Steam & Excursion > C&O 2-6-6-2 #1309

Is there any update on the restoration of this engine? How's it coming?

Can't recall having heard about what their CMO situation is since the previous one was sacked, either.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/15 11:35 by CPR_4000.

CPR_4000 Wrote:
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> Can't recall having heard about what their CMO
> situation is since the previous one left, either.

Especially since Dan was fired, i.e. he didn't just "leave".

HotWater Wrote:
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> CPR_4000 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Can't recall having heard about what their CMO
> > situation is since the previous one left,
> either.
>
> Especially since Dan was fired, i.e. he didn't
> just "leave".

OK, fixed it!

I'm sure there is a story between Dan and the RR management........(but it is none of my business). Everything I know about Dan, is that he is a good guy, and knows how to repair steam. I hope Dan finds great employment with all his talents, and that the 2-6-6-2 will get properly and quickly repaired.

Keystone1 Wrote:
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> I'm sure there is a story between Dan and the RR
> management........(but it is none of my business).
> Everything I know about Dan, is that he is a good
> guy, and knows how to repair steam. I hope Dan
> finds great employment with all his talents, and
> that the 2-6-6-2 will get properly and quickly
> repaired.

I've never met the man, but from the little I've read about him here on T.O. he'd be just the type of man with REAL experience to head up a steam program which shall remain anonymous. Don't want to de-rail the thread! lol

Here are two sources of information. 

The Facebook Page appears to be more current:

1) https://www.facebook.com/WmsrFoundation

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Foundation submitted a grant application to the Maryland Heritage Authority requesting  $85,000 for 1309

2) https://www.movingfullsteamahead.com/

(Go to the bottom of the page to tab with the same name as a song by the Doors).

The Foundation is seeking sponsors for parts of 1309.

Last I heard in rumor is they are roughly half way done. With what? I don't know.

Joe

I'll throw out the hearsay that Dan was fired because someone higher up had a personal ax to grind, that he might turn up working with Durbin and Greenbriar getting their new steam locomotive going, and work on 1309 has slowed tremendously with key people going on "strike" in protest of Dan's firing.

Posted from Android

unseenthings Wrote:
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> I'll throw out the hearsay that Dan was fired
> because someone higher up had a personal ax to
> grind, that he might turn up working with Durbin
> and Greenbriar getting their new steam locomotive
> going, and work on 1309 has slowed tremendously
> with key people going on "strike" in protest of
> Dan's firing.
>
> Posted from Android


Let me say that to comment on Mr. Pluta's termination would be both unethical and unprofessional.  However, let me also address some of the misconceptions stated in "hearsay".  The decision to dismiss Mr. Pluta was made with the consultation and support of the officers of the Board of Directors of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, not by a single individual. 

Work on 1309 has indeed stopped, and it stopped when Mr. Pluta was still here to focus on contract work for the Washington D.C. NRHS passenger cars "Dover Harbor" and "Collinsville Inn".  I am pleased to report that the work is being completed on-time and on-budget.  WMSR is only awaiting two air-brake valves from rebuild at Pittsburgh Air Brake Co. to complete the COT&S and ship the cars out.  Once these two cars are shipped out, WMSR will again be able to focus on it's own equipment.   

Work is currently being completed to repair defects to #734 in advance of her final season by our recently hired second crew, being led by an individual who was once part of the NS Steam Team.  Work includes, but is not limited to valves and bearings to repair excessive wear and timing issues that have been well discussed on rypn.org (search 734 valve timing).  Once work on 734 is completed (projected around April 16th), work will resume on 1309.  The next major project is to UT the boiler.   

There have been NO employees that have left the WMSR due to Mr. Pluta's dismissal, nor has there been any work slow-down "in protest"; the reason why the Washington D.C. NRHS chapter work is being completed for the customer "on-time" and "on-budget", and why 734's repairs are being completed early enough to allow for pre-season testing.  

I hope this helps to shed some light on what is going on with 1309, 734, and the WMSR as a whole.

M.Gresham
General Superintendent
WMSR

Thanks for stepping forward Mike to shed some light on the current situation. I know the decision to dismiss a steam knowledgeable CMO likely wasn't an easy one...they don't grow on trees.

Posted from iPhone

WMSR1 Wrote:
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> I hope this helps to shed some light on what is
> going on with 1309, 734, and the WMSR as a whole.
>
> M.Gresham
> General Superintendent
> WMSR

Well, actually it doesn't. To be blunt, why was Mr. Pluta terminated?

One thing is crystal clear:

WMSR is the loser in this drama.

Kinda curious myself as to the ethical dilemma posed by identifying the reason for the CMO's firing.  I have found that being tight lipped is what starts rumors, and that transparency builds trust.  There have been many people in business, including those from large corporations who have been terminated for cause, and that cause was explained to the public as a way to quell suspicion and to basically "come clean".

Rick Rowlands
Hubbard, OH
Youngstown Steel Heritage

Hey...anyone notice that there are two large articulates being rebuilt in America. BOTH have some senior repair management drama now surrounding them.

Keystone1 Wrote:
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> Hey...anyone notice that there are two large
> articulates being rebuilt in America. BOTH have
> some senior repair management drama now
> surrounding them.

Lets be correct now, the "other articulated", i.e. the one out west in Cheyenne, is NOT "being rebuilt", nor even being worked on.

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Keystone1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hey...anyone notice that there are two large
> > articulates being rebuilt in America. BOTH have
> > some senior repair management drama now
> > surrounding them.
>
> Lets be correct now, the "other articulated", i.e.
> the one out west in Cheyenne, is NOT "being
> rebuilt", nor even being worked on.

Another disimilarity: Pluta is extremely competent.
dl is anything but.

Pluta will have no trouble landing on his feet and
coming out better for it; he had potential employers
after him as soon as the news broke.  That will never
be the case with dl.

This was a personality clash, pure and simple. 
WMSR got rid of the wrong guy and is now worse
off for it.  Having made this blunder, they are
apparently doubling down.

Hmmm.  Keystone1, that is another similarity to the
UP situation.  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/15 09:05 by Realist.

Well, we in the railfan community are awaiting the restoration (before we are all dead), of two large and significant steam locomotives. Instead of anxiously awaiting the next exciting picture of the work progressing...all we discuss is the intrigue of the top management repair personnel...never about the restoration itself. This is practically unheard of in steam locomotive rebuilding history.  1522, 2101, 3751, 2839, 700, 4449, 2472, 819...any large locomotive that you can name. To my knowledge, no others have all this drama and delay that I can think of... How about you?

Keystone1 Wrote:
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> Well, we in the railfan community are awaiting the
> restoration (before we are all dead), of two large
> and significant steam locomotives. Instead of
> anxiously awaiting the next exciting picture of
> the work progressing...all we discuss is the
> intrigue of the top management repair
> personnel...never about the restoration itself.
> This is practically unheard of in steam locomotive
> rebuilding history.  1522, 2101, 3751, 2839, 700,
> 4449, 2472, 819...any large locomotive that you
> can name. To my knowledge, no others have all
> this drama and delay that I can think of... How
> about you?

I don't know about the 1309, but what part of 
"no work is going on on the 4014" do you not
understand?

Talking about it doesn't count?

Out