Railroad Forums 

Discussion relating to the B&O up to it's 1972 merger into Chessie System. Visit the B&O Railroad Historical Society for more information. Also discussion of the C&O up to 1972. Visit the C&O Historical Society for more information. Also includes the WM up to 1972. Visit the WM Historical Society for more information.
 #1268249  by poppyl
 
The B&O Museum and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad jointly announced today that C&O 2-6-6-2 #1309 will be moved to the WMSR where it will be operationally restored and put into service between Cumberland and Frostburg on the WMSR. Museum staff has begun the process for shipping the loco on flat cars to the WMSR shops in Cumberland. Current plans call for 1309 to resume service sometime in 2016. Truly a great day for the return of mountain big steam to the East.

Poppyl
 #1268899  by mmi16
 
Hope WMSR has a large endowment to finance the work - they will need it!
 #1466332  by mmi16
 
Restoration on 1309 has been stopped for several months - WMSR is out of money to continue the restoration.

Who could have foreseen this??????????????
 #1466362  by hutton_switch
 
mmi16 wrote:Restoration on 1309 has been stopped for several months - WMSR is out of money to continue the restoration.

Who could have foreseen this??????????????
Only those people who have a feel for the present-day exorbitant cost that it takes to restore ANY steam locomotive to operation. That is why the B&O RR Historical Society (not affiliated with the B&O RR Museum) elected to direct its funds toward preservation of documents, photographs, and drawings on the HISTORY of the railroad, and not to get involved in the unpredictable and usually exorbitant cost of restoration of any railroad equipment. As a result, the Society now owns a good, roomy facility to carry out its functions and activities as opposed to the cramped, leased facility it had before.
 #1471492  by mmi16
 
hutton_switch wrote:
mmi16 wrote:Restoration on 1309 has been stopped for several months - WMSR is out of money to continue the restoration.

Who could have foreseen this??????????????
Only those people who have a feel for the present-day exorbitant cost that it takes to restore ANY steam locomotive to operation. That is why the B&O RR Historical Society (not affiliated with the B&O RR Museum) elected to direct its funds toward preservation of documents, photographs, and drawings on the HISTORY of the railroad, and not to get involved in the unpredictable and usually exorbitant cost of restoration of any railroad equipment. As a result, the Society now owns a good, roomy facility to carry out its functions and activities as opposed to the cramped, leased facility it had before.
Should have added [/sarcasm] to my previous post.

Every thing being 'restored' will generally end up costing 3 times or more the original 'seat of the pants' estimate. Take things apart any you see more things that have to be fixed than one ever thought about.
 #1483134  by chuchubob
 
Western Maryland Scenic RR hosted an NRHS trip on Sunday. Lunch was prepared and served on board. It was a good trip which was appreciated by most passengers.
After the train returned to Cumberland, those who paid an additional fare were treated to a tour of the former WM two-bay hopper car shop, where much of C&O 1309 is residing.
photos here
 #1532298  by mmi16
 
With WMSR working on 1309 on a when funds are available basis - has there been any 'rumors' as to when the work may be completed?
 #1545281  by Pensyfan19
 
Rewhelling complete! :-D

http://railfan.com/articulated-locomoti ... -the-east/
RIDGELEY, W.V. — Two big articulated steam locomotives were on the move on the east coast on Wednesday. In Ridgeley, W.V., the Western Maryland Scenic Railroadput the driving wheels back under Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 1309, a major step forward for the restoration that has seen progress in fits and starts in recent years. 
 #1548447  by Pensyfan19
 
This locomotive may now be completed sooner than expected! Everyone is apparently now making the effort to restore this locomotive! :-D

https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2 ... sh-no-1309
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Emery Rail Heritage Trust and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad are pleased to announce the trust has issued a special mid-year grant of $50,000 to help complete 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 as part of the "Steam the Last Baldwin" fundraising campaign. The grant will go toward $150,000 needed to complete No. 1309, the last Baldwin built for domestic service in 1949.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is working to finish the $3.2 million restoration without interruption this year. Contractor Diversified Rail Services recently worked with Hulcher to re-wheel the locomotive and steam-test it. Work is underway to complete the running gear, back head piping, stoker, and hundreds of other final details necessary to complete restoration. Once in operation, the locomotive will be the world’s largest operating Mallet, a locomotive that uses its steam twice, and the largest articulated in operation in the eastern U.S.

....

To help complete No. 1309, make a tax-deductible donation online at the 1309 page at the Western Maryland Scenic website, or mail a check specified for 1309 to Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, P.O. Box 1168, Cumberland, MD 21503.
 #1583756  by mmi16
 
1309 is slated to pull some of WMSR's Christmas trips in 2021.