One last ride. Western Maryland Consolidation #734 rides the Frostburg Turntable as the engine is turned during a Lerro Productions Freight Charter in February of 2016. The locomotive performed westbound run-bys in the morning, and the plan for the afternoon was to face east. We didn't know it at the time, but this was to be the 734's last time in Frostburg before being sidelined for a 1,472-day boiler inspection. With just a few service days remaining on her Form 4, she was scheduled to come back here during a couple of special events planned for the spring, but problems associated with earth movements along the ROW just east of Frostburg, have taken the last couple of miles of the WMSR's trackage out of service, at least for the near term. Unfortunately, the 734's last runs will not take her to Frostburg.
It should be noted that the required inspection that is going to sideline the 734 for several years, is just that....an INSPECTION, not an overhaul. The FRA requires that all steam locomotives undergo a very thorough boiler inspection and UT survey after every 1,472 days of service, or every 15 years, whichever comes first. The locomotive is not required to be "overhauled" or "completely rebuilt". The requirement is for the boiler to be inspected and repaired as needed, and for a new calculation of the boiler's maximum working pressure. Now, an operator may CHOOSE to overhaul or rebuild a locomotive during this inspection process, if it needs additional repairs to running gear for example, but that is not part of the required inspection. The FRA enacted these inspection requirements back in the late 1990's, primarily as a result of the firebox failure/boiler explosion on the Gettysburg Scenic Railroad, which the NTSB attributed to poor maintenance and operating practices. It is an expensive requirement....and one of the primary reasons why steam locomotives are so costly to operate....but it is a necessary step in safely operating these 100 year-old machines, that were originally built to last perhaps 30 years.
