Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

I got this too.  I don't understand what they mean by "we will not be without a steam engine while 734 is out of service."  1309 has not been restored so it seems like they will not have an operating steam locomotive for awhile.  Am I missing something?

the way I read it is that 734 will be used in the 2015 season and maybe I am reading into this, their new engine will be used in 2016. I may be wrong.

I read it the same way but, since the General Manager fired the longstanding Chief Mechanical Officer (Dan Pluta), who knows when the 1309 will REALLY be ready for service.

If you get into the booking calendar, it shows steam on the weekends all season, though they always reserved the right to shelf the steam for any reason any day.  Note that many/not all Fridays and other weekdays are diesel.  Short of asking how many hrs. are left on the 1472, may be the best we can get from the internet information available.

Forward the booking calendar with the today arrow.

Ed Mullan has been our WMSR expert for several years. Hopefully he will chime in

Looking at a post on TO from the WMSR says that 734 will operate for the whole 2015 season.  They are planning to use 1309 in 2016.

That was the plan when they got 1309, may or may not happen.

I'm wondering when 1309 us up and running will the Western Maryland even bother with 734?  Might of heard somewhere, she's really not adequate for the task running in that terrain but they made it work all these years so?

The 734 is quite adequate for the WMSR, and one of the few engines out there that is really well suited to the operation. Consider this - the fall season is their biggest season. Trains stretch to 13,14,15 or more cars. It requires the 734 and the two GP30s pushing on the back, running "wide open" all the way to get that train to Frostburg. Another issue - the run around track in Frostburg is only long enough for about 7-8 cars. The steam engine is "trapped" on the uphill end. I believe they plan to change that but since the steam engine is stuck, the diesels have to lead going back down the hill. 734 is quite capable for shorter trains and the fall trains with help. The 2-6-6-2 will be able to pull the long trains and eliminate diesel pushers, saving the WMSR fuel costs.

Sounds like a plan to me....C&O Mallet on big tonnage and heavy grade - BOOM !

I wouldn't call needing two pushers in the fall season "quite adequate". Hence the reason for 1309 which brings me back to wondering what 734 future is when 1309 is online?

Maybe the 743 will be needed as a pusher/helper in the future. That C&O compound 2-6-6-2 may not be as strong as they think for such large "fall season" trains, on that 3% grade.

From the #9 switch to Frostburg station is the worst, but the whole trip is an intense 15 mile grade.  Wet leaves in the fall are an issue.  I've done a couple of 50 mile bike rides over the continental divide.  Out of the Big Savage tunnel, downhill, it's easy to get sucked in. I wanted some pictures of the re-built Helmstetter barn after the fire. The bike ride back to the continental divide was monumental on a warm day.  That grade even with two wheels and peddles makes itself known.   

Ridgeley to Deal was heavy pusher territory back in the "old days" regardless of the time of year -- Decapods, Challengers, and Potomacs -- so it shouldn't be surprising that 734 would need some help.  BTW, the diesel era also saw helpers on this route.

  Poppyl

734 was, when in good shape, able to haul eight cars to Frostburg if the rail was dry and clean.

The steep part of the grade is the last bit to the Frostburg Depot, about 2.75%

I think Helmstetter's Curve is 1.76, then a good bit of 2.2 here and there.

When the rail was wet and covered with leaves they would use a diesel even on

four car trains. I've seen them, when in those conditions and with no helper,

cut the engine and run it light to the depot with the rail washers on, and sand

back to the train. Worked most of the time.

Things change over time, and I don't hang around down there much any more.

I've never seen the 1309. Did ask if I could go over to the shop and take a few

photos, was told that was not possible. In the past, I'd taken more than a few

shots over there.

Like I said, things change, time moves forward, I still have a couple of friends

there. but I was only down there three times last year, just to watch her

pull into the station and maybe chase the old girl to Frostburg. Did make

some real pals, Cody Cook, Mike Spooler and Nick Bennet. Great fun with these

young men in'09,'10 and 11! Thanks boys, I'll never forget those years.

Ed

Well That's too bad, You've certainly provided us with some great shots over the years. You should be proud of that and thank you.

Thanks for the response Ed.  It's been a pleasure for several years.

Mike CT

On the bike, long grade from the PA/Maryland line to Big Savage tunnel you are usually down a gear or two.  The cool air of the tunnel and limited grade through the  tunnel is a break.  One more small grade to the village of Deal and the Continental divide. Whew!!!!  

One trip to Frostburg, on bikes, late fall, with the Boy Scout Group, we had head winds from Frostburg up and even down the other side to Meyersdale.  We still talk about standing-up peddling down hill into the wind.  There was even wind in the tunnel.

My start off point,Garrett Pa,click on any photo to enlarge

Bridge after Meyersdale

Caboose Meyersdale

Old cemetery on path between Garrett and Meyersdale

View from bridge

734 in cumberland

734 along trail

Mt savage tunnel

Overlook after tunnel

Builders plate photoed at roundhouse in Frostburg Md

Back to Garrett my favorite school

Happy biking

Dale H

Let's see, last visit was 12 7 14, near the last run of the year, I thought to do

something a little different, so some black and white, some with backlight.

Well, I probably will never ride in the cab of 734 again, but when you have

steam only 25-30 minutes away during the season, you GOTTA go listen and look,

after all, there is nothin' like it!

Here's some photos from last December.

One of the nicest men to ever run 734, is today Kevin Rice. Never heard him give

a wiseaxx answer to even most slilly questions.

Ed

When Jack Showalter had his engine there I videoed a cab ride all the way up to Frostburg. Still relive th moment.

Thanks for posting the fine photos, Ed.  Your posts have always been interesting and informative and your photos have captured the essence of railroading in the hills of Maryland.

The Big Savage Tunnel was opened today April 3rd.  News was posted on the Great Allegheny Passage website.

TRAIL ALERTS

THE BIG SAVAGE TUNNEL was opened on April 3, 2015!   ** The Trail Surface near Woodcock Hollow Trail Head Mile 9 has some issues with the blacktop and please use caution when traveling on this section of trail. Allegany County Maryland is aware of the issues and is working towards repairs.!

The cold winter weather tends to deteriorate the portals, especially the North portal.  There are doors on both ends of the tunnel. It is closed during the winter months. North portal had significant problems with water even when it was constructed. Special equipment was brought in from New York related to subway construction to complete the tunnel. When the tunnel was re-done several years ago existing water problems at the North Portal were address.  The doors are open.

North Portal note the doors.

Thanks for posting all the fine photos and all the information.  I used to go there a lot when we lived in Keyser, West Virginia 20+ years ago.  I love it there.  Only been back once since then.  Maybe my wife and I can pull free to go down this summer.

A few more pictures from my bike excursion. Click on any photo to enlarge.

If I ever wanted to cast a conductor in a movie,I would use him. He was nice enough to let me take his picture in Cumberland.

Caboose on trail

A switcher in Cumberland

Frostburg station

Sculpture on path in Frostburg

734 on turntable,frostburg

Train in tunnel

Frostburg tunnel by turntable

Continental divide

Sandpatch

Water from bridge along path

I have seen all kinds of wildlife many birds, deer, bears, coyotes, beavers, snakes,including rattle snakes.

Flowers take turns blooming from week to week. The path never quite looks the same. Here are some wild asters in the fall

 Many older people on the path in their 50s,60s and 70s. I am 65, most can bike circles around me but I try to keep moving.

Dale H

The Big Savage tunnel is easiest to access from the village of Deal, a couple of miles walking, or on bikes. Keep in mind this area is relatively remote both for the bike trail, Old Western Maryland Railroad, and the CSX lines over the continental divide at Sand Patch.  Most cases the lights will be on in the tunnel.  The tunnel is one of the great show pieces of a historic effort, a bike trail from Pittsburgh to Washington DC.

How remote is this area???   There is a helicopter pad, installed for emergency purposes, along the trail, at the Pennsylvania/Maryland border.   

The WM line from Cumberland to Colmar (east portal of Big Savage Tunnel) was 22 miles of 1.75% grade, with a short respite of .59% to Deal. When my friends and I  bicycled from Frostburg to the Tunnel in the early-mid 1970s, the grade was indeed noticeable, especially if you did not have a 10-speed bike! On 3 occasions, we also backpacked up to the big tunnel, after abandonment 1 trip took us all the way to Sand Patch, albeit in the rain.
Please excuse the quality of these April,1975 prints taken at Big Savage Tunnel. 40 years later, I feel lucky to have seen this, 1 year later, through service would end.
The 3rd print is the west portal in 1984, while I'm glad there is now a trail, I wish the WMSR could have gone to Deal, and I cringe when I see those infernal wind turbines on top of the mountain.

All photos by Warren W. Jenkins

I will try to make it a point to get up and ride in the cab of #734 again this year. I've only been to WMSR to ride in the #734 cab, never ridden in coach. Well worth the price. That is a rough riding, hard working engine.

I've been going to the B&O Museum since I was born. I can't begin to remember the hundreds of times I've looked over, climbed on as a kid, photographed, etc all of the pieces there, especially the #1309. All those years ago, who would've ever thought she'd be brought back to life and feel the power of steam again. What a day that will be when she is fired up for the first time. What a day that will be.....

Great Allegheny Passage.  Click on the underlined to access the trail website.

Elevation Chart. Click on the underlined to link.

It doesn't show on the trail/railroad map, near the Keystone Viaduct is an old cast steel, Bowman, bridge that was re-moved, and moved from the Double Track CSX mainline through Meyersdale to this location.

5/27/2006 photo.  The bridge had been recently removed from the CSX line.

I've ridden most of the trail (in bite size sections) over the years - great rides and scenery.  Being quite a "senior" we often ride it one way - down hill.  Using an outfitter, we and are bikes were transported from the Cumberland station up to Deal where we started our mostly downhill ride ride back to Cumberland, stopping in Frostburg for lunch and view of the train.  We timed it to get some bicycle pacing of 734 on the run back to Cumberland after lunch.  For those not wanting the full bicycle ride from Deal one can arange with the railroad for a one way trip with a bike from Cumberland to Frostburg, and then you have a 100% downhill bike ride to Cumberland.  IMO the Allegheny Passage bike trail is one of the best rides in the east, along with the Virginia Creeper trail on the former N&W Abingdon Branch.

Ed Rappe

Note that the  train ride to Frostburg with you bike in the baggage car and the bike ride back to Cumberland, is full fare.  There is a bike rental shop near the Cumberland station, Canal Place.

Top to bottom, of the map, there are Three tunnels, Big Savage, Borden, and Brush, (Only the Borden tunnel does not have lights), I'd still have the flashlight handy. Walking the bike through any of these tunnels is a good idea.

The Salisbury viaduct and Keystone viaduct are also marked.  Both, within walking distance of the Meyersdale, Old Western Maryland Station, have excellent photo capability, of the always busy, CSX double main, Meyersdale, PA.

This is a remote trail with limited access.

I highly recommend the website: wmwestsub.com for a comprehensive look at the WM RWY and C&P trackage that became the WMSR.

I've pretty much deciphered the hyrogliphics on that trail map, but what does the "P" stand for ?

Kent - the P designates places along the trail to park your car (and unload/load bikes for the ride).

Ed Rappe

The parking lots at Frostburg and Woodcock Hollow are handy to access some prime photo spots of the WMSR, for those so inclined.