Western Maryland Scenic #734

[indie1361]

Nice vid! How much are cabrides and what are the age restrictions? Also, is Helmsetters Curve of that tunnel accessable by car?

[LNERMallard]

I am just in love with that whistle. My local steamer, Soo Line 2719, has nice whistle for the size engine it is, but it just doesn't compare with THIS beautiful whistle.

[pennyf9]

how come the bell has a air clapper now? what happened to it being hand rung?

[itm426]

So, about how fast do they run out there?

[athomasait]

@itm426 I can't say for sure how fast this train goes at top speed, but it's a 32 mile round trip, and it's two hours on the train with a 1.5 hour layover in Frostburg. While the train is moving, it's averaging about 16mph. The trip to Frostburg (uphill) takes a little bit longer than the return to Cumberland (downhill). With that said, I love the video!!!!

[Bassfanatic94]

I love that whistle. I wish 844 had that whistle it would make it sound better.

[speediracer4]

What I would do to get certified and have that job year round!! Pay or no pay.  That was the job back in the REAL railroading days!!! Awesome video and a definite favorite!

[CGiordano464]

thats a heavy looking engine. you would think its a mike! what happened to all the WM consolidations?

[CassFan5150]

I love that Whistle. Hancocks are Gods of 3 chimes

[Rockinrailroader765]

Hell there whistles of God's! :p

[ripjump12]

what was the whislte of this engine in 1994

[Strasburg1991]

i finally found what it was it was an Illinois Central Steamboat whistle. the 7 cars on that train were 3 NRHX (Horseshoe Curve Chapter NRHS) cars 103-105, heavy weight coaches 707-709, and WM caboose # 10.

[ripjump12]

yah the whistle is in my whistle quiz at the ending.

[lowtechtimes]

Excellent video. I highly recommend anyone from outside the area to visit the WMSR. It's a great experience, plus there's plenty to do in the area if you like outdoor activities. Since NS ended their excursion program (at least for now), I really appreciate the steam operations that WMSR, Wilmington & Western, and Cass offer. Let's keep 'em all going'!

[micahthatrocks]

VERY NICE WHISTEL... he aint playing it right.....he could have done better when it comes to the cord.

[steved0689]

How else would you expect him to do it right with that cumbersome bell crank?? WMSR 734 has an actual braided whistle cord now, and she sounds better than ever!!

[micahthatrocks]

well.....i know that its hard play a 3chime..and/or a cumbersome bell crank...but i say that atleast he could put some tone to it........but i get what your saying..

[kd7tqn]

I personally think he does a wonderful job at the cord ( lever) i like his style!

[brucer12]

Thx so much for the excellent video---;loved the whistle & the fireman(?) really gets a workout.

[steved0689]

Fireman Donnie, what a character!! But he's not at the WMSR anymore. He went to the C.R. England Trucking Co.

[Enginer12]

WOW, that is one dirty cold fire!! He needs to get that sucker heated up.

[Glennp07]

Enginer12, what do you know about firing a steam locomotive? I dont see anything wrong with how its being operated. Smokey isnt always bad. Sure its incomplete combustion but if your bank firing before you go up a hill....its how you do it. And i've done it.

[CrossCompond]

One also must consider the grade of coal being burned. I don't care how good a fireman one might consider themselves, you can have a raging white-hot fire and still produce columns of smoke with low grade, mine-run coal.

[ripjump12]

didnt it have a different wistle

[FluesheetMcFajabahn]

734 has worn a variety of different whistle over the years. Back in 1999, she wore what might be confused as the current whistle it has now, the Hancock. It in fact was I believe a Nathan longbell three chime. It has the typical low note register triad associated with longbell three-chimes, but a totally different chord structure.

[WM734]

no one knows where the whistle on 734 came from, but its not the same one on big 6, 611, or 3985...its the same one thats on SP&S 700.......or the same type. The whistle came to the rr in 2001 from the dollywood amusement park in dollywood, tennessee. the whistle is an off the shelf whistle (the big northerns and challangers were not the only ones to use these type of deep whistles, we just associate it with them bc they are famous). the whistle could be from anywhere.

[DanielVolker]

I don't know. The one on the 700 sounds a LOT lower than this one.

-Dan

[FluesheetMcFajabahn]

That's because SP&S 700 uses 300psig of superheated steam to operate her whistle. It all relates back to harmonic principles, namely that superheated steam will travel much slower through the air than saturated steam, thus causing a lower chord structure plus that addition 100psig all change the audiable characteristics of a whistle. The whistle on 734 is nothing special, just a typical Hancock three-chime step-top longbell. Where it came from has absolutely no affect on how it will sound.

[DanielVolker]

700 runs on 260psi.

[o484]

you HAVE to hear that whistle in person its beutifle! :D

[foxrivermotorman]

Same whistle that is on Western Maryland Shay

6 at Cass. Well sounds all most the same anyway, I think that they came off of a Western Maryland Challanger I think ?

[jerjar2]

Nice vid, the locomotive would be more realistic if it was in th 800, the 700's series 2-8-0's looked way different.

[WM734]

the chinese whistle was last on for one weekend in july 2006

[1972FordF100]

I might get docked for this but when was the last time this locomotive had the chineese whistle on. I like both of them but the chineese is a quite interesting one that I can always replay in my head.

[CSX6000]

I'm surprised I never complimented this. Great video, nice whistle, great sound. The in-cab footage was wonderful too.

[Strasburg1991]

do you remember the whistle that 734 was wearing back in 1995? i can't tell what it was .

[theironhorse12]

They probably do, but shoveling is not that hard.

[LocoCyc]

Says the expert fireman?

[jps2102]

I noticed when I was watching the video, that it appeared that there was a stoker worm on the locomotive. does this still have a operating stoker or was the firemen just shoveling for effect of the video. That is definately not an easy job.

[steved0689]

He has to get the outside "horseshoe" of the firebox, the stoker's only good for getting the coal onto the center and most of the back half of the grates. Those guys who work this line have taught me alot, but I'm still trying to get on as an actual PAID fireman.

[damphmann]

734 is a beautifully proportioned 2-8-0. A chunky beast! I believe one of her sisters is at Ohio Central-- #33.

Long live steam and the people who support it!

[railroadfan]

Boy oh boy Joe, that first whistle.... 734 letting the world know she's still king of the Alleghanies - WOW.

[nax1345]

ok.. thanks

[nax1345]

HOW DID U GET THE CAB RIDE?

[JoMiFu]

Settle down, dude.

You can purchase cab rides, or at least you could when I was there. I'm not sure if they've changed their policies on that.

[steved0689]

yeah...you still can, but it comes with a hefty $125!!!

[jps2102]

It may be $125 for a ride in the cab, but there not to many people who have had a ride in a Steam Locomotive cab. It is well worth the money for a ride in any locomotive cab. well worth it!!!

[ZylexSNL]

@JoMiFu Yes, you can still purchase cab rides; I rode in it yesterday with my father.

It was awesome, but a really rough ride.

[CaptainAmericalives]

Is the western maryland 734 an old fashioned coal fired engine or has it been converted to oil fired?

[JoMiFu]

734 burns coal, as do most locomotives on the east coast.

[CaptainAmericalives]

I know most of our steam locomotovies in colorado are also coal fired with the exception of The San Luis and Rio Grande 1744 and newly acquirred grand canyon railroad #18. Thanks Jo.

[Kleman09]

@JoMiFu Most locomotives on the east coast burn dielse fuel or biodiesle. However, most steam locomotives on the east coast burn coal because of its easy availability.

[hollywood1340]

Whats the whistle in this video?

[steved0689]

Hancock 3-Chime. Knowing that you work on something like this locomotive every day and watching her trod up the mountain does your heart good too!!!!

[GHOSTCOP5]

Hancock 3 chime

[buggiecar]

Just don't talk to me right now. God dang it. Let me catch my breath. Just never talk to me right now. For g-d dang sakes.

[CaptainAmericalives]

No matter which wistle is on this beautiful piece of machinery. I just love it because it is a steam engine and not desil. Steam Rules!

[buggiecar]

How far does this machine go?

[CSX700]

Great Video Joe, and i agree with Colin 100%!

[WM734]

one more thing...for all you people who give your two cents about "better videos" shove em up your ass cause no one asked you. go make a better video yourself if you feel that way and you walk 2 miles from helm to brush. joe was respected enough by the crew and was invited up in that engine...and im sure none of you rivit counters or know it alls could say the same

[Joe2568]

I agree. I hate when people say they hate the video due to a whistle or something like that. So what if videos aren't the best, if somebody thinks a video sucks, they should keep it to themselves. Great video Joe. Please be sure to watch my W, W, & F Ry cab ride videos. All you need to do is just type WW&F cab ride in the search bar, and you should see my videos. Be sure to watch all of them. I am the firemen in the cab ride videos I have added.

Joe

[WM734]

btw, whoever thinks that whistle "sucks" or sounds like its "dying".....wow....you obviously have NOT heard your fair share of whistles...hate to tell you fellas but that deep raspy sound is how most american whistles sounded....whether you like it or not...its the truth....if you dont like it, complain somewhere else.

[WM734]

its not an sp whistle, its a hancock whislte. a good friend of mine took me up to see it while he was polishing it and it said ''HANCOCK'' right on the bowl. dont try to argue

[buggiecar]

It sounds like a SP 3 chime whistle.

[JoMiFu]

It's a Hancock 3-chime.

[buggiecar]

So it is a hancock. It sounds like the daylight.

[kd7tqn]

Actually the hancock isnt on the 49 anymore, its not on the SP&S 700.

[kd7tqn]

i should say its now on the SP&S 700

[AntiFoam1]

@buggiecar There is no such thing as a SP 3 chime. Read a damn book!

[back10506]

My Goodness. Sounds like the J #611 or the SP 4449.

[CSX700]

He has one heck of a tuch for that whistle!!!!

[ThomasnBear1D3]

Doesn't He!

[GP30RDMT]

Watching the vid... Ray looks exactly the same trip after trip after trip after..

:) -Jeffrey

[TwilightMyst]

I keep coming back to this one Joe!!

Love it and I'm planning a trip

this summer out to Cumberland...

Some really wonderful shots

in this... enjoyed,

Twilight Myst

[arthurtrans]

One more time...that whistle...that whistle...even sweeter than the last one they had on the J.

Tommy

[Robkat3751]

What's the driver size and speed on the engine? Couldn't see the brake stand what are you using? Nice vid.

[mtc1156]

one of your best videos joe,thanx for posting it.734 is just a wee bit bigger then the 40 up here at new hope dont ya think.he he they do a hell of a job down there in maryland,keep up the good work men!!!

[murph734]

That was really nice! I might ride in 734's cab this summer, as I heard I'm old enough. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[stevelerro]

bring work boots and be ready to hold on, its bumpy enough ride in the cars with shocks, the loco has nothing...so its very bumpy...but awesome :)

[GMEMDF7]

I think that this whistle describes the term 'howling whistle' the best. (5.02 and at the end) Very beautiful, something I will never see here in Holland.

[Engineer5344]

joe i dunno about you, but couldn't they find a better whistle to put on 734. the one she has on now, sounds like it wants to die. anyone else here think the same way i do

[murph734]

Thet whistle is my all time favorite. The "clogged throat" effect makes it sound great.

[Miketherailfan]

I agree wholeheartedly.

[GHOSTCOP5]

Hancock 3 chime is one of my favorite whistles

[FluesheetMcFajabahn]

Obviously you have no idea what you're talking about. Hancock made the BEST steam whistles hands down. They are far superior to any annoying high pitched 5 and/or 6 chimes that sound like toys, that you may be fond of. Maybe if you actually heard one in person you'd understand and THATS going out on a limb.

[RustyMetalBoxes]

AMEN!

[WMProductions83]

Nathan or Hancock....the best whistles!

[hollywood1340]

So wrong! Give me a five or six chime any day!

[Trains1991]

This is a beautiful video. I think you did a great job (JoMiFu)! The person who gave you suggestions should go shoot a better video (which I doubt they can) than you did, see how they do.

[shadowsfromthesun]

Nice video, but here's a suggestion for additions or improvements. Shots from The Narrows where the train crosses the bridge there, or with Wills Mountain in the background. A shot of the train coming out of Brush Tunnel. A long zoom shot at Sunny Slopes of the train coming up the long straight there. Overhaed shots from the bridges in Cumberland or further up at Parkersburg Road. Helmstetters curve further up to the west on the hillside at the farm on the outside of the curve.

[JoMiFu]

HAHA... I only had one weekend!

I rode the train (the cab) the first day and chased what I could the second day. I couldn't get EVERYTHING... I try though... ;-)

[mafarnz]

Excellent in cab footage. Very nice. I also like seeing GP30's, though there nowhere near as cool as steam.

[Miketherailfan]

I have to disagree. GP30s are the most cool looking locomotives around IMHO.

[Hyce777]

Not really.

[Spooler734]

Great video Joe, absolutely awesome!

[WMRY1975]

Sorry but it took me a while but....cool video buddy! Next time i'll have to put the 5-chime on and blow it for ya...LOL

[AlleganyMaeve]

Beautiful! Absolutely enjoyed this video, clear shots, good color and wonderful sound. Would like to have some history on this particular train.

[TwilightMyst]

Great video Joe... gotta love that 'sound'!!

I need a new digi camera...

Twilight

[JoMiFu]

Haha, I think somebody's started an inside joke! ;-)

Take care,

Joe

[lzeje657]

Great footage! Gotta love steam

[Superedit]

How'd you score the cab ride?

[GP30RDMT]

You can contact the WMSR to get cabrides, or become freinds with the crew... all nice guys. If you get to known 'em, you'll find yourself in the cab most of the time you're there!-Jeffrey

[WA1LBK]

SPECTACULAR! :) Great videography, both run-by's & in cab! Question - noticed what looked to be a pair of GP-35's (?) at the end of the train; would you know if they doing helper duty, dynamic braking, or both?

[JoMiFu]

The 2 GP30's at the end of the train were there because the train was 14 cars long!

The steamer could have easily handled this load, but the run-around track at Frostburg can only handle about 10 cars.

[WMRY1975]

There relly GP30's built in 1963 #502 and 1965 #501.

[JimTLonW6]

Absolutely brilliant video! There's something so amazingly romantic about these American Railroads!

[JoMiFu]

-Thanks for the compliments!  -Joe