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Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 1309

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 1309 (nicknamed Super Choo) is a compound articulated class "H-6" "Mallet" type steam locomotive with a 2-6-6-2 (Whyte notation) wheel arrangement. It was the very last steam locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) in November 1949 and originally operated by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) where it pulled coal trains until its retirement in 1956.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 1309
No. 1309 heading to Cumberland, Maryland with the Frostburg Flyer excursion in August 2022
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works (BLW)
Order number48001
Serial number74278
ModelH-6
Build dateNovember 1949
Rebuild date2014–2020
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-6-6-2
Gauge4 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)
Minimum curve20°
Wheelbase48.8 ft (14.87 m)
Length99.7 ft (30.39 m)
Height15 ft (4.57 m)
Adhesive weight366,700 lb (166,332 kg)
Loco weight434,900 lb (197,267 kg)
Tender weight208,200 lb (94,438 kg)
Total weight643,100 lb (291,705 kg)
Tender type12-RC
Fuel typeSoft coal
Fuel capacity15 short tons (14 t)
Water cap.12,000 US gal (45,425 L; 9,992 imp gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area72.2 sq ft (6.71 m2)
Boiler96 in (2,438 mm)
Boiler pressure210 psi (1.45 MPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox363 sq ft (33.7 m2)
 • Tubes and flues4,436 sq ft (412.1 m2)
 • Total surface4,825 sq ft (448.3 m2)
Superheater:
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 • TypeType A
 • Heating area975 sq ft (90.6 m2)
Cylinders4
High-pressure cylinder22 in × 32 in (559 mm × 813 mm)
Low-pressure cylinder35 in × 32 in (889 mm × 813 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston valves
Valve travel6+1⁄2 in (165 mm) (HP)
6 in (152 mm) (LP)
Valve lap1 in (25 mm) (HP)
1+1⁄8 in (29 mm) (LP)
Valve lead1⁄8 in (3 mm) (HP)
3⁄16 in (5 mm) (LP)
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Tractive effort98,300 lbf (437.26 kN) (simple)
77,900 lbf (346.52 kN) (compound)
Factor of adh.3.73 (simple)
4.7 (compound)
Career
OperatorsChesapeake and Ohio Railway
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
ClassH-6
Number in class10
Numbers
  • C&O 1309
  • WMSR 1309
NicknamesSuper Choo
Retired1956
Preserved1972
RestoredDecember 31, 2020
Current ownerWestern Maryland Scenic Railroad
DispositionUndergoing repairs
References:[1]

In 1972, No. 1309 was moved to the B&O Railroad Museum for static display until 2014 when it was purchased by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR), who undertook a multi-year effort to restore it to operating condition. The restoration was completed on December 31, 2020, and the locomotive entered tourist excursion service for the WMSR on December 17, 2021. This was the first time an articulated locomotive operated in the Eastern United States since the retirement of Norfolk and Western 1218 in November 1991.

As of 2024, No. 1309 is currently out of service, getting new pistons and rods. Additionally, it is one of only two surviving H-6's, the other of which is No. 1308, which is on static display at the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society.

History

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Description

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No. 1309 was based on a 40-year-old design, with mechanical lubricators, stoker, and superheater, the last of a series of 2-6-6-2s that the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) began in 1911. A very similar design, the USRA 2-6-6-2, was chosen by the United States Railroad Administration as one of its standard designs thirty years earlier during World War I.[1]

The engine is a Mallet articulated locomotive. This design was a compound locomotive where steam was expanded once in smaller rear cylinders and the exhaust captured and expanded a second time in larger lower-pressure front cylinders. While compound locomotives are more efficient than single-expansion machines, the complexity of the design led to very few United States railroads using them after the turn of the century.[2] The additional length of two sets of cylinders required the engines to be articulated to enable operation on tight radius turns common in mountainous areas in West Virginia and Kentucky coal country, adding even more complexity. It also had two cross compound air compressors mounted on the smokebox door to supply enough air for frequent heavy braking needed in mountain railroading. While complicated and uncommon, the C&O had a long history with Mallets and they were ideal for slow speed work in West Virginia.[1]

The C&O ordered twenty-five locomotives from Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) in 1948 to pull coal trains. When coal production dramatically fell due to labor unrest in 1949, the order was revised to just ten locomotives (Nos. 1300–1309), and No. 1309 became the last Class 1 domestic steam locomotive built by BLW.[3][4]

Revenue service and retirement

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No. 1309's builder's plate

No. 1309 was assigned by C&O to pull heavy coal trains in the mountainous terrain of West Virginia and Kentucky.[5][6] At the time the locomotive was ordered, the C&O was unprepared for dieselization of their fleet.[3] In the early 1950s, when the C&O decided dieselization was inevitable, crews of the railroad opted not to maintain the new 2-6-6-2s, since they were only to last a few more years in service.[3] No. 1309 was retired from revenue service in 1956, after which it was stored for nearly twenty years by the C&O's roundhouse at Peach Creek, West Virginia.[7][5][6] No. 1309, along with several other steam locomotives, were removed from storage in 1972 for a cosmetic restoration and later moved to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland in 1975, where restoration was completed, and No. 1309 was put on outdoor static display.[8][5][6]

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

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In 2013, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR), which operated tourist excursion trains between Cumberland and Frostburg, Maryland, began searching for a larger steam locomotive to restore and operate, since their smaller locomotive, 2-8-0 No. 734, was mechanically worn out and was close to being due for its mandatory 1,472-day overhaul.[9][10][11] By May 2014, WMSR decided that the No. 1309 locomotive was a good restoration candidate, due to its specifications matching WMSR's requirements, and the B&O Railroad Museum did not believe the H-6 matched their collection plans.[10][7]

WMSR and the B&O Museum reached an agreement, and the WMSR purchased No. 1309 for its scrap value of $50,000.[9][7][12] WSMR subsequently worked with the museum, TTX, Hulcher Services, and CSX to separate the locomotive and load it onto two separate heavy-duty flatcars, since CSX prohibited the locomotive from being towed on its wheels on the railroad's mainline.[12] The disassembled locomotive was then shipped via CSX manifest freight train No. L341 from Baltimore to Cumberland, on July 21.[12]

Upon arrival at WMSR's workshop in Ridgeley, West Virginia, No. 1309 was unloaded, and its rebuild began by the end of July.[10][12] The rebuild involved returning all parts to meet or exceed original specifications.[13] The WMSR claimed the locomotive would be "better and more reliable than it was in 1949". Upon disassembly, several parts of the locomotive were found to be in poor condition, and many of the parts had to be replaced, including the cab, several staybolts, and crown stays, while several patches had to be made to the firebox.[5][12]

In early January 2017, the railroad stated that the reassembly process at the Ridgeley shop would begin that month and announced that the inaugural trip of the restored locomotive would take place on July 1, 2017; it began selling tickets for the excursion.[13] That schedule was not met due to funding issues. The railroad had spent $800,000 but needed a matching grant of $400,000 from the state of Maryland to continue work.[14]

In August 2017, planned operation in November was further delayed until 2018 after corrosion was found on the locomotive's axles, requiring additional work on the axles, wheel boxes, and crank pins.[15] Restoration work almost stopped in November 2017 due to a lack of funding, although work on the wheels continued with donations.[15] $400,000 provided by the state of Maryland had been spent and the railroad estimated it would take at least $530,000 more to complete the restoration, including $120,000 for the running gear and $115,000 for the boiler. The railroad was soliciting donations from individuals, seeking additional grants, and raising money with "freight photo charters".[16]

In January 2018, Maryland state senator Wayne Norman proposed that Allegany County provide $530,000 to complete the restoration. The senator said there would be an economic benefit to the county in tourism, even drawing people from Europe and Asia. The county provides a $140,000 annual operating subsidy to the railroad, matched by $250,000 from the state of Maryland.[17]

In February 2018, the restoration project suffered another setback when the railroad learned that an employee had stolen parts, including bronze bearings and wear plates, and sold them for scrap at a salvage yard.[18] The thefts were discovered by the Allegany County Sheriff's Office after they were alerted by the scrap yard.[18] Stolen parts included 12 original crown brasses and 12 hub liners. The parts would have to be remade as they were damaged during removal.[19] The scrapyard had paid the employee a total of $14,662 for the parts,[20] some of which weighed 300 pounds (140 kg).[19] Formal charges were filed against the employee.[19]

In June 2018, the boiler passed a hydrostatic test required by the Federal Railroad Administration. The boiler was pressurized to 25% above its maximum operating pressure of 210 pounds per square inch (1,400 kPa).[21] Stationary test firings to check for boiler leaks occurred several months later.[22] The restoration had cost $1.8 million as of mid-2018, including $800,000 provided by the state of Maryland.[21] The Western Maryland Scenic General Manager estimated the final cost would be $2.4 million.[23]

In September 2019, the project was again halted due to a lack of funds shortly after the front drivers were attached to the engine.[24] The railroad said it would no longer make estimates of when the restoration would be complete.[25] The total spent on the project was $2.8 million.[26]

In February 2020, a new crowdfunding campaign was announced to raise $390,000 to finish the restoration. The organizers claimed the restoration could be completed in six months.[26] In early May 2020, restoration work resumed and a successful fundraising effort promoted by Trains Magazine raised over $100,000 to restart the restoration. The WMSR estimated they were still around $200,000 short of completing the work and started developing a fund to cover initial operating expenses and facilities for fuel, water, and ash removal to name a few items.[27]

On December 31, 2020, the restoration was completed and the locomotive moved under its own power for the first time in sixty-four years as part of a series of test runs to return it to operating condition.[28][a] On November 19, 2021, No. 1309 entered its break-in run phase, running from Cumberland to Helmstetter's curve and back for testing.[29][30] After numerous test runs, the No. 1309 locomotive finally entered excursion service on December 17, 2021, pulling the annual Polar Express train.[30]

On February 25–27, 2022, WMSR and Trains Magazine hosted a private photo charter runby of No. 1309 hauling an 11-car freight train consist over Helmstetter's Curve.[31] On May 6, 2022, a plaque was mounted inside No. 1309's cab, honoring former Trains Magazine editor Jim Wrinn, who died earlier in 2022 and had been deeply involved in the restoration project.[32] Additionally, two more plaques were mounted underneath both sides of No. 1309's cab, honoring the late Jack Showalter, who originally ran the Allegany Central Railroad between 1988 and 1991 on the same line that the WMSR operated today.[33]

During Father's Day weekend, No. 1309 was temporarily outfitted with a Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) 3-chime whistle, which came from a PRR class T1 4-4-4-4 locomotive.[34] On October 14, 2022, No. 1309 pulled a fundraiser excursion in partnership with the Railroaders Memorial Museum to benefit the restoration project of the PRR No. 1361 steam locomotive with more than $13,000 raised and the latter's whistle being fitted on the former.[35][36] In February 2023, No. 1309 was temporarily backdated to its original C&O appearance for the Lerro Production photo charters.[37] In mid-2023, No. 1309 was temporarily out of service for maintenance work to its running gear and returned to service in early October 2023.[38]

In January 2024, No. 1309 suffered some more running gear issues caused by a faulty lubricator, so the locomotive had to be taken out of service again to undergo further maintenance.[39] It was discovered that No. 1309 needs new pistons and rods.[40]

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  •  
    No. 1309 on static display at the B&O Railroad Museum on October 29, 2009
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    No. 1309 during its first test run on New Year’s Eve, 2020
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    No. 1309 pulling a test train on Helmstetter’s Curve on December 16, 2021
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    No. 1309 pulling a freight train consist on February 26, 2022
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    No. 1309 in Ridgeley yard wearing the nickname “Super Choo” in chalk on its smokebox on July 18, 2022

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A much larger steam locomotive, the Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 was restored to operational status in May 2019, but is being used for occasional excursion service as opposed to regularly scheduled service.

References

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  1. ^ a b c C. B. Peck (ed.). 1950–52 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice. New York: Simmons-Boardman. p. 518.
  2. ^ C.B. Peck (ed.). 1950–52 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice. New York: Simmons-Boardman. pp. 500–538.
  3. ^ a b c Hankey (2017), p. 23
  4. ^ James E. Casto (2006), The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, Arcadia Publishing, p. 58, ISBN 978-0-7385-4334-5, retrieved January 5, 2019
  5. ^ a b c d Whetzel, Dan. "Classic #1309 American Mallet Vintage Steam Locomotive - Full Steam Ahead" (PDF). Mountain Discoveries. No. Spring 2017. Cumberland, Maryland. pp. 24–25. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "C&O No. 1309". B&O Railroad Museum. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Hankey (2017), p. 21
  8. ^ Kelly, Robert (August 18, 1976). "C&O 'Dead Dragons' Are Museum-Bound". Beckley Post-Herald. Beckley, West Virginia. p. 16. Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ a b "Restoring Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309". Trains. June 30, 2014. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Hankey (2017), p. 20
  11. ^ Haddock Taylor, Barbara (June 3, 2016). "Restoration of the 1309". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  12. ^ a b c d e Hankey (2017), p. 22
  13. ^ a b Gunnoe, Chase (January 11, 2017). "Western Maryland Scenic says July 1 will be 1309's debut". Trains. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  14. ^ Gunnoe, Chase (April 26, 2017). "Western Maryland Scenic says funding delays will delay C&O 1309 restoration". Trains. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  15. ^ a b Edmonson, R G (August 2, 2017). "Western Maryland Scenic: 1309 project "is eating us out of house and home"". Trains. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  16. ^ Enoch, Hayley (November 17, 2017). "Railroad out of money for 2-6-6-2 restoration, stops work". Trains. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  17. ^ Edmonson, R G (January 29, 2018). "One Maryland state legislator calls on Allegany County to foot remaining bills for 2-6-6-6 No. 1309". Trains. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  18. ^ a b Wolford, Heather (February 14, 2018). "Former scenic railroad worker facing theft charges". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  19. ^ a b c Edmonson, R G (February 23, 2018). "Contractor for 1309 says locomotive brasses part of metal stolen". Trains. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  20. ^ Edmonson, R G (February 23, 2018). "Formal charges made public in Maryland locomotive brass theft". Trains. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  21. ^ a b Wrinn, Jim (June 8, 2018). "Western Maryland Scenic restarts work on 1309 with successful FRA hydro". Trains. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  22. ^ Gunnoe, Chase (October 3, 2018). "Western Maryland Scenic test fires 2-6-6-6 No. 1309". Trains. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  23. ^ Wrinn, Jim (December 12, 2018). "20 questions for John Garner at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad about the restoration of 2-6-6-2 No. 1309". Trains. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  24. ^ Wrinn, Jim (August 24, 2019). "Western Maryland 1309 project halts again for need of funding". Trains Magazine. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  25. ^ Wrinn, Jim (June 25, 2019). "Western Maryland 1309 restoration update: Cranes on the horizon". Trains Magazine. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  26. ^ a b "It's time to fire up Baldwin's last steam locomotive - Trains Magazine - Trains News Wire, Railroad News, Railroad Industry News, Web Cams, and Forms". cs.trains.com. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  27. ^ "Work Resumes on Western Maryland Scenic #1309". Trains Magazine News Wire. May 13, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  28. ^ Wrinn, Jim (December 31, 2020). "'Last Baldwin,' Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309, makes first move under own power". Trains.com Newswire. Kalmbach Media. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  29. ^ Wrinn, Jim (November 19, 2021). "Western Maryland Scenic 1309 receives FRA approval". Trains Magazine News Wire. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  30. ^ a b Larry, Greg (November 20, 2021). "Full steam ahead: No. 1309 passes federal inspection". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  31. ^ Wrinn, Jim (February 28, 2022). "Last Baldwin steams again in preview of 2022 season". Trains Magazine News Wire. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  32. ^ "News photo: Plaque honoring Trains editor Wrinn added to Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309". Trains Magazine News Wire. May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  33. ^ Helbok, Oren B. (May 10, 2022). "Western Maryland Scenic Railroad honors Jack Showalter". Trains Magazine News Wire. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  34. ^ Larry, Greg (June 15, 2022). "Heinz marks one year on the job at WMSR". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  35. ^ Kibler, William (September 24, 2022). "Helper engine: Maryland RR group excursion will benefit K4 work". Altoona Mirror. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  36. ^ Cupper, Dan (October 17, 2022). "Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 powers benefit train for Altoona museum". Trains. Kalmbach Media. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  37. ^ "Chesapeake and Ohio 1309 Photo Charter". Lerro Photography. Lerro Productions. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  38. ^ Iverson, Lucas (September 7, 2023). "Must-See Big Steam for Fall 2023". Trains. Kalmbach Media. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  39. ^ Larry, Greg (January 5, 2024). "Western Maryland Scenic Railroad ridership sets record in 2023". Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  40. ^ Byer, Alan (January 9, 2024). "Western Maryland Scenic begins fundraising to return steam locomotives 1309, 734 to operation". Trains. Kalmbach Media. Retrieved January 9, 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Hankey, John (2017). "Taming the Beast of the East". Trains Special Edition. Kalmbach Media. pp. 20–23.
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