Just for fun: the restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 #1309
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
Chesapeake & Ohio #1309
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
Much of the recent steam locomotive restoration news focuses on Union Pacific's 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" #4014, which has been operating periodically for the past couple of years.
The Big Boy was restored to operation by the steam shops of the Union Pacific Heritage Program, and has put on quite a show for fans and admirers throughout much of the United States. To learn more about the Union Pacific 4014 restoration program, please follow this link.
A steam story you may have missed is the restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 #1309, a Baldwin locomotive built in 1949 for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. The 1309 pulled heavy coal trains in Kentucky and West Virginia. The engine was retired in 1956.
The locomotive has been restored to operation by a contractor hired by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, located in Cumberland, Md. The engine made its first movements under steam almost one year ago, and has been tested and refined during 2021. In the latter months of 2021, the 1309 has pulled a few excursions, including Polar Express trips during the holidays. The 1309 is the largest locomotive of its type in the world.
The whistle currently used on the 1309 is called a “hooter” whistle because of the “hooting” sound it makes. My understanding is that while the C&O also used some hooter whistles, the one currently being used on the locomotive belonged to Norfolk & Western. The N&W equipped most, if not all, of its 2-6-6-4 Class “A” locomotives, along with its Class “Y” 2-8-8-2 engines, with hooter whistles.
We will see more operation of the 1309 in 2022 and in the future, and we must not take the financial resources, months of hard work, and tremendous amount sweat equity that goes into restoring and maintaining a large steam locomotive for granted. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the individuals involved in this work.
Here is a link to a video produced by the Western & Maryland Scenic Railroad on the engine’s restoration on New Year’s Eve, 2021, via Facebook. It runs about five minutes.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&v=676765163003748
