Just posted on the WMSR Facebook page, she moves under her own power for the first time:
https://m.facebook.com/WMSRailroad/videos/458140581849827/?refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Fpg%2FWMSRailroad%2Fposts%2F%3Fref%3Dpage_internal&ref=page_internal&_rdr
Happy New Year indeed!
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
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.
Still in training.
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.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD 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?
OvermodCan someone explain what's up with that rear tender truck?
The wrong road name is painted on the tender above it?
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmannThe 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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ3N70HKPxk
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.
http://www.columbusrailroads.com/new/?menu=05Steam_Railroads&submenu=44Steam_1945-1960&submenu4=x3C%26O_Locomotives
Their best Mikes also had "flying pumps."
zugmann Overmod Can someone explain what's up with that rear tender truck? The wrong road name is painted on the tender above it?
Overmod Can someone explain what's up with that rear tender truck?
It is now their locomotive? Should #90 at Strasburg forever say "GREAT WESTERN"? They did that for a while, then repainted it STRASBURG.
Strasburg has now operated #90 longer than the GREAT WESTERN did.
I'm just happy to see 1309 run, and in a place where I can go see it, rather than sitting outside in Baltimore rusting away.
Sheldon
mvlandsw The footboards are not the problem. I think the smokebox mounted air compressors are ugly on any engine. Others are free to disagree.
And trust me, us C&O fans do disagree.
BaltACD 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.
OvermodDrifting in reverse at 12:55 -- I don't think they're working steam properly at times.
In fairness, I'm sure there's going to be a bit of a learning curve involved with running the locomotive. I'd guess there's very few men still alive (if any) who could tell them how it's supposed to be done, and these locomotives didn't come with owners manuals, at least not to my knowledge.
Steve Lee once said that after a new type of locomotive was delivered in the old days there was typically a lot of discreet testing done on the delivery tracks, as in "I wonder what this thing does..."
Give 'em time, they'll figure it out.
noticed that both sets of drivers were running sycronized. That was in contrast of 4014 when it was starting up. Is that because of 1309 running as a compound?
blue streak 1 noticed that both sets of drivers were running sycronized. That was in contrast of 4014 when it was starting up. Is that because of 1309 running as a compound?
I'm guessing it's just dumb luck. It's possible that when everything was put together the two engines were aligned and they just haven't had a chance yet to get out of synch.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 blue streak 1 noticed that both sets of drivers were running sycronized. That was in contrast of 4014 when it was starting up. Is that because of 1309 running as a compound? I'm guessing it's just dumb luck. It's possible that when everything was put together the two engines were aligned and they just haven't had a chance yet to get out of synch.
As I understand it it's not unusual for engines on articulated to go in and out of synch during operation.
Flintlock76 tree68 blue streak 1 noticed that both sets of drivers were running sycronized. That was in contrast of 4014 when it was starting up. Is that because of 1309 running as a compound? I'm guessing it's just dumb luck. It's possible that when everything was put together the two engines were aligned and they just haven't had a chance yet to get out of synch. As I understand it it's not unusual for engines on articulated to go in and out of synch during operation.
Since the Engineer's manipulation of the throttle is the Wheel Slip Control and the individual engines are weighted slightly different when being loaded to maximum adhesion - wheel slip of one or both engine units does happen in operation and the only way to control the wheel slip is to back off the throttle until the wheel slip stops and then begin advancing the throttle again.
Maryland Scenic won't have a problem. The loads 1309 will be required to haul nup the mountain are far less than what it was required to do in C&O mine-run coal service.
I'll be 90 shortly, and varioius reasons discourage overseas travel from Israel, which has been my home now for 25-1/2 years. But any extended USA visit would certainly involve Maryland Scenic and hopefully a concert at Frostberg;s (U of Maryland's) fine performing arts hall, which my partner for 25 years, L. Gerald Marshall, helped design.
There is ample video evidence for both main types of articulated 'Mallet' locomotives, simple and compound, to go in and out of synch while running. As a result, I won't have an articulated locomotive on my model train layout unless I have slipped one of the engines over a couple of teeth. I think it looks a lot better than the 'camel walk'.
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