C&O 1309 To Steam Again

[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

[mmi16]

Hope WMSR has a large endowment to finance the work - they will need it!

[mmi16]

Restoration on 1309 has been stopped for several months - WMSR is out of money to continue the restoration.

Who could have foreseen this??????????????

[hutton_switch]

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.

[mmi16]

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.

[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