According to information posted on another forum, the Western Maryland Scenic RR has NOT yet received the $400,000 "grant" from the state of Maryland, and thus has had to stop all work on #1309. Any additional details would be appreciated.
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"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.
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:
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.
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.
Will the 4014 (*) win this race?
(*) Better say UPP 4014 because of Rich's scanner!
Dominic Mazoch posted:Will the 4014 (*) win this race?
(*) Better say UPP 4014 because of Rich's scanner!
A friend of mine has made a friendly bet that 4014 would be done first. At this rate, he might win!
Ed, any idea whats going on up there in West Virginia?
J 611 posted:Ed, any idea whats going on up there in West Virginia?
Since the "issue" may be with the state of Maryland, and the work on 1309 takes place in Maryland, what does West Virginia have to do with all this?
Their shop is in Ridgeley, WV
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.
Bingo, Rich.
Ed
Glad I'm not planing a trip out there until 2018 but as stated above these things are to be expected.
WMSR just posted a video of their director speaking on the 1309 via their Facebook page. He confirmed they have kept up their end of the bargain raising $400K and are waiting on the State Comptroller to release their $$$. Work is at a standstill.
WMSR has just posted another update video on their Facebook page in regards to their passenger car fleet work. This work is continuing while they wait on the Maryland state funding for the 1309 contract work. Looks like they are repainting their passenger car fleet Pullman green.
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
Ed, thanks for the photos. The cab looks great! Whoever did the woodwork did an excellent job. Although I'm sure the red enamel will throw some foamer purists into a tizzy...
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 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?
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