From the ABPR: Just a nice photo of Western Maryland Scenic 734, taken last year.

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?august02/08-25-02/Wm734_Cumberland_Narrows_8-24-02.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?august02/08-25-02/WM734_Waiting_to_depart_Cumberland_Md_8-24-02.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?august02/08-26-02/10230011.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

For those who haven't had enough of winter yet..

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?august02/08-26-02/Wm_734_Lap_Water_Stop.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

This engine would be so much more convincing if it were numbered 774 or 784. Other than being a 2-8-0 it looks very little like the real 734. Just the WM steam fan comming out of me I guess.

John

jhbohon@yahoo.com

I think it was numbered 734 because it used to be LS&I # 34 . I believe LS&I 35 is at Illinois Railroad Museum and # 33 is at Hocking Valley.

> I think it was numbered 734 because it used
> to be LS&I # 34 . I believe LS&I 35
> is at Illinois Railroad Museum and # 33 is
> at Hocking Valley.

You are right. It is just that the engine is a close match to the WM class H-8's and the real 734 was a class H-7a with bigger drivers and slide valves. I am just a crazy WM steam fan nit picking a fine operation way to much.

John

jhbohon@yahoo.com

John,

The tender on the WMS 734 also has different trucks than what a true WM would have had. ;-)

Mark

> You are right. It is just that the engine is
> a close match to the WM class H-8's and the
> real 734 was a class H-7a with bigger
> drivers and slide valves. I am just a crazy
> WM steam fan nit picking a fine operation
> way to much.

> John

> John,

> The tender on the WMS 734 also has different
> trucks than what a true WM would have had.
> ;-)

> Mark

I really did not addresss the tender but it is much larger than one on an H-8. The oversize tender makes the 734 look like a much larger WM H-9, one of the huge 2-8-0's. I believe the folks at Cumberland told me it was ex NYC. My guess is they are glad to have the extra capacity. On the whole they have done a good job replicating the WM look and giving the customers a suprisingly authentic experience.

In the early 80's the last existing H-8 tender I know of was still in Elkins even after the work train it was assigned to was scrapped. To bad it did not last a little longer.

John

jhbohon@yahoo.com

> John,

> The tender on the WMS 734 also has different
> trucks than what a true WM would have had.

Mark,

This whole discussion is only relevant in HO or O scale, where the cost of parts to correct your "problems" are a few dollars (or even hundreds) at the model train show or hobby shop. Personally, I'm ecstatic just to have the mere opportunity in the 21st century to ride up around Helmstetter's Curve at all, let alone on a train on railroad tracks, let alone behind a pounding, thunderous 2-8-0 of ANY heritage, let alone one where I have to hold up a photo of the real WM 734 to spot the differences, let ALONE riding in the caboose of a quite authentic-looking freight consist behind said 2-8-0 in the winter...........


lner4472@bcpl.net

> Mark,

> This whole discussion is only relevant in HO
> or O scale, where the cost of parts to
> correct your "problems" are a few
> dollars (or even hundreds) at the model
> train show or hobby shop. Personally, I'm
> ecstatic just to have the mere opportunity
> in the 21st century to ride up around
> Helmstetter's Curve at all, let alone on a
> train on railroad tracks, let alone behind a
> pounding, thunderous 2-8-0 of ANY heritage,
> let alone one where I have to hold up a
> photo of the real WM 734 to spot the
> differences, let ALONE riding in the caboose
> of a quite authentic-looking freight consist
> behind said 2-8-0 in the winter...........

Lighten up dude!!! I am sorry if you do not understand this is all in jest. I have loved the WM since I was a baby being taken to work on the RR by his father. How can I not love the WM Scenic, the 734, or Jack's pacifics for that matter?

jhbohon@yahoo.com