Dates of operation 1896–1961 Locale Cumberland | Headquarters Cumberland | |
Track gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
The Cumberland Electric Railway, now defunct, was an American railroad of western Maryland built in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Electric trolley service in Cumberland, Maryland started in 1891 with the inauguration of the Cumberland Electric Railway. The railway initially transported passengers along North Centre Street to Narrows Park for a fare of five cents. The company later expanded it business by building a recreational complex on 15 acres (61,000 m2) of land in an area formerly known as Seiss’ Picnic Grove, at the western end of the Cumberland Narrows near the present day Starlight Skating Rink. The Park included a soda fountain, dance and roller skating pavilion, and bandstand. In 1914, Kirkstetler Amusement leased the park to build an amusement park, that included a roller coaster, a merry-go-round, and a miniature railroad ride. In summer evenings the park was patronized by large crowds, and the trolley company expanded to meet the demand by adding extra, open sided cars to handle the traffic.