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Western Maryland M-1 And M-1a 2-6-6-2 Classes

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Posted by kgbw49 on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 8:36 PM

I have been thinking about this a little more, and from a branding perspective, when this 2-6-6-2 becomes operational it will become the "face" of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for quite some time.

It will in all probability be one of (if not the) most-photographed units in the country in 2017 and will be used in promotional literature of all types to try to attract customers. So I am thinking the WMSR will want its "brand" out there, which would tend to lean to a WM fireball paint job as 734 has.

In a similar situation 2000 miles away, Black Hills Central 110 does not have "Weyerhaeuser Timber" or "Rayonier Lumber" emblazoned on its flanks. By the way, if you have not had the chance to ride the Black Hills Central, you will not be disappointed if you go. Plus a great place to do loads of other things also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRxLjcv8Fas

Image result for black hills central 110

 

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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 7:08 PM

Oops I stand corrected, but they are paying for the restoration. I'm guessing we need to see what the agreement with the museum says.

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 6:04 PM

ROBERT WILLISON
I'm with you Jim, paint her as a wm loco. They bought and paid for her. Restored her. So she is theirs.

They didn't buy it or pay for it - it is on loan from the B&O Museum.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 5:40 PM

I'm with you Jim, paint her as a wm loco. They bought and paid for her. Restored her. So she is theirs.

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Posted by JimValle on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 4:07 PM
I'm not insulted that the LS&I Consolidation is standing in for a Western Maryland 2-8-0. The engine is big for its class, has the same cab and tender configuration and really looks the part. As for the 2-6-6-2 it would be good to have her in any form. To satisfy purists, it might be practical to make up insignia plates out of sheet metal that could be hung on the engine as desired. C&O numbers and lettering were quite small in the latter days of steam and WM plates could fit right over them. How hard could that be? After all, it's not like currently active steamers never "impersonated" other locos for special events and excursions.
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Posted by kgbw49 on Sunday, November 13, 2016 2:16 PM

In addition to dozens of 2-8-0s:

Western Maryland rostered 20 of these beasts...

And a dozen of these beasts...

Plus a dozen of these monsters...

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, November 13, 2016 9:01 AM

daveklepper

Any history of WM borrowing C&O steam poower?

No!

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, November 13, 2016 8:23 AM

Any history of WM borrowing C&O steam poower?

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, November 13, 2016 8:08 AM

Any history of WM borrowing C&O steam poower?

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, November 12, 2016 7:40 PM

Great post kgb!  Dang, wish I'd thought of it...

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Posted by kgbw49 on Saturday, November 12, 2016 5:42 PM

That brings a picture to my mind of a bunch of crazy C&O rail fans trying to steal the locomotive and take it back to Virginia by taking it off the eastbound trip at Frostburg and making a run for it, and the WMSR conductor giving chase with the 734 running tender first.

As long as there is not a hardcore C&O fan named Andrews, it will probably never happen.

Then again, do they serve adult beverages at the C&O Historical Society meetings? ;-)

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, November 12, 2016 4:01 PM

kgbw49
Guys, sorry for any confusion in the original post. What I was surmising, just for discussion purposes, was that they could perhaps number it 960 and paint it in Western Maryland paint. I should have been clearer that I was definitely not advocating converting it to an 0-6-6-0.

If I recall correctly they numbered their ex-LS&I 2-8-0 as 734, one number above their last class of 2-8-0s.

So in theory, if they used that same rationale, they would number their new 2-6-6-2 one number above their prior 2-6-6-2s.

I think a "960" 2-6-6-2 would look pretty nice with that Western Maryland fireball logo. But that is just one opinion.

Again, my apologies for any confusion in the original post.

LS&I doesn't have a big mid-Atlantic area following, so making is WM 734 didn't offend much of anyone.

C&O has a LARGE mid-Atlantic following - making the CO 1309 into WM 960 would be similar to firing on Fort Sumpter over a century ago.

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Posted by kgbw49 on Saturday, November 12, 2016 3:09 PM

Western Maryland H-7a 2-8-0 for comparison purposes...

 

Western Maryland Scenic 734 for comparison purposes...

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, November 12, 2016 11:52 AM

Ah, now that's another story!  Certainly after putting a lot of sweat, money, and probably a little blood into restoring 1309 there's no reason WM Scenic couldn't put "Wild Mary" markings on the engine, we could probably even say they'd earned the right to.

Although as ACY said it's certainly true the C&O fans would have a meltdown over it!

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Posted by kgbw49 on Saturday, November 12, 2016 11:41 AM

Guys, sorry for any confusion in the original post. What I was surmising, just for discussion purposes, was that they could perhaps number it 960 and paint it in Western Maryland paint. I should have been clearer that I was definitely not advocating converting it to an 0-6-6-0.

If I recall correctly they numbered their ex-LS&I 2-8-0 as 734, one number above their last class of 2-8-0s.

So in theory, if they used that same rationale, they would number their new 2-6-6-2 one number above their prior 2-6-6-2s.

I think a "960" 2-6-6-2 would look pretty nice with that Western Maryland fireball logo. But that is just one opinion.

Again, my apologies for any confusion in the original post.

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Posted by ACY Tom on Saturday, November 12, 2016 10:46 AM

NO. The cosmetic changes would be too extensive (and expensive), the two locos are not of similar size, and some C&O fans would probably.................. 

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, November 12, 2016 10:16 AM

I don't know.  If you're talking about the Western Maryland Scenic altering C&O 1309 into an ersatz WM 0-6-6-0 I can't see it happening.  Remember WM Scenic doesn't own 1309, it's a loaner from the B&O Museum, and there's no practical reason for doing so anyway.

At any rate, 0-6-6-0's were used mostly as pushers or for heavy yard work, not as over-rhe-road locomotives, and 1309 is going to be used as a road engine, even though it's going to be pulling passenger cars.

Anyway, sorry if I misunderstood your post.

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Western Maryland M-1 And M-1a 2-6-6-2 Classes
Posted by kgbw49 on Friday, November 11, 2016 5:22 PM

Apparently nine 2-6-6-2 locomotives numbers 951-959 were built by Baldwin between 1909 and 1911 for the Western Maryland.

All were converted in 1927 to an 0-6-6-0 configuration.

Might the next 2-6-6-2 come out as Western Maryland 960?

WM M-1a 957 2-6-6-2 as built...

Image result for western maryland m-1 steam locomotive

WM M-1a 957 former 2-6-6-2 as rebuilt to 0-6-6-0 configuration...

 

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