Hagerstown & Frederick Railway Historical Society

The National Road Heritage Foundation (NRHF) works closely with the Hagerstown & Frederick Railway Historical Society (H&FRHS) to operate the Boonsboro Trolley Station Museum.

Sometimes just called the “Trolley Society” by locals, the H&FRHS was founded in 1999 by three model railroaders with an interest in the local trolleys, and over 25 years has collected photographs, documents and artifacts related to the trolley system.  Many of the photographs and artifacts in the Boonsboro Trolley Station Museum were supplied by the H&FRHS, and today the Society’s archives are securely stored within the National Road Museum.  During some events, H&FRHS volunteers staff the trolley station.

The Mission of the H&FRHS:

The Hagerstown & Frederick Railway Historical Society is dedicated to promoting and preserving the heritage of the trolley line that served Washington and Frederick Counties in Maryland. We offer historical and technical data, as well as educational information to members and the public.

In addition to the trolley station museum, the Society has offered guest speakers for community organization meetings, assembled temporary artifact displays at several libraries and other facilities, have served in an advisory capacity on the restoration of surviving trolley cars and trolley company buildings, and publish a quarterly newsletter for their membership containing current events and history articles.  (Backissues of the Trolleywire newsletter are available for purchase in our museum store.)

In December 2025, the H&FRHS sponsored the installation of a new State of Maryland iron wayside marker honoring the Frederick & Middletown Railway.  The marker is located in Braddock Heights at the top of Catoctin Mountain, directly beside the Historic National Road!

Other courses will offer lessons about the trolleys themselves, but if you would like to learn more about the society itself, visit https://hfrhs.org