Western Maryland 1309: Fireball Freight Service

Maryland Thunder, as she's called, is the affectionate nickname for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's very own 1309. On the first weekend of November 2022, the Trains Magazine hosted a photo charter featuring the famed locomotive with eight hoppers and a caboose in tow. For the first time since the retirement of beloved locomotive 734, steam photo freights were documented at historic locations on the 16 mile route to Frostburg.

Western Maryland 1309 is a 2-6-6-2 articulated mallet locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works 1949 and is the last steam locomotive constructed by the once mighty builder. Delivered to the Chesapeake & Ohio in the same year, 1309 was immediately pressed into service, pulling long and heavy coal trains up the gruesome mountain grades of West Virginia and Kentucky. After a mere 7 years, 1309 was retired in 1956 being stored until 1972, when she was acquired by the B&O Railroad Museum. In 2014, the WMSR acquired the 1309, but she wouldn't run until New Years Eve 2020, moving under her own power for the first time in 64 years. The project faced numerous setbacks and funding issues, but by the end of 2021, the locomotive was deemed well enough to pull revenue trains.

In memory of Jim Wrinn, editor of Trains Magazine of 17 years and avid rail preservationist.

Special Thanks:
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
Trains Magazine
The Crew of 1309
My Family

Ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad: https://wmsr.com
Support Trains Magazine: https://www.trains.com

Filmed on November 5th and 6th, 2022
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