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Last Friday, Oct 11, wife and I visited the WMSR. We had not been there for a few months, so we decided to visit again. And I'm glad we did, a nice surprise awaited!

The 501, having been removed from service and replaced by a frazzled FP40, LTEX 450, was now returned to duty! What a welcome sight it was, those bright Western Maryland "circus" colors on 501 looking very good.

Here she is:

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and from the front:

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Just at the bottom of Helmstetter's Curve

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And pushing on a long train, also at Helmstetter's:

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Look who's on the rear end!

Here are the new wheels she got while out for service

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As always, you can click on the photos for full size.

Ed

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Last edited by Rich Melvin
Original Post

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J 611 posted:
Craignor posted:

Ed,

Any 1309 info or pics?

Craig, as far as I can tell no work has been done to 1309 since the last batch of photos surfaced on Facebook and the Trains Magazine website. Not sure what John Garner is doing up in Cumberland but it isn’t running a railroad well...

I seem to remember reading, more than a month ago, that the 1309 project is "out of money" again.

Hot Water posted:
J 611 posted:
Craignor posted:

Ed,

Any 1309 info or pics?

Craig, as far as I can tell no work has been done to 1309 since the last batch of photos surfaced on Facebook and the Trains Magazine website. Not sure what John Garner is doing up in Cumberland but it isn’t running a railroad well...

I seem to remember reading, more than a month ago, that the 1309 project is "out of money" again.

I have donated to this project. I really hope they get the cash infusion they need. I also hope that they get some better management. I think both things need to happen before 1309 has a real chance. 

David Eisinger posted:
Ed Mullan posted:

I wish I could get some photos over there. They keep the gate locked, as far as I know, and I'm not allowed in.

Ed

I guess they want to make sure nothing gets stolen like locomotive parts.

Except,,,,,,,,,it was an EMPLOYEE that stole all those brass locomotive and passenger car parts! So much for "security" and paying attention to just what the he%$ employees are doing.

CSX FAN posted:

Yes they swapped the wheels off 502. I was there Friday talking to folks. 

That's sad to hear. It seems like both GP30's are starting to become parts donors for each other. What do I mean by that? Let me explain.

I'm not sure how many of you have read the recent performance audit of the Western Maryland, but in it there was a statement about certain items being stripped off of the 501 to keep 502 in service. Here is the quote from the audit:

"Locomotive leasing from known regional dealers was explored, and subsequent to our initial visit, two events happened in rapid succession – the then-operating GP30 (501) was condemned out of service with excessively-worn wheels – forcing the cannibalization of its electrical transition relay system to the other GP30 to keep even one locomotive operational."

To make a long story short, the 501 was a parts donor for the 502 to keep her operational. With the news that the 502's wheels are now being used on the 501, it seems like they are attempting to exchange parts between two worn-out GP30s to keep at least one of them operational.

That is what this railroad has been reduced to since 734 has been taken out of service; a mere shell of its former self.

Hearing that the WMSR is doing a Polar Express event this year (which I don't believe has been done before), and knowing how popular these events can be, I wish them the best of luck in this endeavor, and want nothing but the best for this unique line. I hope that things turn around for this line, and that steam will return in the near future. But these hopes can only be achieved with donations to the railroad, which are clearly scarce at the moment.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has done a fabulous job over the past 28 years preserving the history of the Wild Mary. It would be a shame to see this line close.

Hot Water posted:
David Eisinger posted:
Ed Mullan posted:

I wish I could get some photos over there. They keep the gate locked, as far as I know, and I'm not allowed in.

Ed

I guess they want to make sure nothing gets stolen like locomotive parts.

Except,,,,,,,,,it was an EMPLOYEE that stole all those brass locomotive and passenger car parts! So much for "security" and paying attention to just what the he%$ employees are doing.

correct, It was an employee. sold the parts to a scrap dealer. ridership on the WMSR is way down as many are waiting for 1309 to get running (including myself). 

TrainMan1225 posted:
CSX FAN posted:

Yes they swapped the wheels off 502. I was there Friday talking to folks. 

That's sad to hear. It seems like both GP30's are starting to become parts donors for each other. What do I mean by that? Let me explain.

I'm not sure how many of you have read the recent performance audit of the Western Maryland, but in it there was a statement about certain items being stripped off of the 501 to keep 502 in service. Here is the quote from the audit:

"Locomotive leasing from known regional dealers was explored, and subsequent to our initial visit, two events happened in rapid succession – the then-operating GP30 (501) was condemned out of service with excessively-worn wheels – forcing the cannibalization of its electrical transition relay system to the other GP30 to keep even one locomotive operational."

To make a long story short, the 501 was a parts donor for the 502 to keep her operational. With the news that the 502's wheels are now being used on the 501, it seems like they are attempting to exchange parts between two worn-out GP30s to keep at least one of them operational.

That is what this railroad has been reduced to since 734 has been taken out of service; a mere shell of its former self.

Hearing that the WMSR is doing a Polar Express event this year (which I don't believe has been done before), and knowing how popular these events can be, I wish them the best of luck in this endeavor, and want nothing but the best for this unique line. I hope that things turn around for this line, and that steam will return in the near future. But these hopes can only be achieved with donations to the railroad, which are clearly scarce at the moment.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has done a fabulous job over the past 28 years preserving the history of the Wild Mary. It would be a shame to see this line close.

To be correct, the didn't "swap the wheels", the swapped both truck assemblies. It didn't take very long.

Hot Water posted:
TrainMan1225 posted:
CSX FAN posted:

Yes they swapped the wheels off 502. I was there Friday talking to folks. 

That's sad to hear. It seems like both GP30's are starting to become parts donors for each other. What do I mean by that? Let me explain.

I'm not sure how many of you have read the recent performance audit of the Western Maryland, but in it there was a statement about certain items being stripped off of the 501 to keep 502 in service. Here is the quote from the audit:

"Locomotive leasing from known regional dealers was explored, and subsequent to our initial visit, two events happened in rapid succession – the then-operating GP30 (501) was condemned out of service with excessively-worn wheels – forcing the cannibalization of its electrical transition relay system to the other GP30 to keep even one locomotive operational."

To make a long story short, the 501 was a parts donor for the 502 to keep her operational. With the news that the 502's wheels are now being used on the 501, it seems like they are attempting to exchange parts between two worn-out GP30s to keep at least one of them operational.

That is what this railroad has been reduced to since 734 has been taken out of service; a mere shell of its former self.

Hearing that the WMSR is doing a Polar Express event this year (which I don't believe has been done before), and knowing how popular these events can be, I wish them the best of luck in this endeavor, and want nothing but the best for this unique line. I hope that things turn around for this line, and that steam will return in the near future. But these hopes can only be achieved with donations to the railroad, which are clearly scarce at the moment.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has done a fabulous job over the past 28 years preserving the history of the Wild Mary. It would be a shame to see this line close.

To be correct, the didn't "swap the wheels", the swapped both truck assemblies. It didn't take very long.

Yes you are correct, they simply replaced the truck assembly. 

Look at it another way. now that set can be sent out and the units rebuild. Of course that does cost money. 

Hot Water posted:
J 611 posted:
Craignor posted:

Ed,

Any 1309 info or pics?

Craig, as far as I can tell no work has been done to 1309 since the last batch of photos surfaced on Facebook and the Trains Magazine website. Not sure what John Garner is doing up in Cumberland but it isn’t running a railroad well...

I seem to remember reading, more than a month ago, that the 1309 project is "out of money" again.

The real fuel for any steam locomotive is money!

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