Not to be a Weisenheimer, Sir, but the correct spelling for an NdeM 4-8-4 is "Niagara". You are correct that it is different from the town or waterfall. However, NdeM officials were sufficiently impressed with the NYC 4-8-4 locomotives being erected by ALCO, that they copied the name of the wheel arrangement for their locomotives, but it is spelled with 3 A's in Mexico.

I'm still betting that we haven't seen the last of #1309.

Let me add my voice to slamming the door on that idiot spelling 'Niagra' (as if a locomotive were an erection-enhancement dodge).

But there is a difference in spelling, one that my keyboard skills don't easily support: there is an accent over the first 'a', and the word isn't pronounced 'nye-AGG-ruh'... I'll let Sammy tell how to pronounce it. (Amusingly the Spanish pronunciation is remarkably close to the original Native American pronunciation of the river's name...)

I confess I'd no more object to making the Mexaican Alco look like a junior Potomac than I objected to the D&H 'conversion' of a T-1 that won the giant Dremel as 'model of the month', or a certain 'Clinchfield' Challenger. I agree happily that 'tain't serious preservationism. But neither is operating a famous C&O engine that isn't restored to full C&O context...

I'll skip the phonics lesson, unless somebody really wants to know.

Richard Steinbrenner and I had great plans for #3028. While I wanted to see her done up NdeM, with some cars like the ones that US roads sold to Mexico also done up NdeM, and there are plenty of Hispanics that would have liked to see that, too.... we understood that most steam fans didn't get off on the idea.

Our idea was to letter her for AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY, using a made-up factory demonstrator paint job.

It's a sad fact of life that no matter how you paint a restored steam locomotive, SOMEBODY who didn't do any of the work or pay for any part of the rebuild, will gripe about it. However, once a person faces this, he can quit worrying about whomever has a problem with the paint job, because it never does any good. You satisfy one guy that wants to see something different, and you'll give the next guy something to complain about... it never ends.

Has anyone heard any updates on 1309? Has any work begun? Are they still in the fundraising phase? Shockingly little information has been released and inquiries all seem to be ignored.

I received an email promoting the Polar express trains for the Santa season which featured a diesel in the graphics. I wrote to them asking if the Polar trains would be steam powered and got a prompt response that " the steam engine is under going repairs and we do not have an estimated return to service date".

That's the latest and greatest. Ross Rowland

"the steam engine is under going repairs and we do not have an estimated return to service date".

Honestly, that is one of the smartest statements they have made over the past few years about the steam situation on the railroad. Too many deadline promises have been made that were not kept.

Bart

I definitely would not expect a date, but I could see where it would be helpful for them to go "We need approximately $XX,000, and we've currently raised $XX,000, please consider donating to help us reach the goal."

I agree with not providing any sort of date but perhaps an update on funding or “orders have been placed with fabricators” or perhaps some pictures of the current status or state of any progress being made…. The same canned response over and over again with little to no updates certainly leaves many questioning what if any progress has been made in returning her to service.

Also, something in the way of an update or further explanation of the repairs being made could help to keep interest levels up and potentially help with any further/future fund raising efforts.

just my 2 cents

Western Maryland has an almost perfect set up. Turntable. A town with a historic depot to depart from. A town with a historic depot to travel to. A grade for the engine to work. A tunnel. Tracks good for decent speed.

And yet they have pretty much written the playbook for how not to run a railroad.

- source: https://www.times-news.com/news/local_n ... c3b6a.html





- source: https://www.times-news.com/news/wmsr-st ... 38ff2.html

It always strikes me as interesting that these sentiments can be expressed when these types of statements are a matter of public record. If August comes and goes and the 1309 still isn't up and about, then it's time for another update, I'd say.

What incentive does WMSR – or any organization – have to wade into the maw when statements in the public record or record-breaking years are so easily ignored? A simple Google search of "western maryland 1309 news" yields these results.

The 1309 showed up for less than 30% of WMSR's trains amid its record-breaking year. As train people, we sometimes can only see the trees in the forest and not the forest for itself. The truth of the matter is that the 1309 is neither the savior of the WMSR or its yoke of death. It's an asset. Working on it, fundraising for it – any resources or manpower dedicated to 1309 – take away resources that can be used to ensure that revenue-generating trains keep generating revenue.

The article you cited was from July of last year and referenced a return in mid-August 2023. I haven’t seen any updates since January 2024.

I can’t get onboard with Zephyr’s comments about WMSR being an example of how not to run a railroad (at least not since Wes assumed the helm), and I’m not denying that they’ve been very successful without 1309 in service, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the locomotive is a huge draw and the railroad has billed it as such (including a heavy advertising campaign around it) so there are people who are interested in it’s status.

Again, I’m not looking for any kind of definitive date on its return to service, but the lack of any information certainly raises questions about the status of the “asset” What’s the harm in saying, “we’re still actively raising money before we start the work” or work has begun or just some form of status update?

If they were being smart they'd take the opportunity to bring in a visitor.

It's a shame 611's all tied up.

The good news is that they've learned not to put out dates for the 1309's return to service that they subsequently fail to meet.

The bad news is that going silent doesn't enhance their position especially within the donor ranks and hopefully they'll realize that sooner than later and issue an update on where things stand??

Hope springs eternal. Ross Rowland

All they 'really' have to do is post periodic "updates" on what the problems were, how they intend to go about working on them, and how the work is progressing technically. (Much of this being essentially theatre to show they're doing something meaningful and not just draggin' tail...)

If the problem happened to be caused by some operating "mistake", no need to invoke the anti-Dickensians we had here during the swimming-pool chemical/flatted driver/female complaint era. In other words, we should have the grace to acknowledge progress rather than complain about the continued absence of operating steam for the railfans.

Finally! They put out an update. Looks like they’re still in the planning and fund raising stage, but it’s good to hear what is going on. Still difficult to understand how/why a lubricator failure would result in the need to replace the piston rod. Is it possible that the piston seized and the rod bent?

From the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s Facebook page:

Maryland Thunder Update:

WMSR is running full steam ahead in 2024. The support we have received for steam locomotive #1309 is fantastic. Keep it up!

#1309 required piston work following a lubricator feed issue that occurred during the holidays in 2023. Due to our ever-increasing schedule and limited staff, we have continued to work as time permits to prepare #1309 for returning to the rails in 2024.

WMSR is excited to share the intricate work being planned to replace the worn piston component. Our photos highlight the detailed craftsmanship needed to make #1309 whole again. The new piston material has been donated through a trade with our friends at the Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Steam Locomotive Trust. The machining of the cylinder bore, and fabrication of the piston/piston rod will be completed with the invaluable assistance from Maine Locomotive & Machine Works, as well as our dedicated volunteers and staff of the WMSR.

Your donations at work!

Donate Here: https://wmsr.com/donate