Steam & Excursion > C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, Restored To Operation?

It was reported in the Sept. 9th Trains News Wire that the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has contacted the B&O Railroad Museum about acquiring C&O 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, a class H-6 Mallet. If obtained, WM's intention would be to restore 1309 to operation. Chief Curator, David Shackelford, was quoted as saying, "The Western Maryland Scenic contacted the B&O concerning acquiring this engine. The museum is in the early stages of evaluating their request and no decision has been made at this time."

Like UP's restoration of Big Boy 4014, the possibility of 1309 returning to steam intrigues me very much. While I suspect that no two "restore to steam" projects are exactly the same, any thoughts on the challenges WM may face restoring 1309 to operating status (particularly since it has been stored outside for decades in Baltimore) when compared to the challenges faced by UP with 4014?

Can anyone shed any light on the present non-cosmetic condition of 1309?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/13 04:18 by ut-1.

Haven't people been complaining for awhile now about 734 being wore out and not taken care of? Is another, more complex, locomotive what this group needs? I imagine they want a larger one so they could ditch the dismal but still.

Posted from Android

Hi Everyone:
I put this story on this site a few days ago and I don't think any of you believed me. I told you my source is very reliable. As for the B&O R.R. Museum; they are not able to keep all their equipment stored outdoors in good shape, so if the C&O 1309 goes up to Cumberland all you C&O fans should be very happy.

John a/k/a Club Car

Going from memory, but didn't the 1309 have the
distinction of being the last commercially built
main line steam locomotive in the US (1949)? This excludes
N&W's Roanoke shop which built its last in 1953.

Well to be fair there's a big difference between "1309 is to shipped up to Cumberland, Maryland to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in the near future" and "The Western Maryland Scenic contacted the B&O concerning acquiring this engine."

Posted from Android

NS1703 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Going from memory, but didn't the 1309 have the
> distinction of being the last commercially built
> main line steam locomotive in the US (1949)? This
> excludes
> N&W's Roanoke shop which built its last in 1953.

It's a compound too.

Appalachianrails Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would think one of the first challenges to
> overcome would be getting 1309 from Baltimore to
> Cumberland. I believe anything CSX would deem as
> "antique rail equipment" would have to be
> transported on a flatcar.
>
> -JE

Or they could just truck it over there, if the deal comes off. The engine on one truck and the tender on another. No CSX involvement whatsoever.

NS1703 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Going from memory, but didn't the 1309 have the
> distinction of being the last commercially built
> main line steam locomotive in the US (1949)? This
> excludes
> N&W's Roanoke shop which built its last in 1953.
No actualy Nickel Plate Road 779 was the last commerically built, being built in May 1949 at a cost of $187,000.00, which would equal in todays value a little over $ 1.4 million dollars.

Per the B&O Museum's website, 1309 was the last steamer built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. She was built in September 1949 and was only in service for 7 years. 1309 then remained in the Peach Creek Terminal Roundhouse until 1972 when she was transferred to the Museum.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/13 20:26 by ut-1.

A compound mallet under steam someday? That would be awesome but don't toy with my emotions like that lol!

Using this:

http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm


$187,000 in 1949 comes to $1,835,397.14 in 2013 dollars. Just found that interesting. How much was the 1309 new?

-K

No diesel. Bigger draw.

How far would you come to see a 2-8-0?

How far would you come to see a 2-6-6-2??
Local attraction to world class attraction, maybe?

Wish them all the best - couldn't dream much more
considering the size of the turntable at the end
of the line as well as the grade at hand.

/Mitch

There are two operational articulated mallet compounds (2-6-6-2T) running in the US right now. Black Hill Central #110 runs on a regular schedule during the summer in South Dakota. Clover Valley #4 returned to operation this year and operates on select dates on the Niles Canyon Railway in Sunol, CA. These two workhorses spent their careers toiling away in the woods.

---

ut-1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Per the B&O Museum's website, 1309 was the last
> steamer built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. She was
> built in September 1949 and was only in service
> for 7 years. 1309 then remained in the Peach Creek
> Terminal Roundhouse until 1972 when she was
> transferred to the Museum.
What company built 1309?

nycstl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ut-1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Per the B&O Museum's website, 1309 was the last
> > steamer built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. She
> was
> > built in September 1949 and was only in service
> > for 7 years. 1309 then remained in the Peach
> Creek
> > Terminal Roundhouse until 1972 when she was
> > transferred to the Museum.
> What company built 1309?

The answer to your question was literally already in your post: "Per the B&O Museum's website, 1309 was the last steamer built by Baldwin Locomotive Works."