WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE 734?
Just as an automobile requires inspections at certain mileage intervals, so do steam locomotives, except their inspections are based on service days, not mileage. For steam locomotives, those service intervals are daily, 31-day, 92-day, annual, 5th annual, and the "big one" - the 1,472-day inspection. These inspection intervals are federally mandated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
Our steam locomotive, the Western Maryland #734, affectionately known as "Mountain Thunder", was taken out of regular service at the end of the 2015 season for the mandatory 1,472-day inspection. The inspection requires almost complete disassembly of the locomotive so that every nut and bolt can be checked.
Fortunately, we are still able to provide a fun and exciting schedule for 2016, utilziing our restored diesel locomotive, Western Maryland #501. At the same time, we are working on the C&O 1309, which, once restored, will be the largest articulated steam locomotive in regular operation in the United States!
Source and more info here: http://www.wmsr.com/static/332
Over 90 here and I had to put on a sweater half way through it. :)
ReplyDeleteYou can sure tell the grade by the sound. And what a wonderful whistle!
And socks, too??? LOL! Loved the whistle - miss hearing them.
DeleteNeat!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked her, Gorges! :o)
DeleteGot to ride the Durango to Silverton train, in Colorado, on Memorial Day. We thought about riding in one of the gondola cars (open air) but nixed the idea because we didn't know how cold it might be. We were glad to be inside of one of the restored passenger cars when the conductor said it was not uncommon to be covered in soot-n-smoke in the open cars. They also said it took 5 tons of coal to make the climb and only a half-ton to come back down.
ReplyDeleteWe stopped going up and coming back down for river rafters and day-hikers. If I ever get the change to ride again, I want to get off and do some day-hiking.
Oh, what a great trip, Judy! Imagine travelers a hundred years ago traveling across the country - they must have be covered in soot! Interesting info on the amount of coal used! 'Hope you do get to ride her again! :o)
DeleteI love the sound of the train. Regrettably, no cooling ;). Miserable in this swelter at 89F with no ac.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you don't have an a/c. When we were little my dad would put a bowl of ice in front of a fan that sat on top of the icebox. Make sure you drink plenty of water and wrap a wet bandana around your neck. Please take care of yourself!
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