*

The prime example of “a situation can always change for the better when you least expect it”.

Goes for any project: whether that’s a basket case of a railroad, a piece of equipment in danger of being gone for good, or simply a popular excursion steam locomotive from the past that is currently dormant, anything can change and change for the better.

The past few years especially have truly taught me to never say never in this regard. If a big boy can run in preservation and the EBT can be saved from oblivion, then seemingly anything can happen.

My Great Uncle was a Cotton Belt runner, who took his pension after bidding all the steam jobs down from the best to the worst. I met him in the early 60s, a few years after there were no more steam jobs, and he took me to see the #819. He told me that she would most likely be scrapped soon, and she looked like it to me.

Shortly after that, I saw the deadline of the Moscow Camden & San Augustine and WT Carter Lumber Co. Every engine looked hopeless except the 2-8-2 #14, and IIRC 2-8-0 #9. We're talking serious decay, trees growing through the smokeboxes and cabs, etc... I'm not sure how many times over I was wrong in that case, but I'm glad of it.

The C&O 2-8-4 in Newport News, looking great but not running today, I thought she'd be cut up 45 years ago.

In El Salvador, their 2-8-0s looked about like the WT Carter engines in 1988...

I bet there could be many more replies on this thread. I've only tickled the surface. And, of course, I'm hoping for a miracle with poor little Coronet Phosphate #6.

VIVA WMSR #1309 !!!

Dare we look at Britain?

Could anyone have honestly predicted that the moral equivalent of a PRR K5 Pacific with poppet valves could be rebuilt into one of the most powerful passenger steamers extant after having its cylinder and valve chest removed in the scrap yard for sectioning for museum display........?

https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotive ... loucester/

Here's an excellent 1309 video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK73XEMRcP8

Very cool video!

Wonder how much weight the 1309 is pulling vs what the diesels are helping. Of course they are still in the break in phase so no doubt being extra cautious. Being a compound it probably will never as loud as a simple articulated.

Thank you for posting the video. One of the best displaying the engine sounds. No. 1309 certainly has a very interesting sound.

Not just one but two diesels!

Why does it say "keep fire away" from the air pump intakes?

How is that working out with the public cycle path right next to the main line?

The GAP trail has been there since around 2013 I believe. I've not heard any problems with the two running along side of each other.

The "Keep Fire Away" is the paper air filter housings for the air compressor intakes.

Tim W.

I highly, HIGHLY, doubt that those two dismals were anything but extra weight and along for the ride on every climb 1309 has made so far up to Helmstetter's Curve and beyond.

Rob Gardner

I can guarantee you the diesels were working on the 330 Saturday trip just beyond Dakota Street. They are quite audible in the video. I'd call it hit and miss. 1309 did the vast majority of the work. The diesels helped out occasionally here and there. No real surprise. It's a new engine and things are still being worn in. It was still a great show that weekend, and huge kudos to everyone who helped bring that thing back from the dead in the face of overwhelming odds.

I got into the railfan world and hanging with other fans when I was 14 and everyone I knew was well older than I was. But even back then, a few of them told me, "ride/chase them when you can," because the fires could be dropped forever the following day.
In recent years I've realized the opposite can be the case as well.
I would have bet a bundle that 1309 would never roll again even coupled to a diesel around the grounds of the B&O museum, let alone steaming again!
So these days, I don't assume anything.

If you enjoy being dead wrong, Superheater, you should try paint colors sometime. LOL

Cheers to everyone who helped get #1309 back up and running again!!! {insert beer smiley here}