Western Maryland Scenic and contractor Diversified Rail Services are stationary test firing the 2-6-6-2 today in the latest step toward returning to operation the last steam locomotive built for domestic use in the U.S. by Baldwin in 1949.
Contractors raised No. 1309’s boiler to its working pressure of 210 pounds Wednesday afternoon. Gary Bensman, president of Diversified Rail Services, says the test fire is operating as expected.
“We tested the injectors and generally just inspected the boiler for leaks. There are no leaks on the boiler,” Bensman says.
Another component to Wednesday’s test was to open the throttle and blow steam through the superheater units to clean out welding residue, dust, and grinding dirt from the header and branch pipes. Bensman says cleaning out those units and pipes will keep the pistons and valves from collecting dirt after reassembly.
“It was blood red when we started, now it’s clean white,” he says.
Aside from a couple minor piping issues and a small list crews developed from Wednesday’s test fire, the next major steps are to apply the lagging and jacket to the boiler – a task that should begin in the next month or so.
After major funding ran out in fall 2017, wheel work continued as a result of donations from Trains readers contacted by direct mail. At the time contractor Gary Bensman of Diversified Rail said a crew of 4-6 could finish the engine in six months if an additional $530,000 was raised. Work resumed in May after additional funding was secured, and the railroad continues to raise money for the project.
When completed No. 1309, will become one of the largest steam locomotives in regular service in America, and the only Mallet type in operation east of the Mississippi.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad officials say No. 1309’s remaining costs are around $250,000 as of early October.
Ummmm, just considering how they crane lifted these engines in the shops, current boiler loading for test would be seem to be within realms of normal steam locomotive engineering practise.
…yep, just behind the gazillions CSX paid Hunter Harrison…
Go 1309!! Go Diversified Rail Services! Was there last year….thousands of parts all over the floor/shop/outside! Don’t know how they remembered where everything was/is! Ought to be a REAL Beauty when completed!
Gerald,
Just questioning the set up, and not in a troll-like way. Not questioning Mr. Bensman’s expertise since I do not know him, nor have I worked with him. It just seems unusual set-up, but I am looking at it from the perspective of bridge engineer, not a master mechanic. A quick back of the envelope calculation says the set-up could add a couple hundred foot-kips of moment on the boiler. There is apparently enough section that this additional moment doesn’t matter. This is loading that I am not sure would be replicated even when the locomotive was under load, since my understanding is that the draft forces are mainly transferred out through the locomotive frame and running gear.
4-0-0-2 wheel arrangement 😉
Hmm. So far so good in getting in restored. Lots to still do, but they are making progress.
This thing has become one of the biggest money pits of all time .
Wishing the WMS all the success and I hope we get to see the 1309 understeam in the next year or so.
Peter Schierloh,
Are you questioning Gary Bensman’s expertise in rebuilding a steam engine? I certainly wouldn’t question him since he definitely knows his job, it is what his company does after all. I’m pretty sure he knows quite well what they’re doing…test firing a STATIONARY boiler, that has zero stress on it since it’s not under movement.
Though looking at it now, the front truck does appear to be resting on the low pressure running gear support. Still, a mid point support seems like a good idea.
Seems to me the stress on the lower portion of the boiler, especially up by the fire box throat sheet, would be higher than normal during this test given how the boiler was supported. As a Mallet, the boiler will be supported by the high pressure cylinder chest and by the skid plate resting on the low pressure running gear, that together provide much more even support than a truck under the smoke box and the trailing truck. There would seem to be a lot more bending on the boiler as they had it rigged in the test, almost seems a little imprudent.