Maryland Thunder: 1309's Inaugural Weekend on The Polar Express
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- Опубліковано 18 гру 2021
- "Maryland Thunder" is back, and the largest operating locomotive on the East Coast is now in revenue-earning operation!
In one of the biggest and most long-awaited railroading moments in the eastern half of the United States, on the weekend of December 17-19, 2021, former Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 #1309 was finally making revenue trips for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, out of Cumberland, MD. These were no ordinary trips, however, as the railroad planned to put the "Mallet" on the point of the extremely popular "Polar Express" trips.
For numerous reasons, mostly because of the short distances of the Polar Express trips, initially, these trips were diesel-assisted on the rear of the train, and only went the 5 miles or so to the famous Helmstetter's Curve location along the line, instead of the full length of the railroad to Frostburg. However, the engine still made a fine sight (and sound) at the head of the train for three out of the four trips on Saturday, December 18. I managed to catch the train at a few locations during the day. Enjoy this look at "Maryland Thunder: 1309's Inaugural Weekend on The Polar Express"!!
Beautiful composed, visually stunning on all levels. What a locomotive!
Thank you very much for the kind words!!
Despite the long wait I think it was still with it. I think.
I had long thought, from the care it didn't receive, that this engine would eventually revert to a pile of rust. To see it alive is beyond belief. What a great job they did.
100%!!
This is a amazing Polar Express event at the Western Maryland with Chesapeake & Ohio 1309. Great video.
Thank you!!
This is great. One of the better videos I've seen of this run!
Glad you enjoyed it!
These are some fun shots. I’m glad you could go see #1309 in action. Here’s to a long, happy excursion career.
Thank you - and I agree!!!
🚂🚂Love that engine! 🧡🧡
Me too!
Wow. Oh wow. Words fail me.
Thanks for posting this Big Jim!
Thank you for enjoying it - and you're welcome!!
From a UK railfan lovely restoration, and love that hooter!
It's a beauty!
Look for the vid of 1309 being delivered years ago. Glad it is back on the road!
Thank you very much!!
Great video! Thanks for doing this!
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
It's so beautiful
Aw man I can’t wait to chase this next summer
I can't wait to get back there myself!
Christmas lights on polar man this is Living that's Why i love America Brian Ireland yippee, all aboard,
Wonderful video Jim and Merry Christmas :)
Fantastic video man! Was great seeing you trackside again!
100% agreed!! Hopefully we'll see each other again soon!
This is such a unique engine to say the least
It's a C&O Engine, With a Western Maryland Livery & a N&W hooter whistle 😂
Btw these shots are absolutely gorgeous ❤️
And it's got Christmas lights on it! :P
Thanks!!
Enjoyed another fine video by "Big Jim" !!! Guess I was a little surprised to hear the wheel slippage as he pulled out of the station. These locomotives pulled some heavy and long coal trains. A real challenge by the crews "back in the day"Nothing beats steam trains!
I heard the slippage myself. I suspect they're just learning how to handle 1309 and have a lot to learn. I don't mean that in a derogatory way but there's probably very few men alive to ask how to run one of those 2-6-6-2's and no owner's manual to reference. They'll figure it out.
Thank you very much!!! Yeah, there's still a lot to learn and get used to running with this engine. But they'll get the hang of it!! Plus it had rained a little bit while waiting at the depot, so the rails were a bit wet.
Indeed they will!
@@Bigjimvideo You're welcome Jim! And that was a great video by the way, I really enjoyed it! Thanks for taking us to the "Big Show!"
By the way, I was on a Norfolk-Southern steam excursion around 1990 or so pulled by 1218, another articulated. It was a rainy day and we had a 23 passenger car consist. 1218 slipped a bit pulling out of the station as well. They recovered quickly though.
1:15 I didn't realize that was you right beside me. lol It was great to meet you man!
and I didn't know you were in the photo line at 5:09. lol
Likewise!!!
Thanks so much for making my nt Christmas Week
You're welcome!
Excellent video!
Thank you very much!!
It sure is nice to see this locomotive restored and operating. Burning coal with lots of smoke. Perfect!
Agreed 100%! Can't wait to see it this summer.
hi Polar Express saw n cinema 2004! superb video Happy Christmas from Ireland
Happy holidays!
Choo Choo: I'm a train and I approve this video
I would love to live next to a railroad so I could see and hear these amazing machines
Sometimes I feel the same way!
I can hear a CSX freight right now, at West Palm Beach, FL!
Back in 1977, I was at SCL grade crossing in Lake Worth and happened to catch 8444, pulling the Freedom Train southbound to Miami, at speed. When the visit in Miami was over, I was laying in bed awake, late at night. I could hear 8444 blowing every crossing from Boynton Beach to West Palm Beach. Never forget it!
I hear another train. Could be Florida East Coast or CSX...
Looks like she still has a few leaks on the engineer side, but all in all, she preformed very nicely.
She did indeed!! Plenty of time now to get things fine-tuned for next year...
Very cool I was there as well
I hope you enjoyed it!
@@Bigjimvideo I did
Well are there no more leaks, and is she OFFICILLY completed?
She wouldn't be pulling passengers if she wasn't "officially" completed! :D
@@Bigjimvideo makes sense LOL
Did it historically have a single chime whistle?
It had a hooter whistle very similar to the one on it now, but this one is N&W
@@CaptainCrutch
ua-cam.com/video/JZHUfFq3Vks/v-deo.html
Here's an actual C&O long bell bootleg, off Kanawha 2789, guesting on NKP 765---same type as 1309's original. Great job of quilling, especially the first 14-L crossing signal, very expressive and mournful. As you'll hear, the tone is somewhat different than the 2-6-6-2's' current N&W one. It would be nice if WMSR could score one, or a good authentic replica. There are plenty of recordings of N&W whistles available, but hardly any of C&O, so any additions to the library would be welcome.
@@howiesmith1504 Oh the pitches aren’t even close but they’re still pretty similar whistles. Unfortunately 1309’s disappeared long before the WMSR got it, but it would be nice to find a replacement.
@@CaptainCrutch
ua-cam.com/video/MWkh02ilF0E/v-deo.html&sns=em
Dollywood has one off another C&O
1300. Maybe some mechanically competent person could take measurements and figure out what kind of metal the bell is made out of. Apparently not a big deal, no intricate casting---just a length of capped pipe.
how long was the ride, i understand she is not going all the way up the line to frostburg
It went about five miles (give or take?) to Helmstetter's Curve. Or maybe it was five round-trip miles? Not sure.
Why are the crossing signals at that crossing on Helmsteader's Curve not working Why have they been shut off for most of the year?
Not sure.
They stopped working a few months ago and are about to be replaced very shortly.
i am surprised it runs on such bad rails
How are the rails "bad" here??
@@Bigjimvideo not very level they are very up and down