Western Maryland Scenic: WMSR 1309 Now Fully Operational

TRS · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:12 pm

Today (March 23, 2021), the Cumberland Times-News reported that Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) 1309 is now fully operational, and should be available to power excursion trains during summer, 2021.

Cumberland Times-News: https://www.times-news.com/news/local_n ... ea8b8.html

• Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 1309, 2-6-6-2 (BLW 74278 / 1949), ex-Chesapeake & Ohio 1309, C&O class H-6

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad: https://wmsr.com/

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

“"We are waiting for a few parts that have to be cast. We had a few leaks. So before the FRA comes out to inspect it, we want to make sure we are 100% confident that it will pass. We want to be running this summer and we think we can."”

If it hasn’t passed FRA it’s not “fully operational” yet.

Glad they were able to have a meeting in their fancy new dome car.

mmi16 · **Joined:** Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:05 pm **Posts:** 198

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

“"We are waiting for a few parts that have to be cast. We had a few leaks. So before the FRA comes out to inspect it, we want to make sure we are 100% confident that it will pass. We want to be running this summer and we think we can."”

If it hasn’t passed FRA it’s not “fully operational” yet.

Glad they were able to have a meeting in their fancy new dome car.

Fully operational is one thing.

FRA certified to operate is another thing. You have to attain one before you can even submit the engine for the FRA's inspections.

co614 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:29 pm

They're about half way there. Now comes the critical task of test runs to find and fix the bugs which will surely surface.

Then the matter of getting the track fixed and approved for operation.

At that point they can talk about future operating dates/plans. Not before then.

Here's wishing them every success. Ross Rowland

MD Ramsey · **Joined:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:52 pm **Posts:** 192

mmi16 wrote:

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

“"We are waiting for a few parts that have to be cast. We had a few leaks. So before the FRA comes out to inspect it, we want to make sure we are 100% confident that it will pass. We want to be running this summer and we think we can."”

If it hasn’t passed FRA it’s not “fully operational” yet.

Glad they were able to have a meeting in their fancy new dome car.

Fully operational is one thing.

FRA certified to operate is another thing. You have to attain one before you can even submit the engine for the FRA's inspections.[/quote

Not aware of a FRA certification?

Southern Steam · **Joined:** Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:07 pm **Posts:** 13

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

If it hasn’t passed FRA it’s not “fully operational” yet.

Glad they were able to have a meeting in their fancy new dome car.

Operational, and In Service are two different things. The locomotive was operational at New Years. It cannot pull trains until it is cleared to be put in service, which requires a FRA inspection and subsequent forms.

And yes, they appear to have a Dome Car that may possibly be pulled behind 1309. It wouldn't be the first one pulled behind a steamer in excursion service.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

Southern Steam wrote:

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

If it hasn’t passed FRA it’s not “fully operational” yet.

Glad they were able to have a meeting in their fancy new dome car.

Operational, and In Service are two different things. The locomotive was operational at New Years. It cannot pull trains until it is cleared to be put in service, which requires a FRA inspection and subsequent forms.

And yes, they appear to have a Dome Car that may possibly be pulled behind 1309. It wouldn't be the first one pulled behind a steamer in excursion service.

I’ve ridden in many dome cars behind steam, that wasn’t the point. The point was how they are choosing to spend their money.

My definition of fully operational is different than others apparently. That’s fine.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2872

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

I’ve ridden in many dome cars behind steam, that wasn’t the point. The point was how they are choosing to spend their money

I wouldn't pile on them for cost surprises with 1309, those were expected (though letting someone make off with the brasses was not). But picking up the dome car seems tone deaf on the part of an entity that claims to be unable to afford ties. Edit: The IP trustee values a similar car at $1M, even if leased that would buy a lot of ties.

msrlha_archivist · **Joined:** Sat Mar 02, 2013 3:33 pm **Posts:** 151

PMC wrote:

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

I’ve ridden in many dome cars behind steam, that wasn’t the point. The point was how they are choosing to spend their money

I wouldn't pile on them for cost surprises with 1309, those were expected (though letting someone make off with the brasses was not). But picking up the dome car seems tone deaf on the part of an entity that claims to be unable to afford ties. Edit: The IP trustee values a similar car at $1M, even if leased that would buy a lot of ties.

According to the owner of the dome car, it is on lease to the WMSR, not purchased by the railroad. Given the sheer surplus of private varnish and passenger equipment on the market and the poor operating climate over Amtrak routes, I'd have to assume that lessors might be seeking any revenue stream possible for viable equipment. Given that, it makes me curious how much of an economic burden this dome car is for WMSR, if any?

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2872

msrlha_archivist wrote:

According to the owner of the dome car, it is on lease to the WMSR, not purchased by the railroad. Given the sheer surplus of private varnish and passenger equipment on the market and the poor operating climate over Amtrak routes, I'd have to assume that lessors might be seeking any revenue stream possible for viable equipment. Given that, it makes me curious how much of an economic burden this dome car is for WMSR, if any?

Possibly, possibly. Wanting to cash in from the initial novelty might make sense. I think I would try to wring every cent out of my existing cars first. But I'm not in the attractions business.

Southern Steam · **Joined:** Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:07 pm **Posts:** 13

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

I’ve ridden in many dome cars behind steam, that wasn’t the point. The point was how they are choosing to spend their money.

My definition of fully operational is different than others apparently. That’s fine.

Just because they are leasing the car, does not mean they have spent any sort of money to do so. There are many different forms of car lease agreements that dont require the lessors to spend any money for the use of the car.

Great Western · **Posted:** Wed Mar 24, 2021 7:49 pm

Congratulations to this team for the work they have done to bring No. 1309 to operation. This has been a an amazing project and it obviously went to the right people to see it through.

mmi16 · **Joined:** Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:05 pm **Posts:** 198

WMSR want to improve their product with both motive power and rail car enhancements. And about the only thing that half the posters in this thread want to do is dump crap on them.

Shame Shame Shame

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2872

mmi16 wrote:

WMSR want to improve their product with both motive power and rail car enhancements. And about the only thing that half the posters in this thread want to do is dump crap on them.

Shame Shame Shame

I would characterize the response in this thread to the new dome car as "a raised eyebrow" rather than "dumping crap," in fact I literally raised an eyebrow when I first heard about the new acquisition.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

mmi16 wrote:

WMSR want to improve their product with both motive power and rail car enhancements. And about the only thing that half the posters in this thread want to do is dump crap on them.

Shame Shame Shame

Is 1309 really an “enhancement” over 734? People on this site constantly claim that the people buying tickets don’t care what’s pulling the train. Now you expect people will be excited to see a “special” steam engine?

Either way... they need to “enhance” the track before they enhance anything else :-p