1309 - All dressed up and nowhere to go

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1719

Maybe the owners of the tracks would rather have these rail bikes than the WMSR?

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1029

TrainDetainer wrote:

Sounds like the county decided it would be fun to add the railbikes without understanding regulatory and safety requirements involved, and it sounds a lot like they didn't contact WMSR first. They'll need to work out some sort of temporal separation agreement,

I have not seen any indication that the WMSR is going to run this summer. According to earlier posts in this thread, their track is not legal for passenger service and, AFAIK, repairs have not yet started.

My understanding is that the peak (summer) tourism season starts when schools close for the summer. My kid's public school summer break starts just 6 weeks from now and the Montgomery County (MD) public schools summer break starts just 8 weeks from now.

The WMSR.com's home page currently has a banner that says "The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is currently closed due to Covid-19". Their website is not accepting any reservations either.

jayrod · **Posted:** Tue Apr 13, 2021 6:38 pm

WMSR plans: https://wmsr.com/2021/04/western-maryland-scenic-2021-excursion-plans/. They plan to open this year... sometime.

Track is downgraded to Class 1. All or some I don’t know. Class 1 limits passenger to 15 mph. They say that will add a half hour to the run time.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1029

jayrod wrote:

WMSR plans: https://wmsr.com/2021/04/western-maryland-scenic-2021-excursion-plans/. They plan to open this year... sometime.

Thank you for pointing that out; I overlooked it. The messsage, dated April 9, 2021, includes this line:

Quote:

The full schedule, more details about each class of service, and other pertinent information will be posted on our website next Friday at 5 pm. Tickets will also go on sale at this time.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1029

A June 9, 2021 article from Railfan & Railroad magazine:

Quote:

CUMBERLAND, Maryland — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s Board of Directors announced Wednesday that it had selected an interim director while its current leader takes a 60-day leave “to address health and family concerns.”

Wesley Heinz was appointed to replace John Garner on June 9. Heinz is no stranger to railway preservation or the WMSR’s high-profile restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 1309. Heinz is presently the executive director of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum in Portland, Maine.

Link to full article: Western Maryland Scenic Names New Interim Director

Rob Gardner · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:50 pm **Posts:** 575

This is a good move for WMSR in a good direction. I don't know anything behind John Garner's sabattical, but Wes Heinz is a known commodity and a proven winner in rail preservation with the Maine Narrow Gauge RR Museum and assisting on multiple steam restoration projects around the eastern US over the past few years. He was also a key player in the big push to NYE to fire up the 1309. Let's throw our support behind Wes in helping WMSR get across the finish line with the 1309 and to get WMSR back in operation and making money and spreading smiles across faces when 1309 starts putting on a regular show when climbing the grade to Frostburg on a daily basis.

Rob Gardner

co614 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 10, 2021 1:51 pm

Rob makes good points. Let's all wish the new man every success. Lord knows this outfit is overdue for a little good luck !!!

Onward & upward. !!! Ross Rowland

BM765 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:06 pm **Posts:** 145

https://www.times-news.com/news/local_n ... f062d.html

The above article contains a lot more details. It seems that John Garner is permanently out as executive director due to health/family concerns. Heinz seems like a good fit and I wish him nothing but success. I also pray for John and his family. While WMSR was likely overdue for some new leadership, I'm not sure I'd call someone stepping down because of a health issue a stroke of good luck.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1719

BM765 wrote:

l. While WMSR was likely overdue for some new leadership, I'm not sure I'd call someone stepping down because of a health issue a stroke of good luck.

But it’s the truth. :-/

mmi16 · **Joined:** Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:05 pm **Posts:** 183

Sustaining organizations move from leader to leader.

Shogo Takizawa · **Joined:** Thu Jun 29, 2017 9:10 pm **Posts:** 24

BM765 wrote:

I'm not sure I'd call someone stepping down because of a health issue a stroke of good luck.

While I agree with this sentiment, I believe the idea for Mr Rowland's use of the term "good luck" was to wish Mr Heinz good luck, rather than to suggest that Mr Garner's unplanned departure or his unfortunate health issues were a "stroke of good luck" for the organization.

Please correct me if I have interpreted incorrectly.

- S.T.

BM765 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:06 pm **Posts:** 145

Shogo Takizawa wrote:

BM765 wrote:

I'm not sure I'd call someone stepping down because of a health issue a stroke of good luck.

While I agree with this sentiment, I believe the idea for Mr Rowland's use of the term "good luck" was to wish Mr Heinz good luck, rather than to suggest that Mr Garner's unplanned departure or his unfortunate health issues were a "stroke of good luck" for the organization.

Please correct me if I have interpreted incorrectly.

- S.T.

My comment wasn't directed at Ross or anyone else. It's just the overall tone I'm seeing regarding this announcement here and on other forums. Don't get me wrong, I think WMSR has been long overdue for some management changes but having that come about because of a health issue is not a positive way for it to happen.

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 2950

BM765 wrote:

I'm not sure I'd call someone stepping down because of a health issue a stroke of good luck.

That's not what he said.

Quote:

Let's all wish the new man every success. Lord knows this outfit is overdue for a little good luck !!!

He's wishing the new director good luck. He said nothing, good or bad about the old one leaving or the circumstances of it. The comment wasn't "Oh, well that's good!" but rather "I hope they have good luck under the new manager." Small, but critical difference, since as you point out, the reason for leaving is unfortunate.

co614 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2021 11:47 am

Wow. I guess I'll have to be even clearer on my posts. I was not commenting at all on Mr. Garner's departure just wanting to wish the new man every success. And, stating the obvious that the WMSR is overdue for some good luck after all its been through.

I'll do my best to be CRYSTAL clear in future for those that have that terminal parsing ailment.

Ross Rowland

BM765 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:06 pm **Posts:** 145

co614 wrote:

Wow. I guess I'll have to be even clearer on my posts. I was not commenting at all on Mr. Garner's departure just wanting to wish the new man every success. And, stating the obvious that the WMSR is overdue for some good luck after all its been through.

I'll do my best to be CRYSTAL clear in future for those that have that terminal parsing ailment.

Ross Rowland

Ross, my comment was in no way directed at you. I should have made that clear since you did mention "good luck" and your comment immediately proceeded mine so I can see how it was misconstrued. My comment was a general comment based on other comments I had read in multiple places. The original announcement was a little vague on why this was transpiring the but the article I linked provides details that are a bit more sobering.

1309 - All dressed up and nowhere to go

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