Eastern Railroad Discussion > Final Run for WMSR #502 ?? - 20 September 2019

I had been told that the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad had planned to swap the trucks out from under their GP30 #502 putting them under sister GP30 #501 next week. With the #450 having some service work done, Friday's trip would be the final one for #502. The #501 which was recently repainted in the Western Maryland inspired Red, White, Black paint scheme had been sidelined with bad wheels. Not long afterwards CSX donated wheel work done in the Cumberland shops for the #502. I don't know the full story but recently it was decided to swap the trucks between the units to bring the #501 back to service. A crane is ordered for this coming Tuesday and the outside contractor hired to do the swap was onsite Friday. No official word on what will become of the #502 after the truck swap.

An "extended lunch break" from work will give me time to chase the #502 with it's train westbound to Frostburg, MD.

1) WMSR GP30 #502 departing the shop complex at Ridgeley, WV.

2) At the crossing in Rigeley, WV

3) The moon still visible in the sky as the WMSR #502 waits for it's passengers to load at the station.

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/19 14:25 by DTWilson.

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1) #502 waiting at the Cumberland, MD station.

2) and 3) #502 leading the daily Western Maryland Scenic Railroad excursion train at Helmstetters Curve.

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1) and 2)  WMSR #502 at Trimble Road Crossing on their way west to Frostburg, MD

3) Arriving at the Depot in Frostburg, MD.

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1) WMSR #502 crossing Depot Street in Frostburg heading for the turntable.

2) WMSR #502 on the Turntable at Frostburg.

3) Engineer easing the GP30 off the table at Frostburg......

I had to get back to work, so I wasn't able to stick around and chase the train back to Cumberland.

Thanks for Looking.

Tim W.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/19 04:24 by DTWilson.

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Nice photos Tim!   Sure is different diesel wise from the super clean FP4's and other units in the 90s.  

Former Reading locomotive note drop strip on cab roof

Posted from iPhone

Wonder why they stenciled "GP-30" under the cab window?

HotWater Wrote:
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> Wonder why they stenciled "GP-30" under the cab
> window?

I'd have to dig up some of my old photos, but I'm pretty sure WM had the model stenciled under the number on their black/gold locomotives.

Cole42 Wrote:
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> HotWater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Wonder why they stenciled "GP-30" under the cab
> > window?
>
> I'd have to dig up some of my old photos, but I'm
> pretty sure WM had the model stenciled under the
> number on their black/gold locomotives.

But,,,,,,,did they have "GP-30", or the CORRECT model designation, i.e. "GP30"?

Nope just GP35's   Sort of a what if locomotive. 

WLE2679 Wrote:
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> Nope just GP35's   Sort of a what if
> locomotive. 

Ah, you're correct.  hLooking at pics, the SD40's had EMD 3000hp (and radio equipped) and WM designation. Helps to look at a picture and not try to go from a fading memory...

And for Hotwater, I thought you meant just having a model number, not having it the right way.

Looks like the old girl got a short reprieve... The #502 will used for Saturday Nights dinner train and may see use on Sunday's regular train. The #450 developed some kind of Brake issue requiring the use of #502.......

Tim W.
 

Hope the #502 survives , good looking GP30
                            Mark Mautner

Thanks once again Tim for keeping us all informed of the Western Maryland.  Great photos and your story.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Great shots, thanks for sharing them with us.  Personallly, I prefer the black and gold over the circus colors.

And the RCT&HS already has a GP30...

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/19 19:49 by wabash2800.

502 was built as Reading 3607

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