Western Maryland Scenic RR 1309 delayed

Patrick Fahey · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2022 8:31 am **Posts:** 74

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File comment: Photo by Pat Fahey Oct 2022

At Cumberland, MD station getting ready to go to Frostburg, MD Oct 27th 2022 # 2.jpg [ 83 KiB | Viewed 16578 times ]

Hi all
I was just up on the Western Maryland scenic facebook page,, now there is another delay of one week before the Steam locomotive 1309 will run.
The locomotive was supposed to be ( IN SERVICE) this Saturday May 3rd, 2025,,,according to the Western Maryland scenic web page..
So those of you that were hoping to see Steam return to the WMSR,, will have to wait another week..
The railroad have not conducted any test runs with the locomotive as of this post.. since the locomotive received new pistons and rods.
Sorry to be the bearer of Bad News ,, for those of you hoping to see and ride behind this fine locomotive.. will have to wait.???
Hopefully the WMSR,, will get this sorted out,, before they advertise the engine will be in service. Pat.

co614 · **Posted:** Sat May 03, 2025 8:02 pm

You would think they'd have learned by now with the many, many missed previous return to service dates they failed to deliver on.

It will be a long time until they're taken at face value.

Sad but true. Ross Rowland

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1716

if they actually get her up and running this year I need to be sure to make the trip - I don't want to miss out on riding behind her. I'm quite critical of how the operation is run but that's a very unique locomotive running on a lovely stretch of railroad!

Patrick Fahey · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2022 8:31 am **Posts:** 74

Hi all
I agree with the (2) above posts ,,, Pat.

whodom · **Posted:** Thu May 08, 2025 7:27 pm

According to their FB page, 1309 was steamed up today, made a test run, and will return to service tomorrow.

co614 · **Posted:** Thu May 08, 2025 8:13 pm

Let's hope that whatever bugs were discovered on the test run are repairable within that very small window?? Here's wishing them a successful, safe operation.

Hope springs eternal. Ross Rowland

Patrick Fahey · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2022 8:31 am **Posts:** 74

Hi All
Yesterday for the 1st time the 1309 moved since being repaired with new pistons and rods. The engine made a small trip from the Yard to Cumberland station. It was only a small test run,, it was captured on the rail camera at Cumberland.
According to Facebook, and the Western Maryland Scenic web page, the locomotive will be used on the sunset special trips,.
Lets hope the RR the best of luck,, they will probably be more adjustments to the locomotive,, ( IF Needed ) to make her 100% trouble free...
The shop crew and the group in Maine that made the new parts for the locomotive should be congratulated . Pat.

The_Pine29 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 15, 2021 8:55 am **Posts:** 28

Pray that Allegany County Maryland Gets plenty of Rain this Summer or she will be taking another Slumber This Summer

hullmat991 · **Joined:** Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:12 pm **Posts:** 224

The_Pine29 wrote:

Pray that Allegany County Maryland Gets plenty of Rain this Summer or she will be taking another Slumber This Summer

Considering PA is having to deal with multiple wildfires currently, and my parents in Franklin county are receiving water conservation notices; I would say erring on the side of caution would be a good idea. A quick look at drought conditions on drought.gov show Cumberland MD is even worse off.

John D · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:28 pm **Posts:** 479

May 9th: 1309 in operation. May 10th: no 1309 seen. Chatter on live webcam:
" just spoke with the engineer! They’re a little bit of issues going on on 1309 so she will not be operating today. They’re hoping to operate tomorrow.".

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2612

I dislike cell phone screen sized videos, plus all the other videos tacked on below, but here it is May 9, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MbnulEPawCo

Western Maryland Scenic RR 1309 delayed

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