It was a pleasure this afternoon to watch the William Mason run at B&O. That is one very pretty high-stepping thoroughbred!

Here are a couple of very rough movies. Not only was I not in the best location, but also had a three-year-old in the lap:

Heading back in:
http://www.ladyandtramp.com/images/Image%20Library/20070428/CIMG1539.AVI

Backing out, wind in the mic, stopping traffic, great looking crew and cometary courtesy of Johny:
http://www.ladyandtramp.com/images/Image%20Library/20070428/CIMG1536.AVI

So here is the question. Where the the funnel stacks on these wood burners functional for some reason, or just for show?

Bob Bunge
(welcome back!)

There is actually more to your question than you may have thought!

The original and present stacks on B&O 25 were (are) functional in that the smokestack inside the funnel exhausts against the point of a cone, whose edges turn the blast back in a downward direction. Any burning wood particles fall out of the stream and gather at the bottom of the funnel. The smoke and exhaust swirl out of the top of the funnel through a screen. A true woodburner is distinct for its more muffled exhaust and the swirl of the smoke coming from its stack.



HOWEVER, if you saw the "William Mason" in "The Great Locomtoive Chase" or other vintage movies that B&O 25 was used in when the railroad was using it for a PR piece; it was then burning coal, the smokestack vented directly to atmosphere, and you could see a shotgun blast of coal exhaust, instead of the muffled swirling exhaust of a true woodburner. The functional parts of the baloon stack were restored by the Strasburg shops when the locomotive was refurbished for its use in the movie version of "Wild Wild West".

Steve Zuiderveen

And here are a couple of still images of yesterday's appearance by the Mason:





Every visit I make to the B&O Museum brings evidence of new improvements.

I am delighted to report that a day I have been awaiting for too long has now arrived: The President-class Pacific 5300 and the USRA Q-3 Mikado 4500 are now under cover in the North Car shop. This means that for the first time in living memory, the only surviving 20C B&O mainline steam locomotives--each a perfect example of standard heavyweight pullman and 40-foot car-era mainline railroad power--are both under cover. They are joined in the carshop by the EA, the C&O F-11 ten-wheeler, and the Allegheny, each of which also deserve their "day OUT of the sun." A walkway has been built to give visitors access to the cab of the Allegheny and the 5300.

For diesel fans, B&O GP-40 3684, the road's first, is fresh out of the paint shop resplendent in as-delivered livery. She's currently in the roundhouse.

If the household authority allows me to go to the museum wearing a suit, or if she will sit patiently in the car while I go get my photos, I'll try to post some more later today. We have to attend a dressy luncheon, and she does not want wood embers or cinders on her good suit.

I had heard that there was going to be an 0-4-0T moving freight cars around the museum property. Was this bad info or was the William Mason and the saddle tanker running?

The St. Elizabeth's No. 4 0-4-0T was under steam, but was pulling the open-car passenger excursion train rather than switching. The 0-4-0T pulled the passenger consist west until clear of the new restoration shop East switch, the Mason (following light engine) did a parallel runby up and down the shop lead beide the passenger train, then the Mason went back to the Museum while to 0-4-0 and train proceeded to Mt. Clare Junction.

My son and I were on the first excursion of the day Saturday and we met a WB CSX manifest headed by a pair of SD70MACs near Mt. Clare Junction. The crews arranged a nice improptu Porter vs. EMD parallel runby and whistle duel for 50 yards or so--great fun!

If you don't mind a 26Mb download over my somewhat slow Internet connection, here's the Porter pulling out on the 2nd trip of the day:

http://www.ladyandtramp.com/images/Image%20Library/20070428/CIMG1535.AVI

Like the way the engineer is sitting on the window sill, I guess in tank engine fashion.

I was cash poor this weekend from writing a check to Uncle Sam, so wasn't able to visit inside the museum, but had noticed with interest the Mike was gone from in front of the roundhouse and had assumed it was moved inside. Great to hear that's finally happened. Wasn't it the very first USRA Mike?

Bob

The first USRA Mike, and actually the first USRA locomotive of any type; also an ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.

And Eric, just to keep the record straight, the 2-8-2 is number 4500, not 4300. I know that you knew that!

Les

Why whatever do you mean, Les? (As he wipes his fingerprints off the "Edit" button...)

I had the pleasure of visiting the B&O on Sunday and was impressed with the equipment restoration efforts and how the WM Mason was operated for the benefit of the excursion passengers. I've been to the B&O several times since the re-opening and have been impressed with the progress each time.

The only drawback or downside (and this is an observation not a criticism) is that there's no way for people to actually see the 0-4-0T #4 since the head end of the excursion train is in a non-accessible area. Seeing the #4 required a roundabout drive through some of the worst neighborhoods I've ever seen. I made the trek, but I imagine the average museum visitor doesn't (and might be advised not to in all honesty). Perhaps a gravel walkway or viewing area might allow visitors a closer look to contrast one of the US's youngest operating steam engines with the WM Mason, it's oldest...

Dave Crosby