No. 1309 is releasing steam from the right-side cylinder cock as she rounds the bend.

Cylinder cocks are valves that release steam condensate (water) that occurs when cylinder temperatures are significantly cooler than that of the incoming steam, typically when the locomotive begins to move.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad No. 1309, also known as “The Beast of the East”, is a H-6 class 2-6-6-2 "Mallet" type articulated steam locomotive.

It was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in 1949 for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway and was the last engine made by Baldwin for domestic service.

After it retired from active service it was placed on display at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD. It was acquired by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) in 2014 and eventually restored to operating condition. It made its official debut at WMSR on December 17, 2021.

No. 1309 is operated on 17 miles of the former Western Maryland Railway main line from Cumberland, Md to Frostburg, Md.