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WMSR Receives Emery Rail Heritage Trust Grant

July 22nd, 2020 by WCBC Radio

The Emery Rail Heritage Trust and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad are pleased to announce the trust has issued a special mid-year grant of $50,000 to help complete 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 as part of the "Steam the Last Baldwin" fundraising campaign. The grant will go toward $150,000 needed to complete No. 1309, the last Baldwin built for domestic service in 1949.

 

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is working to finish the $3.2 million restoration without interruption this year. Contractor Diversified Rail Services recently worked with Hulcher to re-wheel the locomotive and steam-test it. Work is underway to complete the running gear, back head piping, stoker, and hundreds of other final details necessary to complete restoration. Once in operation, the locomotive will be the world’s largest operating Mallet, a locomotive that uses its steam twice, and the largest articulated in operation in the eastern U.S.

4 Responses to “WMSR Receives Emery Rail Heritage Trust Grant”

  1. July 22, 2020 at 3:53 pm, mac said:

    But more important, who cares?

    Reply

  2. July 23, 2020 at 11:06 am, Brian said:

    Maybe it will attract people who are not here to buy or sell drugs

    Reply

    • July 23, 2020 at 1:04 pm, DPM said:

      > Or better yet, sell drugs on the train!! Then we’ll finally have a REAL tourist attraction!!! (kidding)

      Reply

  3. July 24, 2020 at 12:38 am, Eric said:

    $3.2 million restoration? For a single steam engine? I’m all for historic preservation (OK, my wife and I did a Christmas run on No. 1309, so I may be a little biased), but they could have built a new one out of 14 karat gold cheaper. I think an audit is in order. Someone was spooning some cream off the top.

    Reply

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