C&O 1309 Is Back Under Steam At Last!

[SOO2719]

Western Maryland Scenic had a nice way to ring in the new year last night: fire up and move Chesapeake & Ohio 1309!

https://www.facebook.com/WMSRailroad/posts/10158818502052970

Interesting whistle she's got.
Happy New Year, folks.

[SOO2719]

Here is a free to read article from Railfan & Railroad about 1309 moving under her own power again after over sixty years:

http://railfan.com/co-1309-moves-under-its-own-power-for-first-time-in-64-years/

Image from the article:

[Mark D]

That thing looks like a brute of a locomotive! But I don't know the wheel arrangement and can't see it in the photo
Can you post some information about this beast?

Mark D.

[SOO2719]

She's a 2-6-6-2 Mallet, Mark.
Here is some more information:

https://wmsr.com/1309-restoration/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_and_Ohio_1309

[Al_Seever]

Quite a bit of work and a bumpy ride to get this far. Awesome.

Al Seever
Minneapolis, MN

[John Bohon]

There are videos circulating of 1309 making a test run part way up the mountain today. The videos combined basically show the run from Cumberland station to Helmsteaders curve. The test run reportedly stopped just short of the tunnel above the curve. The engine took 3 cars and appeared to be doing well.

John Bohon

[SOO2719]

Here is the latest from Trains (article is free to read):

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/western-maryland-scenic-1309-received-fra-approval/