutes, starting at 8 AM. The WMSR 501 Diesel will depart from the station at 11:30 AM and will be timed. The challenge is for teams to have a better climb time than the diesel engine. The team that beats the engine’s time will receive a prize, and all participants will receive a participation gift. Additional tickets for a train ride are $50 for supporters to be transported to a post-ride celebration at the Frostburg Depot.  

 

For more information and to sign your team up for the challenge, visit https://tinyurl.com/3mGapRide. For questions regarding the 3M Challenge, please email gap3mride@gmail.com.

 

Mountain Maryland Trails is a nonprofit organization working in partnership with Allegany County Government in the maintenance, development, and promotion of the Maryland portion of the Great Allegheny Passage. The zero mile marker for the Great Allegheny Passage starts in Cumberland, MD, and extends through the Allegheny mountains to Pittsburgh, PA.