John Garner, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s superintendent tells Trains News Wire that while the railroad has spent $800,000 of its own money to push forward restoration of the giant articulated locomotive, reimbursements from the State of Maryland have been slow in coming.
Garner says that railroad workers and its contractor, Diversified Rail Services, stopped all restoration work in early March due to the funding setback. The railroad has also had to furlough workers due to a shortage in cash flow.
In 2016, the Maryland governor’s office set aside $400,000 in a matching grant to aid in the restoration of No. 1309. Garner says that the grant program is designed to contribute to the locomotive’s restoration, but the railroad is required to match the state’s financial contribution and must first spend its own capital dollars before an approved reimbursement can be processed by the state. Garner says that raising $400,000 for a single project, while also trying to run the railroad has made it difficult for officials to maintain steady cash flow for the railroad. He says state officials are working to make railroad vendors approved state contractors and to also approve vendors’ invoices.
“It’s all up to the state now, if [the state] cuts a check loose tomorrow, we go back to work,” says Garner.
He declined to predict when the locomotive’s restoration would continue or a project when it may make its first run.
Garner did say that once the next grant reimbursement arrives, contractors have about eight weeks of restoration work remaining before the locomotive is ready to go. Remaining projects include preparations for a hydrostatic test for the boiler followed by reassembly work if the test shows the locomotive will safely hold steam and water under pressure.
In January, the railroad set July 1 as the inaugural weekend for No. 1309’s trip into Cumberland and Frostburg, Md., and began selling tickets for a series of July 4 weekend excursions.
Due to the uncertainties in when the state may send additional money, the railroad has started processing refunds and re-bookings for the July 4th weekend excursions. Garner says that many international visitors are unable to adjust their travel plans to re-accommodate No. 1309’s setback. The railroad is offering $10 vouchers that can be applied to train rides, gift shop purchases, and or on-board services.
I and two friends bought tickets for the November charter co-sponsored by Trains just the day before this news was reported. Since work apparently stopped back in March, I have serious concerns about how ethical all the parties (the WMSR and Trains) acted when they withheld this development from prospective purchasers. I believe we are owed a personal explanation and an offer of immediate reimbursement. I don’t mind advancing funds to assist the rebuilding, but do think we are owed an honest appraisal of the progress, or lack thereof.
Sorry to hear this
I just hope that it’s up and running by September!
I tried to send an online donation today to help restoration restart a little more quickly, but the donation page is down. I hope it has not been down too long as this certainly can not help.
Trains staff can you investigate
Amazon Smile raises $46,000,000.
It’ll run soon enough. Nothing moves fast through the various levels of government. The bills will get paid, the money it already approved. In the meantime, they have a pair of cool GP30’s to use until then. Not even close as a draw, but still 50+ year old locos that can run to Frostburg and back.
I’ve been wondering when something like this would happen on this project. Steam locomotive restorations just don’t go as smoothly as it appeared this one was. Hopefully this is just a minor setback and they’ll be back on track soon.
Jerry Joe Jacobson does not rent out his locomotives…that’s just not in the cards, though he could generously decide to provide the necessary funds and wait to get reimbursed by the WMSR.
Rent a loco from Sugar Creek ? It would have to go outside where people would be able to see it . Not likely .
Rent a steam locomotive from Sugar Creek, Ohio. What is the service status of the tracks all the way to Frostburg? If back in service, on what date? Test out EHH for getting it there.