Just posted on the WMSR Facebook page, she moves under her own power for the first time:
Happy New Year indeed!
Thanks 'Dude! Looks like the WMSR’s long nightmare of a restoration is just about over. Talk about perserverance, those guys wrote the book!
New Year’s Day fun on the WMSR. 1309 moving outside of the shop facility. (edit: Video removed from youtube)
Love the sound of that N&W hooter they have on 1309. Takes me back to early childhood when that was a regular sound when N&W was still running steam in my hometown up in the mountains of Virginia.
September 11-12 was Heritage Days in Cumberland, MD. I was volunteering at the WM NRHS chapter caboose, and this was parked next to us on Track 2…
Local residents and WMSR patrons were very pleased with the progress made by the crew. WMSR also announced that 1309 will premier on its Polar Express the weekend on December 17-19.
Cool! Awesome whistle!!!
I saw she spun the drivers a bit.
That in-service date ought to be better promoted here, and tracked in this thread going forward. I think the likelihood of any further ‘awful surprises’ is very slight, and we’ll have another fully-operating articulated as a Christmas present…
Can someone explain what’s up with that rear tender truck?
I am surprised it is not being fired up for some Fall Foliage runs.
I’m a bit surprised myself, but I’m sure there are reasons. Maybe final mechanical work or waiting for completion of federal inspections?
The wrong road name is painted on the tender above it?
Shussshhhh… [;)]
Those guys went through so much agony restoring that thing it’d be fine with me if they painted “Eat At Joe’s” on the tender!
There was some problem with the FRA and track tie condition. I don’t know if that has been resolved.
I’m sure they wouldn’t want it to derail on its first trip.
Here is an original Western Maryland 2-6-6-2, pre-Fireball:
https://www.steamlocomotive.com/whyte/2-6-6-2/USA/photos/wm957-mitchell.jpg
1309 First Revenue run
Graphic demonstration of how the intercepting valve works starting at 1:25.
Drifting in reverse at 12:55 – I don’t think they’re working steam properly at times.
Is there a theatrical reason for the steam blows on a newly-rebuilt engine, particularly the one on the right side at what looks to be a slip joint on one of the flexible steam lines? Not that I object to them running the engine in service!
Those night views of the cars made me thirsty for good hot chocolate…
I think it is fantastic that it has been brought back to life. But it still makes me think of the expression “he had a face only a mother could love!”
The H6 series of engines personified by the 1309 were not ‘Main Line’ engines. They were mine run engines. Engines designed to place empties and pull loads from the mines back to the yards where the coal would be switched for its various destinations - thus the front of the engine is equipped with foot boards to aid the switchmen as they perform their duties and the 56 inch drivers for moving big tonnage at slow speeds.
The H6’s were ‘backwoods’ workhorses.
The footboards are not the problem. I think the smokebox mounted air compressors are ugly on any engine. Others are free to disagree.
The C&O’s top-of-the-line Pacifics, rode behind one Washington - Charlottesville. age 10, 1942, had air-compressors mounted on the smokebox front.
An acquired taste. Like classic PRR power, olives, and avocado…
And anchovies. here’s a URL to a website tat has a good photo of the specific type of Pacific. May bo copyrighted. so I am not posting it.
Their best Mikes also had “flying pumps.”