WMSR 1309 - On The Road

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

https://youtu.be/y5NFo7P3QVA

"Ladies and Gentleman....
Can we have your attention please!?

We are pleased to bring you this short video featuring WMSR No.1309, and are even more so because this program was made possible by a few of our members.

On November 20th, 2021 Railheadz Productions and Allegany Preservation Society Limited were on hand to witness history in the making, the return of the world's largest operating "Mallet" type locomotive, former Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 2-6-6-2 No.1309.
With a price tag of $3.5 million dollars the 1309 is quite an impressive sight to behold and the communities of Cumberland and Frostburg, Maryland as well as Allegany County have something once again to be proud of.

This short program features shots from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in 2014 where the 1309 was prepped before its departure to its' new home on the WMSR, as well as shots during its restoration that spanned from 2014-2018, and concludes with the engines second day of testing along the former Western Maryland Railway mainline of the WMSR.

Congratulations to all that were involved in making this dream come true!"

[spmoto]

Thanks for sharing that Charlie. Love that stuff!!
Steve M

[fotoguzzi]

Awesome thx4 posting!

[John A]

Thanks Charlie, it’s a work of art!

[Kiwi_Roy]

What an impressive beast, I don't think I have ever seen a locomotive with so many driving wheels.
I served my apprenticeship with New Zealand Railways around the end of the steam era, we used to go down to the Loco sheds sometimes and could watch while they did maintenance.

[krglorioso]

No matter that I know absolutely nothing about old steam locomotives:  I found this grand machine and the video fascinating.

I keep wondering Charlie restored it...

Ralph

[Canuck750]

Thanks for posting!!  I have loved railways far longer than motorcycles and the amazing locomotive in this video was a joy to watch. I have never had the pleasure to witness an articulated drive engine like this, it would be something to see in real life.

[Moparnut72]

Wow. Thanks Charlie. This is truly an American treasure. There is or was an interpretative area in Utah on a very steep grade where mallets were used to push trains up the grade as they couldn't do it on their own. This video gave me goosebumps. I am going to go back to the Northern Nevada Railroad this summer. Love trains.
kk

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The WMSR is offering a special deal right now:

EXPERIENCE THE THUNDER!
It's Black Friday...and Christmas is just around the corner. 🚂🎄
Operate the largest compound, articulated mallet steam locomotive in the world! Enjoy a unique opportunity to be in the right-hand seat of a piece of history! Handle #1309 with one of our experienced steam engineers for an entire 60 minutes! You will arrive at our property and learn the ways of this iron horse with a 60-minute walk-around educational experience…Blow the whistle, and then you’re off.
WMSR has only a limited number of scheduled slots available in 2022. Reserve this once-in-a-lifetime gift for your special railfan.
2022 Tickets are available at www.wmsr.com.

[twowings]

That was fun! Congratulations to all who had a hand in the restoration 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

This past weekend was 1309's first "revenue runs" pulling the Polar Express.

https://youtu.be/FtRqLNlXJPY

[Moparnut72]

That video is super.
kk

[nc43bsa]

The video states that 1309 is the largest operating steam engine on the Eastern seaboard.  Is it larger than N&W 611?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Judge for yourself:

1309:
 Whyte   2-6-6-2
Gauge   4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.   30 in (762 mm)
Driver dia.   56 in (1,422 mm)
Trailing dia.   44 in (1,118 mm)
Wheelbase   48.8 ft (14.87 m)
Length   99.7 ft (30.39 m)
Height   15 ft (4.57 m)
Adhesive weight   366,700 lb (166,332 kg)
Loco weight   434,900 lb (197,267 kg)
Tender weight   208,200 lb (94,438 kg)
Total weight   643,100 lb (291,705 kg)
Tender type   12-RC
Fuel type   Soft coal
Water cap   12,000 US gal (45,425 l; 9,992 imp gal)
Tender cap.   16 short tons (15 t)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area   72.2 sq ft (6.71 m2)
Boiler   96 in (2,438 mm)
Boiler pressure   210 psi (1.45 MPa)
Feedwater heater   none
Heating surface   4,825 sq ft (448.3 m2)
 • Tubes and flues   4,436 sq ft (412.1 m2)
 • Firebox   363 sq ft (33.7 m2)
Superheater:
   ​
 • Type   Type A
 • Heating area   975 sq ft (90.6 m2)
Cylinders   4
High-pressure cylinder   22 in ื 32 in (559 mm ื 813 mm)
Low-pressure cylinder   35 in ื 32 in (889 mm ื 813 mm)
Valve gear   Walschaerts
Valve type   Piston valves
Valve travel   6+1⁄2 in (165 mm) (HP)
6 in (152 mm) (LP)
Valve lap   1 in (25 mm) (HP)
1+1⁄8 in (29 mm) (LP)
Valve lead   1⁄8 in (3 mm) (HP)
3⁄16 in (5 mm) (LP)

611:
• Whyte   4-8-4
 • UIC   2′D2′ h2
Gauge   4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.   36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.   70 in (1,778 mm)
Trailing dia.   42 in (1,067 mm)
Length   109 ft 2 in (33.27 m)
Width   11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Height   16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
Axle load   72,000 lb (32.7 tonnes) for drivers
Adhesive weight   288,000 lb (130.6 tonnes)
Loco weight   494,000 lb (224.1 tonnes)
Tender weight   378,600 lb (171.7 tonnes)
Total weight   872,600 lb (395.8 tonnes)
Fuel type   Coal
Fuel capacity   77,200 lb (35.0 tonnes)
Water cap   20,000 US gal (76,000 l; 17,000 imp gal)
25,000 US gal (95,000 l; 21,000 imp gal) in auxiliary tender
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area   107.7 sq ft (10.01 m2)
Boiler pressure   300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes and flues   4,693 sq ft (436.0 m2)
 • Firebox   578 sq ft (53.7 m2)
Superheater:
   ​
 • Heating area   2,177 sq ft (202.2 m2)
Cylinders   Two, outside
Cylinder size   27 in ื 32 in (686 mm ื 813 mm)
Valve gear   Baker
Valve type   Piston valves

[Demar]

Thanks for posting Charlie. I love steam locomotives and have castings to put together a few 1/8 scale working Live Steam Locomotives. I've been out to Cass, WV once and really enjoyed that. I one time rode behind the SP 4449 Daylight from Sacramento to Oakland on a double-header with SP 2472 that went through a similar multi-year restoration. I was told that at 60mph the piston of the daylight changed direction once per second and the piston weighs as much as a Volkswagen Beetle. Hard to imagine a VW Bug being thrown back and forth once every second.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=4449+daylight&&view=detail&mid=00BC2FF2D0A4F596FBF100BC2FF2D0A4F596FBF1&rvsmid=B4F090DD62F0B56D7035B4F090DD62F0B56D7035&FORM=VDQVAP

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Pacific_2472

[nc43bsa]

Judge for yourself:

1309:
 Whyte   2-6-6-2
Gauge   4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.   30 in (762 mm)
Driver dia.   56 in (1,422 mm)
Trailing dia.   44 in (1,118 mm)
Wheelbase   48.8 ft (14.87 m)
Length   99.7 ft (30.39 m)
Height   15 ft (4.57 m)
Adhesive weight   366,700 lb (166,332 kg)
Loco weight   434,900 lb (197,267 kg)
Tender weight   208,200 lb (94,438 kg)
Total weight   643,100 lb (291,705 kg)
Tender type   12-RC
Fuel type   Soft coal
Water cap   12,000 US gal (45,425 l; 9,992 imp gal)
Tender cap.   16 short tons (15 t)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area   72.2 sq ft (6.71 m2)
Boiler   96 in (2,438 mm)
Boiler pressure   210 psi (1.45 MPa)
Feedwater heater   none
Heating surface   4,825 sq ft (448.3 m2)
 • Tubes and flues   4,436 sq ft (412.1 m2)
 • Firebox   363 sq ft (33.7 m2)
Superheater:
   ​
 • Type   Type A
 • Heating area   975 sq ft (90.6 m2)
Cylinders   4
High-pressure cylinder   22 in ื 32 in (559 mm ื 813 mm)
Low-pressure cylinder   35 in ื 32 in (889 mm ื 813 mm)
Valve gear   Walschaerts
Valve type   Piston valves
Valve travel   6+1⁄2 in (165 mm) (HP)
6 in (152 mm) (LP)
Valve lap   1 in (25 mm) (HP)
1+1⁄8 in (29 mm) (LP)
Valve lead   1⁄8 in (3 mm) (HP)
3⁄16 in (5 mm) (LP)

611:
• Whyte   4-8-4
 • UIC   2′D2′ h2
Gauge   4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.   36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.   70 in (1,778 mm)
Trailing dia.   42 in (1,067 mm)
Length   109 ft 2 in (33.27 m)
Width   11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Height   16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
Axle load   72,000 lb (32.7 tonnes) for drivers
Adhesive weight   288,000 lb (130.6 tonnes)
Loco weight   494,000 lb (224.1 tonnes)
Tender weight   378,600 lb (171.7 tonnes)
Total weight   872,600 lb (395.8 tonnes)
Fuel type   Coal
Fuel capacity   77,200 lb (35.0 tonnes)
Water cap   20,000 US gal (76,000 l; 17,000 imp gal)
25,000 US gal (95,000 l; 21,000 imp gal) in auxiliary tender
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area   107.7 sq ft (10.01 m2)
Boiler pressure   300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes and flues   4,693 sq ft (436.0 m2)
 • Firebox   578 sq ft (53.7 m2)
Superheater:
   ​
 • Heating area   2,177 sq ft (202.2 m2)
Cylinders   Two, outside
Cylinder size   27 in ื 32 in (686 mm ื 813 mm)
Valve gear   Baker
Valve type   Piston valves

My brain hurts.