Steam & Excursion > 10 years ago on the Western Maryland Scenic

October 23, 2015, on the WMSR was a extraordinarily nice day, 2-8-0 #734 did its best to get the day's excursion up the mountain, its flue time running down.
1309 was on the property, but little was happening, and rumors of management change were swirling.
734 slogged through Helmstetters Curve, at least the colors weren't bad.
All pics/vids by myself

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I'm going to draw fire here, but I think 734 is a better engine for their operation. For one thing she's able to be turned on the Frostburg turntable.
Nice looking, great sounding and puts on a helluva show.
I hope work is ongoing to get her back in service.

This should be a reminder for all of the damage that can be inflicted on an organization by a rogue, uneducated Board.

Fire the experienced good people, hire clueless replacements, then watch the organization get set back 15 years and come within days of shutting down forever.

It happens all too often and needs to be documented.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm going to draw fire here, but I think 734 is a
> better engine for their operation. For one thing
> she's able to be turned on the Frostburg
> turntable.
> Nice looking, great sounding and puts on a helluva
> show.
> I hope work is ongoing to get her back in service.

I'll actually second this opinion. It gets worse when you take into account that WMSR bought 1309 because they wanted a larger steam engine that could pull a full-sized train up to Frostburg without the need for a diesel helper... and then, it turned out they failed to account for the turntable lead, which means they can't turn the thing and always need a diesel tagging along anyway to pull the train back. Whomp whomp.

734 holds a special place in my heart since I rode behind it twice when I was little, including during the 2003 NRHS convention. The photo runby they did at Helmstetter's was awesome!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/25 14:57 by DRGWMark.

I  paid  my $100   to  ride  it  once. Whee  is  it  now??  Thanks

There was talk a couple of times about restoring a WM 4-6-2 which is on display. An oil burner. That would be a neat engine for them.
I know C&O fans are over the moon about 1309 but she's just in the wrong job in my view.  She would be nice somewhere where she could really work as intended.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There was talk a couple of times about restoring a
> WM 4-6-2 which is on display. An oil burner. That
> would be a neat engine for them.
> I know C&O fans are over the moon about 1309 but
> she's just in the wrong job in my view.  She
> would be nice somewhere where she could really
> work as intended.
WM Pacific 202 is staying at Hagerstown, MD.
Future uncertain as its "friends" have big plans but little resources($$$).
Hagerstown is more invested in its aviation history.
202 would have been  unsuited for the WMSR, anyway, less Tractive Effort than the 734, in regular service the 200'-series Pacifics could only take 6-7 passenger cars up the long 1.75 % max grade out of Cumberland.
The best test for the 1309 would be to get it on the Buckingham Branch with about 100 hoppers...

bigsavage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Frisco1522 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
.
> The best test for the 1309 would be to get it on
> the Buckingham Branch with about 100 hoppers...

Somewhere Wes Camp is smiling.

bigsavage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Frisco1522 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There was talk a couple of times about restoring
> a
> > WM 4-6-2 which is on display. An oil burner.
> That
> > would be a neat engine for them.
> > I know C&O fans are over the moon about 1309
> but
> > she's just in the wrong job in my view.  She
> > would be nice somewhere where she could really
> > work as intended.
> WM Pacific 202 is staying at Hagerstown, MD.

Correct.....not turning a wheel anytime soon, if EVER......

> Future uncertain as its "friends" have big plans
> but little resources($$$).

The bigger problem is with the City of Hagerstown......

> Hagerstown is more invested in its aviation
> history.

And Civil War history.....