August 7th, 2024 by WCBC Radio

The echoing whistle of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s 1309 steam engine has been missing lately, but work is being done to get the train back into service.  Wes Heinz, Executive Director for the railroad, told WCBC that recently an update was posted on the railroad’s webpage and that work is continuing to replace pistons on the engine…

" The piston and the piston rod repair work is ongoing and we finally posted a picture. We just shot a picture of the blueprint the breakdown of what we were doing but I can tell you that all that is in progress and we we really do hope to have it out here certainly by the fall season." 

The work on the pistons was made possible in part through another railroad group that provided needed parts for the work…

 

" The repair beneficiaries of a another railroad organization that happened to have access to the big steel blanks that we needed to make those pistons and they were donated to us in a trade. We're very fortunate to have some great friends and preservation and we'll have that hooter whistle blowing in no time."