In a Wednesday afternoon Facebook post, the railroad urged enthusiasts to purchase their tickets now for the Allegheny Mountain Express, the first train to be pulled by C&O 1309 this summer. The inaugural trip will take place Saturday, July 1 and will feature a round-trip excursion from Cumberland to Frostburg. The train will leave from Cumberland at 9 a.m. and return at 11:45 a.m. The trip features a 45-minute layover in Frostburg.
According to a Facebook post by the railroad, WMSR is confident that No. 1309 will be under steam before July 1, but is setting that day as the official start date for excursions.
The locomotive, which remains in pieces at the railroad’s shops in nearby Ridgeley, W.Va., has been under restoration since it arrived on railroad property in July 2014.
A recent restoration update published by Trains contributor and Western Maryland Scenic historian John Hankey reported that railroad crews would begin major reassembly of the locomotive in early January. A full copy of that progress report is available here.
C&O No. 1309 was the last locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works for use on a domestic railroad in the United States. It entered service in September 1949. Once operational, it will be the largest articulated steam locomotive in regular service in the United States.
Trains News Wire has reached out to WMSR officials for comment on No. 1309’s announcement.
Oh oh looks like that other steam locomotive in Virginia & North Carolina has some competiton
Thanks to all who offered advice on hotel names and locations near the Amtrak and WMSR depot. Not sure I can go at this point but at least the staying there part is covered. Guess I’d better not wait too long to decide, hey?
Sure hope they can really be held accountable to that inaugural excursion date!
If you stay at the Ramada, be sure to get a room that faces the CSX tracks. Lots of action through that section of railroad.
UP has stated that their goal is to have 4014 in operation for the 150th anniversary celebration of the transcontinental railroad in 2019.
C&O #1309 will be the largest operating steam locomotive until UP 4014 makes her debut, have they given any hints on how soon that will happen? Either way, IMHO there is NO SUCH THING AS too many operating steam locomotives!
It hasn’t been a Holiday Inn for years. The hotel across the tracks from the Amtrak station is now a Ramada. It is about 5 or 6 blocks due east of the excursion station.
About 6 blocks southwest from the Amtrak station is a Fairfield Inn that is on the C&O Canal and a block or so south of the former WM station, now the departure point of the excursion trains. The C&O Canal features a good walking trail throughout the area and a number of tourist attractions.
Mr. Sharp, there is a Holiday Inn near the station and just a few blocks to the north of the WMSR (former WM) depot, from which the trains to Frostburg depart..
Anyone know where at Cumberland WMSR trains depart from? What are the logistics of arriving on Amtrak #29 and staying overnight?
3985 may be larger, but it won’t be operational for a many years. The Big Boy is next in line at the Cheyenne shops. Hence the statement “Once operational, it will be the largest articulated steam locomotive in regular service in the United States” Also, WM Scenic may be going out on a limb with a firm date. Most steam rebuilds won’t give a definite finish date Lots of variables before it’s running reliably.
Very neat that the 1309 is being restored, I do believe the UP 3985 is a bigger articulated locomotive though.
Woo-hoo!!!!