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Steam & Excursion > WMSR reports progress on 1309


Date: 01/22/25 06:30
WMSR reports progress on 1309
Author: JPB

From a Trains Magazine on-line article posted 1/22/25: 

Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 nears reassembly

Excerpt:"CUMBERLAND, Md. — Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is poised for reassembly after spending the 2024 season sidelined for planned maintenance work, Western Maryland Scenic Railroad officials say. The Mallet has undergone a laundry list of in-house projects and subcontracted work aimed at positioning the locomotive for long-term operation.The tourist railroad tapped D&G Machine Products of Maine to manage the locomotive’s piston work, while in-house at the railroad’s Ridgeley, W.Va., shops, officials are adjusting the locomotive’s running gear, boring the cylinders, and installing a new brick arch in the firebox..."



Date: 01/22/25 10:05
Re: WMSR reports progress on 1309
Author: callum_out

All things needed after a recent total rebuild. Maybe this is all a good thing as their own shop
people might get some real experience working on that beast. 

Out 



Date: 01/22/25 10:09
Re: WMSR reports progress on 1309
Author: ClubCar

There are many, many steam fans out here who cannot wait for this engine to be in operation once again.  To be honest, many of these folks have been very disappointed that when the engine came to the WM Scenic, and was taken apart and rebuilt, that it did not operate very long before it was determined that much more work was needed.  An awful lot of time and money has been spent on this locomotive and there are even some people who believe that the WM Scenic made a huge mistake when they decided to purchase this engine from the B&O Railroad Museum.  When the engine was inspected at the museum in Baltimore, were the proper people in charge to determine what was needed to restore this locomotive for operation?  Were they truly qualified as to what was needed and the cost?  Would the WM Scenic have been better off to obtain another engine rather than the C&O 1309?  I guess we will never really know the answers to these questions.  But at this point, with all the time and money, especially the money, that has been invested in the rebuild, everyone is just hoping that it will not be much longer and that everything will be in proper order when the 1309 is steamed up once again and begins hauling the many tourists and steam fans desiring to ride behind the 1309.
John in White Marsh, Maryland



Date: 01/22/25 11:02
Re: WMSR reports progress on 1309
Author: wcamp1472

With so many 'running surfaces" newly machined, and 
raw running surfaces, it's going to be informative when 
they get it back to steam, what methods they use to 
'break-in' all those new running surfaces, new rod-packing, etc.

Part of the secret to a successful breaking-in strategy is to use 
high boiler pressure to aid shorten break-in periods.
High cylinder pressures aid in applying clamping pressure in cases 
like rod-seals, etc.  For ease of assembly sometimes light -pressure springs 
hold everything together during assembly.... but, the springs are light, for ease
of assembly.   The cylinder pressures are totally dependent on the weight of cars 
being pulled.   With few or no cars, piston/ cylinder pressures will have to be very light,
in order comply with authorized track speeds.

BUT,  high, sustained piston pressures are totally dependent on  "what's behind the tender?"

Part of the secret is the use of superheated steam. But, that only benefits the 
smaller diameter cylinders & pistons.  The larger pistons always use lower pressure ---
whether operating in 'Simple' or 'Compound'....  Too much pressure, and the front engine spins
out of control.

"Breaking-in" is the process of two rubbing surfaces polishing to each other,
as they perfect thier sealing surfaces.

New Sealing surfaces must be "final-polished", in service. And rubbing 
surfaces must be of dissimilar-hardnesses, to successfully accomplish 
the polished result.  Combinations include brass/ steel, cast-iron/ steel --- 
like with cast iron pistons and steel cylinders....  Soft-metals ( containing lead or tin) ,
and steel bearing surfaces.  Steel/ copper-alloy combos are common, too.

Another vital area is materials used to seal pump and compressor piston
rods.  Today's Teflon-based 'rope' packing is far superior, compared to the 
asbestos/graphite stuff, used a long time ago.  Both for valve packing, and rod 
packing.

So, "break-in periods" can be months or days --- depending on how much weight 
you pull during your test runs.  Too much weight can seriously shorten the brake-in 
periods needed.   But, be cautious---- if there's little or no reduction in the amount 
of 'blowing-steam', there's other problems, than wear-in periods.

We'll see how much luck they have...

W.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/25 18:50 by wcamp1472.



Date: 01/22/25 11:46
Re: WMSR reports progress on 1309
Author: bigsavage

Actually has been out of service since 12/16/23, so it did not finish the Polar Express season.
Prior to that in 2023, had been out of service from late February until early October.
Some changes in Cumberland; the downtown Baltimore St. reopening and bridge replacement is complete.
However there may no longer be any free parking handy to the WMSR station.



Date: 01/22/25 17:19
Re: WMSR reports progress on 1309
Author: WM1977

Maybe someone should have thought about parking before now. Sounds like poor planning on somebody’s part.
CR

Posted from iPhone



Date: 01/22/25 20:29
Re: WMSR reports progress on 1309
Author: MiketheMikado

JPB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> From a Trains Magazine on-line article posted
> 1/22/25: 
>
> Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 nears reassembly
>
> Excerpt:"CUMBERLAND, Md. — Chesapeake & Ohio
> 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is poised for reassembly after
> spending the 2024 season sidelined for planned
> maintenance work, Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
> officials say. The Mallet has undergone a laundry
> list of in-house projects and subcontracted work
> aimed at positioning the locomotive for long-term
> operation.The tourist railroad tapped D&G Machine
> Products of Maine to manage the locomotive’s
> piston work, while in-house at the railroad’s
> Ridgeley, W.Va., shops, officials are adjusting
> the locomotive’s running gear, boring the
> cylinders, and installing a new brick arch in the
> firebox..."


Great to hear that!! So glad. Here’s to high hopes that #1309 will be ready for the start of 2025 season of Frosburg Flyer trains.

Posted from iPhone



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