Two New Restorations from the B&O Museum.

Wonder if they will place the cast brass "B&O Capital Dome" emblem on the front of the low short hood on #6944? Most of the new GP30 units came out of EMD with that casting already mounted, however later, higher numbered units didn't have it. Apparently those castings were "customer supplied" and when not enough of the cast plates show up at the EMD plant, the units shipped anyway. I seem to recall that the Cumberland Shop mounted the plates when the units received they "90 day tightening down" procedure. 

On my bucket list to visit

#4253/6944 in service back in summer of 1992, Brunswick,MD.
Warren W. Jenkins photo

Regarding the "nose emblem" on the GP30, as I recall, it has always had one. Same goes for the GP7 #6405 also operable and in service at the museum. Both the long and short hood has emblems applied. It is quite possible that the museum  put the "real ones" in storage for safe keeping (I know they've done this for some other engines) and the pieces on the engines are reproductions but I don't know for certain. 

I just checked some of my 35MM color slides from the winter of 1962/1963 and found at least 2 photos of #6944 (night shots) in the Cumberland engine terminal, and she does indeed have her brass "B&O Capital Dome" plate mounted on the nose of the low short hood. However, I can not believe that that brass cast emblem lasted throughout her career.

Hot, 

Were the plates painted to match the engine or kept has "untouched" brass? I would think they'd keep it as unpainted brass since they went to the trouble of using brass but then again, I guess you never know. The photos I have of the GP7 (can't find any GP30 photos) at the B&O Museum show a separate plate on the nose but it is painted to match the engine and I suspect may be reproductions. Especially considering the GP7 had been in Chessie prior to it's arrival at the museum and until about 10 years ago. 

None of the 3 B&O blue GP30Ms(4253, 4236, 4264) remaining in the 1990s had a brass nose emblem, I photographed all 3 at various times.
When the B&O museum hosted the Chessie System H.S. convention in June, 1999, the 4253/6499 was carrying its brass plates on both ends.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but you may know this B&O trivia question.  I have the MTH F3 DAP ABA set, and there is no nose emblem to go along with the B&O livery.  Is this prototypically correct?  I have seen many F3s with the capitol nose emblem, but this set was apparently made without this famous icon.  Any clues?

I have an original B&O GP-30 "Capitol Dome" casting.  It was painted completely black when I acquired it, with no brass showing.  (I'm not even sure that it is brass.  The only thing I know for certain is that it is quite heavy and that a magnet won't stick to it.)  Of interest is that it was cast in two pieces that were welded together at an angle, apparently to fit appropriately onto the angled nose of a GP-30.  

I hired out on the B&O in 1977. The "6900's" were painted in the 2nd scheme; B&O blue and yellow, no sunburst and yellow nose decal. Never saw the brass nose emblem on any of them ( and I saw quite a few) they were delivered with. The fact that they wore B&O blue and yellow sans the sunburst and speed striping, and remained that way for the most part until the Chessie/Seaboard merger suggests they were repainted just before the '71 Chessie scheme.

The Baltimore Chapter NRHS posted these two photos on Facebook today of the engines being moved from the Museum's locomotive shop about a half mile from the museum campus down into the roundhouse. I've heard the GP30 will be pulling the excursion train this weekend. Not sure if that is accurate. 

Now THAT looks good! Just like 1962.

EMD....plus Best & Only paint....what a winner !

Just hours after these two locomotives were brought to the main campus for the public unveiling, the heavily deteriorated EA #51 (I believe the first E unit built) was pulled from the North Car Shop for restoration (cosmetic). This engine was on display in the front parking lot for many years until deterioration became so bad it was placed in the car shop, at the time the museum's shop for their operating equipment. Today, the north car shop is a display space for steam, all in need of cosmetic restorations after years outdoors. 

Also, word from a museum volunteer that the William Mason, the 1856 4-4-0 that was operated by the museum on special occasions for demonstrations will not be returning to operation. It was removed and disassembled a few years ago for a 1472 inspection. Issues with the firebox - crown sheet specifically - were found and supposedly the costs to replace the crownsheet/firebox are too high and the museum isn't willing to do such extensive work to the engine. I'm told that it is presently being reassembled, will be repainted for a more historically appropriate paint scheme (it is still in the paint used in the last movie it was used for) and returned to permanent display in the roundhouse. The museum has 3 other operating steam engines for use - the large Porter 0-4-0T, Tom Thumb replica, and Lafayette replica. 

Steam will be running heavily during the month of October, the museum's "Steam Month". I think the first weekend of October will have the Porter and Lafayette under steam and operating with following Saturdays in October playing host to the 0-4-0T operating on the short excursion trains. 

A very well done video can be found HERE

A friend of mine was there this past weekend. He posted this photo in the museum's paint booth of a couple engines undergoing restoration. I don't know real trains or what the museum has in its possession to tell what these are, but thought you guys might be interested

Thanks for posting....

The green engine at left is the William Mason. Built in 1856, it was operable up until a few years ago. Based on my photos from last year, I can see it is being reassembled further supporting my source that the engine won't be rebuilt to run again. 

The engine in the background is the museum's ex-St. Elizabeth's Hospital 0-4-0T built in 1950 by Porter. It is presently operable and a large 0-4-0T. It will be running heavily during the month of October. It has QUITE the bark when starting the museum's train after a stop at Mount Claire Mansion! 

 William Mason in October 2013. 

Lousy photo but the Mason in happier days, circa 2007, under steam and operating for museum guests. 

St. Elizabeth's #4, the museum's hefty 0-4-0T at the Mount Clair Mansion, opposite the loco shops. 

I love the sunburst paint scheme, its my favorite paint scheme on the GP30s.

The older Lionel GP30 model is on the top of my bucket list!

Jim

I heard that same story when I visited the museum after the N&W 611 Manassas-Front Royal trips.  As far as I know, the William Mason was the oldest officially operable steam locomotive in the country.  An interesting note, with it being out of service, that leaves the title to the other surviving Mason built locomotive here in Dearborn, MI, which was built in 1873.