Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

645 posted:

Per "Chesapeake and Ohio #1309" on Facebook posted on April 20, 2017:

For those who have not seen the release on WMSR's Facebook page, WMSR is now reporting that they are "hoping for fall" for 1309 to be operational.

From what I was just told, that posting was dated April 20, 2016, NOT "April 20, 2017".

 

They already missed a target date to have 1309 steamed up - nothing new when dealing with steam restorations. It'll be done when it's done - provided it gets done that is...

 

Regarding 'Trains' magazine and the 1309 they posted on March 16, 2017 the planned charter event is now September 26-28, 2017 so that should be the new target date I guess:

http://trn.trains.com/news/new...309-western-maryland

 

Farmer_Bill posted:

"Latest News" on wmsr.com is from January announcing the July rollout of 1309.

Advance purchasers are surely going to be disappointed if it's a diesel pulling the train. 

 

Hence the reason I'm not buying a ticket until there is smoke coming out of it and it is moving down the track. 

Work takes place in West Virginia, at the WMSR shops in Ridgeley which are the old WM digs. Ridgeley  is just across the Potomac from Cumberland, Md. And of course, the train's route is from Cumberland to Frostburg, all in Maryland. The WMSR offices are in the station at Cumberland.

The latest is that they hope to have some funds by the 28th of this month so they can start work again.

They have been able to do much small detail work with their regular shop folks, who are also upgrading, cleaning and painting many of the passenger cars, and  also repainting their Western Maryland caboose.  They do have the bell for the engine, and they have decided to use a Hancock as was used most of the time on 734. As far as I know, WVA has no stake in the game, as far as money to the railroad. The money from Maryland is needed for contract work, all folks who have worked on steam previously. My opinion is when she does run, and she will, that locomotive will be in first class shape. No shortcuts are being taken in her rebuild.

Ed

 

PennsyPride94 posted:

For what its worth, if you go on their website you can see that the steam trips are no longer up for the month of July, but for the month of August suggesting that they have been forced to move back the original first trip date. 

Setting a date for trips with this engine before it was running was a TERRIBLE decision and horrible business practice. It's a no-win situation for the WSMR! Why management couldn't see that is beyond me.

Setting an arbitrary deadline like this puts tremendous pressure on the mechanical crew to get it done at all costs. That is never a good practice when working on an old machine like this. New and unforeseen problems can be discovered almost every day until it is up and running. Then it will take a few hundred miles of proving runs under the wheels to make SURE everything is OK.

You cannot rush restoration work like this. It will get done at its own pace, in a manner that insures that everything is right on fire-up day. Pressuring the mechanical guys to get it done - NOW! - is just asking for problems. If the arm-twisting is sufficient, they could be tempted to take a few shortcuts, or repair something "...just good enough so it works today." without time to plan for tomorrow.

I know some of the guys working on this engine. They are not the type to take shortcuts or do things so they are just barely serviceable. But when the engine is not ready for service at this arbitrary deadline because of financial problems, THEY are the ones who will get thrown under the bus. That's not fair to them.

They are not painting all the cars green. Only those with no stainless fluting, will get green.  Those with stainless fluting will get a bright red window stripe, where they are now maroon, or tuscan, what ever that is called. And, as I stated above the work on the passenger cars continues by the regular shop folks while waiting for money for 1309. Also, their caboose is also being repainted, and will get the bright red and the older Western Maryland lettering. And, in keeping with Western Maryland RR paint schemes, the top of the tender and the cab roof of 1309 will get what looks red "rust proof" paint, only it will be actually enamel.

Here are two photos of the cab..the workmanship is beautiful when you see it in person!

Ed

Attachments

Images (2)
  • cab1
  • cab2
Last edited by Ed Mullan

J, the color of the paint on the cab roof and tender deck will be WM red oxide, which was used on the prototypes. It just that they are using enamel because it will fade way less.

On the repainted caboose, which had WM "speed lettering" and the more darker freight car red, the 1813 will now wear a bright red, as used with the older lettering, which they will also apply to the caboose.

Here is how it will look, except no "getto grills", four windows with no awnings, which is what this scheme looked like in that era of service. This caboose is located at Westernport MD. Next to the old WM passenger station there.

Ed  

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 1826
Ed Mullan posted:

J, the color of the paint on the cab roof and tender deck will be WM red oxide, which was used on the prototypes. It just that they are using enamel because it will fade way less.

On the repainted caboose, which had WM "speed lettering" and the more darker freight car red, the 1813 will now wear a bright red, as used with the older lettering, which they will also apply to the caboose.

Here is how it will look, except no "getto grills", four windows with no awnings, which is what this scheme looked like in that era of service. This caboose is located at Westernport MD. Next to the old WM passenger station there.

Ed  

Ed, sorry, I think you misinterpreted my post. What I meant was that the hard core railfans and C&O purist folks will be upset with the red on the tender and cab roof. People really get worked up about this stuff for some reason. As far as I'm concerned the WMSR can paint it whatever color they want as it's their locomotive now. But some people insist on things being "prototypical." Which got me thinking was there an outcry when Southern dolled up 2716 back in the early 80's? 

Last edited by J 611

Yes, I understand that some folks will want the 1309 to look like a C&O locomotive, but they will try, as they did with the 734 to make it look like a Western Maryland locomotive. They are considering putting  a "rock pusher" plow on the front of her just like the one on 734, not only is it a Western Maryland thing, but it was quite useful on the 734, as she has shoved rocks off the row several times in the past.

Ed

 

J 611 posted:
Ed Mullan posted:

J, the color of the paint on the cab roof and tender deck will be WM red oxide, which was used on the prototypes. It just that they are using enamel because it will fade way less.

On the repainted caboose, which had WM "speed lettering" and the more darker freight car red, the 1813 will now wear a bright red, as used with the older lettering, which they will also apply to the caboose.

Here is how it will look, except no "getto grills", four windows with no awnings, which is what this scheme looked like in that era of service. This caboose is located at Westernport MD. Next to the old WM passenger station there.

Ed  

Ed, sorry, I think you misinterpreted my post. What I meant was that the hard core railfans and C&O purist folks will be upset with the red on the tender and cab roof. People really get worked up about this stuff for some reason. As far as I'm concerned the WMSR can paint it whatever color they want as it's their locomotive now. But some people insist on things being "prototypical." Which got me thinking was there an outcry when Southern dolled up 2716 back in the early 80's? 

Or T&P 610?

An acquaintance attended the WMSR shop tour yesterday and reports:
Some funds have been released by State of MD., allowing for work to resume and return of contractor for heavy boiler work. Late Sept. may be the earliest that revenue trips can be done.
Painting projects continue on passenger cars and cabooses.
3 passenger cars are leaving, including the #724 Man o' War, which seems to be important to CofG/SOU fans.
Revenue trains returned to Frostburg yesterday with appropriate ceremony.

Last edited by Borden Tunnel
Ed Mullan posted:

Yes, I understand that some folks will want the 1309 to look like a C&O locomotive, but they will try, as they did with the 734 to make it look like a Western Maryland locomotive. They are considering putting  a "rock pusher" plow on the front of her just like the one on 734, not only is it a Western Maryland thing, but it was quite useful on the 734, as she has shoved rocks off the row several times in the past.

Ed

 

Ed -- Do you know if the WMSR is going with the fireball scheme or the block lettering scheme used on the WM 2-6-6-2's back in the day?  Thanks.

Poppyl

I don't know what scheme will be used on the 1309. Myself, if  had a vote, would be the fireball.

I do know that the caboose is going to the earlier scheme, not the fast lettering it wore in the past.

Yes, the "Man O' War is leaving, I don't like to be negative, but I think that's a mistake. Made a lot of photos and some video out those big doors. As far as I know, they have no cars with opening windows.

I rode the Potomac Eagle a few times, they have an old car that they cut big openings in, not open and closing windows, what fun to ride in that one and make photos or videos. We had fun yelling at the boaters on the Capon River, too!

These types of excursion trains usually run slow, making open windows when weather is good a nice addition to the ride. The big open windows on "Man O' War" would have been a nifty place to be when 1309 was working the grade up out of Woodcock Hollow!

Ed

Last edited by Ed Mullan
originally posted by j611:

What I meant was that the hard core railfans and C&O purist folks will be upset with the red on the tender and cab roof.
People really get worked up about this stuff for some reason. As far as I'm concerned the WMSR can paint it whatever
color they want as it's their locomotive now. But some people insist on things being "prototypical."
Which got me thinking was there an outcry when Southern dolled up 2716 back in the early 80's?


I am sure there is . If you recalled Rich's story on the 765 Rebuild told on this forum some years ago, there will be some foamer out there that couldn't care less if it isn't exact... whether it be better or worse for the locomotive and/or operating crew.

Last edited by Rich Melvin

Will the open baggage car still be part of the WMSR consist?  I don't recall the name or number of that car, but years ago my son and I used to love riding in that car -- ah, the smell of coal smoke in the air and your clothes and soot in your hair.  I would very much like to ride in that car behind the 1309 this fall.  

Sgaugian posted:

Will the open baggage car still be part of the WMSR consist?  I don't recall the name or number of that car, but years ago my son and I used to love riding in that car -- ah, the smell of coal smoke in the air and your clothes and soot in your hair.  I would very much like to ride in that car behind the 1309 this fall.  

I believe the car you're referring to is the one being sold to TVRM.

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×