Western Maryland test fires 1309 today. Nice pic on trains Facebook page.
http://trn.trains.com/news/new...ires-2-6-6-2-no-1309
Trains facebook page.
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Outstanding - Thanks for posting!
I'm happily surprised they have gotten this far after all the negative news surrounding this project.
J 611 posted:I'm happily surprised they have gotten this far after all the negative news surrounding this project.
Generally the boiler is the easiest part of a large locomotive rebuild/restoration, as the machinery/running gear tends to require much more money and precision machinery and Machinist skills.
Woot!
Hot Water posted:J 611 posted:I'm happily surprised they have gotten this far after all the negative news surrounding this project.
Generally the boiler is the easiest part of a large locomotive rebuild/restoration, as the machinery/running gear tends to require much more money and precision machinery and Machinist skills.
Are the wheels/axles back from North Carolina or did they go to Strasburg? I forget.
Wow, I'm actually very surprised! Definitely will have to look at seeing this when it's finished. I'd thought they'd never get done! Now if only they could get 734 going...
superwarp1 posted:Hot Water posted:J 611 posted:I'm happily surprised they have gotten this far after all the negative news surrounding this project.
Generally the boiler is the easiest part of a large locomotive rebuild/restoration, as the machinery/running gear tends to require much more money and precision machinery and Machinist skills.
Are the wheels/axles back from North Carolina or did they go to Strasburg? I forget.
Neither place. The were sent to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Shop, in Chattanooga, TN for additional work. They were originally sent to the Strasburg Shop, but upon return, they let the wheel sets sit out of doors, which didn't treat the top quality machine work Strasburg did. So,,,,,,,,,,,,now they are at the TVRM shop for additional work.
Hot Water posted:J 611 posted:I'm happily surprised they have gotten this far after all the negative news surrounding this project.
Generally the boiler is the easiest part of a large locomotive rebuild/restoration, as the machinery/running gear tends to require much more money and precision machinery and Machinist skills.
Judging by that photo, it sure looks like its got a loooooonnnng way to go.
I have nothing but praise for the 1309 restoration effort. But why do a fire up at this point. Why the effort to pull it out of the shop, fill it up with water and fire, only to drain, and push it back in? Is there any real purpose for this early a fire up? Just askin'.
My question exactly. Maybe I'm having a moment, but I don't see the point of doing this.
CJ Meyers posted:I have nothing but praise for the 1309 restoration effort. But why do a fire up at this point. Why the effort to pull it out of the shop, fill it up with water and fire, only to drain, and push it back in? Is there any real purpose for this early a fire up? Just askin'.
Maybe they are doing this to get people’s attention, they have, so that they can get the donations they need to finish the 1309.
CJ Meyers posted:I have nothing but praise for the 1309 restoration effort. But why do a fire up at this point. Why the effort to pull it out of the shop, fill it up with water and fire, only to drain, and push it back in? Is there any real purpose for this early a fire up? Just askin'.
A LOT easier to fix leaks and other things that may need attention prior to putting the whole thing back together. I believe they also "blew out" the cylinders by opening the throttle to blow out all of the "crap" in the values, pipes, etc before putting the running gear back together. Don't want all of that crud flowing through the finished product! Lots of reasons for doing this.
Great News! Maybe she will be ready for April York?
I would like to have heard the whistle blow on 1309, hard to believe no one took a video and put it on Youtube, I just checked, nada.
The wheels are in Tenn. There also remaking all of the brass that got stolen.
I'm not the one to answer but I would think the boiler test fire over the Hydro would be a requirement. I would also agree with the other post that you want to do it now before you put everything back together. Now is the time to fix it. Also the wheels are not on site so there are only so many things that can be done before they return the wheels.
The cab is out of the picture but was right there. It's painted, ready to drop on the locomotive.
CSX FAN posted:The wheels are in Tenn. There also remaking all of the brass that got stolen.
I'm not the one to answer but I would think the boiler test fire over the Hydro would be a requirement. I would also agree with the other post that you want to do it now before you put everything back together. Now is the time to fix it. Also the wheels are not on site so there are only so many things that can be done before they return the wheels.
The cab is out of the picture but was right there. It's painted, ready to drop on the locomotive.
Anyone know the time frame for the wheels to be returned to WMSR? I'm headed down to the TVRM at the end of the month for their double headed excursion. Maybe I'll see if I can get some photos of 1309's wheels.
Craignor posted:I would like to have heard the whistle blow on 1309, hard to believe no one took a video and put it on Youtube, I just checked, nada.
I would have liked to see that as well Craig.
I am excited at the notion that 1309 will run again, and I applaud all who are making this happen.
Can 1309 actually run on the trackage's CURRENT geometry?
Dominic Mazoch posted:Can 1309 actually run on the trackage's CURRENT geometry?
Yes, until it gets to the curve and grade onto the turntable at the other end of the line.
It shows progress. I saw the Facebook post, but never thought to post it here.
Thank you very much, Gary!!!
NKP 765 was test fired in 1978, stationary only. BTW, Gary Bensman led that effort also. The heat of test firing causes expansion and contraction of the boiler and that shakes out a few staybolts and/or staybolt caps and all sorts of other issues. There was one pipe that had been replaced that extended from the boiler straight down to a bracket on the frame - without any wiggle room for heat expansion. It passed the hydrostatic just fine but as soon as the boiler grew several inches with heat - and the frame at ambient air temperature doesn't change- there was a LOUD snap as the pipe broke!
Stationary test firing is always a good idea. BTW, the 765 moved under her power about one year later, but that was with all volunteers. 1309 is using mostly paid help but there is more running gear work to be done that the 765 in 1978.
NKP779, thank you for the explanation!
J 611 posted:Craignor posted:I would like to have heard the whistle blow on 1309, hard to believe no one took a video and put it on Youtube, I just checked, nada.
I would have liked to see that as well Craig.
Craignor Look on Western Maryland Scenic Railroads Facebook page there is a video of the whistle being blown.
That whistle...the thing has chirped like that for years..."Big Thunder", my name for her, needs a hooter, something like he B&O EM1 or N&W Articulated locomotives used.
Ed
You would hope Cumberland and Frostburg, MD benefit from this effort, beyond the operation of the Western Maryland Scenic RR, with their diesels. Discussion indicates, it fits the turntable.
Ed Mullan posted:That whistle...the thing has chirped like that for years..."Big Thunder", my name for her, needs a hooter, something like he B&O EM1 or N&W Articulated locomotives used.
Ed
I think a hooter whistle would be cool too. OR a Hancock that doesn't make that annoying chirping sound.
How about a whistle transplant from the 734?
Let the new kid carry the torch.
Ed Mullan posted:That whistle...the thing has chirped like that for years..
The Hancock "steamboat" whistle used to squeak & chirp like that also, until it was properly machined and "tuned".
."Big Thunder", my name for her, needs a hooter, something like he B&O EM1 or N&W Articulated locomotives used.
Agreed. Those C&O 2-6-6-2 locomotives, as well as most all their freight steam power, carried "hooter" whistles, but the C&O "hooters" sounded a bit different than the N&W "hooter" whistles.
Ed
Craignor posted:How about a whistle transplant from the 734?
Let the new kid carry the torch.
It wold not surprise me if that Western Maryland Hancock whistle is not actually from the 734.
Your comments all sound good, Craig, Ed, Hot Water. I would think they would like a whistle like the original on the 1309, but I can also see having one of Western Maryland origin. As long as there is a whistle echoing off the hills, it will be great!
Mark and all,
I heard that when 1309 is repainted, it will be repainted in Western Maryland livery (not C&O), in which case the 734 whistle transplant would make even more sense.
I think so, the 734 whistle is a good choice!
