470's Builder's Plate

Odd Duck Foundry of Orrington, Maine, has undertaken the creation of a replacement builder's plate for 470. This is the master match-plate from which the plate replacements will be cast. The plates for the locomotive will be cast in iron, whereas copies will be made available for sale in aluminum, if interest is expressed. 470's original builders plate were lost during her service years when enlarged steam delivery pipes were applied to the locomotive. The new pipes overlapped the location of the builder's plates and they were either discarded or damaged and removed. Sister 469 had similar damage to its builders plates and wore them in damaged condition until she was scrapped. This plate is modeled upon an original rubbing of 469's plate, which is privately owned and made available to New England Steam.

2014-07-09_American plate 002.jpg

Donation from Altoona

New England Steam has received a number of gifts from steam locomotive preservationists and railroad historians, but one especially gratifying donation came this week from the "Horseshoe Curve Chapter N.R.H.S."

NESCo's President was taking a break from the #470 project by visiting, where else, but Horseshoe Curve, the Railroaders Museum of Altoona, the Strasburg Railroad, and several live steam railroad clubs.  Quite coincidentally, he chanced to meet members of the N.R.H.S. group, leaving their monthly meeting at the Railroader's Museum, in Altoona.  After a warm invitation to join the group at a local restaurant, NESCo brochures were distributed to the diners. With a quorum of voting members present, it was decided to support the salvation of Maine Central #470 with a donation of $500!  Talk about the "Brotherhood (and sisterhood) of Railroaders"!  This thoughtful gesture of support shows a recognition of the importance and immediacy of railroad preservation, no matter where it is being attempted.  Certainly the people of this Altoona chapter could have focused exclusively on their own backyard, their own projects.  Instead, in recognition of the need, the "Horseshoe Curve Chapter N.R.H.S." set the bar higher and showed faith in the #470 project.

New England Steam Corporation wishes to acknowledge this gift, and thank the chapter membership.  In time, New England Steam Corporation will emulate your generosity.

WLOB Radio Interview

NESCo President Richard Glueck spoke to the Portland Rotarians on Thursday, May 15th at their Sunrise Breakfast. The program included a short history of the #470, from arrival to its current position, followed by a second talk on the goals of New England Steam Corporation and the urgency of underwriting the project.

At 10:30AM, Rotary President and New England Steam member John Henninges appeared with Richard on the "Shannon Moss Morning Radio Show" on WLOB radio.  The segment lasted about 20 minutes and was broadcast live.  You can listen to the entire interview below!

News Update

The "470 Club" has graciously allowed New England Steam Corporation to scan over 200 individual image negatives of locomotive #470, from their historic library.  These, with inclusion of the privately own images donated to NESCo, comprise the single largest collection of photographic documentation of Maine Central steam locomotive #470.  NESCo has been granted permission to use the images to benefit the restoration of the locomotive, including publishing them with credit to the collection of the 470 Club.  We may not sell the images as fund raising items.  If you see an image credited to the 470 Club, you may purchase it by contacting them directly.  From NESCo's perspective, these photographs and negatives are priceless, covering all periods from arrival on the Maine Central, to placing the locomotive on display while still under steam.  

Documentation of #470 is essential to the restoration process.  If you have any original drawings, blue prints, snapshots, negatives, or slides, of Maine Central #469 or #470, we would like to acquire them, either for copying or archiving.  

As we get closer to purchase of the locomotive, we continue to seek hardware donations.  An original Maine Central passenger whistle, replacement marker and classification lights, headlight and tender light, are all being sought.  Please contact us if you are able to help provide these locomotive essentials (newenglandsteamcorp@gmail.com).   

National Train Day is May 10th!  Please visit exhibitors at the Airport Mall in Bangor, Brunswick station in Brunswick, and the Portland Station in Portland!  NESCo will have representatives at Bangor and Brunswick!  We are anxious to greet old friends and meet new supporters. 

Touch-a-Train Event Success

Touch-A-Train Event #1, hosted by the Maine Eastern Railroad on April 12th, was just about perfect in every manner possible.  Maine Eastern opened its historic FL9 locomotive #488, lounge-buffet Penobscot Bay, coach Ash, a newly refurbished caboose, and a historic snowplow to the general public, on the most beautiful day of the year to date.  The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum brought their Turner Centre Dairying Association #65 refrigerator car and displayed it on a length of two foot gauge track, filled with historic information.  In the Penobscot Bay, the WW&F sold steam restoration tee-shirts, while the Boothbay Railway Village welcomed visitors with Thomas the Tank Engine temporary tattoos and information about their services.  Maine Operation Lifesaver presented their information as visitors toured the caboose.  At 11:00 AM, Darling's Auto Group arrived with their ice cream truck.  The announcement of "Free ice cream!" simply added to the enjoyment for everyone.    

There is no doubt that children love trains, as do their parents and grandparents.  Children explained to moms the difference between each type of car, but watching small faces beam while sitting at the throttle of the historic locomotive had to be the kicker for everyone involved.  Structured access to "real trains" was complimented repeatedly.  Ice cream only made it better.  

Six donation jugs were placed in the train and each was generously stuffed with bills, coins and checks.  Over $2,000 was collected to purchase, move, and restore Maine Central #470.  Old railroaders were especially moved by the effort, offering stories and thanks repeatedly.  One visitor, singer-songwriter Lenny, presented NESCo with two copies of his CD, Steam Whistle Chaunticleer, with original music dedicated to the steam locomotive legacy, and one in particular, about "The Fate of 470".  Said the author, "I wrote it before you people came forward to save her.  Had I waited, I could have added a happier ending!"  

Touch-A-Train Event #1 brings our donation and earnings level close to $25,000.  Moving the locomotive will require additional funding.  Touch-A-Train Event #2 will be held in Ellsworth, at Washington Junction, on June 21st.  Hosted by the Downeast Scenic Railroad, the venue will be different as will the equipment.   The Darlings Ice Cream Truck will be present once again, and other surprises are in development.  Do you have a display with which to share and entertain visitors at the Downeast Scenic?  Does your business want to get behind the restoration of "The Mascot of Maine" with sales, "give-aways," or vending at the site?  Please let us know by emailing newenglandsteamcorp@gmail.com.  Your donation is tax deductible and will make a huge difference in children's faces for decades to come.  Remember, every dollar earned goes directly into Maine Central #470.  As a participant, visitor, or donor, we are preserving Maine's railroad heritage.

Amsted Rail Donates Roller Bearings

Amsted Rail Company, Inc. of Petersburg, Virginia, has confirmed their willingness to donate 14 sets of roller bearings to 470 when the time comes to refit the locomotive. Eight will go to the tender journals, four to the pony truck and two to the trailing truck. At this time, we do not envision the drivers as being refitted with a roller bearing conversion. This is the first equipment hardware donation to the locomotive project. New England Steam will not take receipt of the donation until the rebuild is underway. In terms of real dollars, this donation is probably worth in the range $30,000 - $40,000. Thank you, Amsted Rail Company for you faith in our mission and making a contribution that will enhance operations for decades to come.

2014-03-11_image001.jpg

Governor's Releases Big Locomotive Burger

Governor's Restaurants in Waterville, Bangor, and Ellsworth, have just released "The Big Locomotive Burger"! Be sure to check it out when dining in Bangor. $1 from every sale goes to restore "The Mascot of Maine", Maine Central #470!

From Governor's:
We've dreamed up a yummy way to help raise money to restore Maine Central steam locomotive #470 to full working order - Our new Big Locomotive Burger! A prime Angus beef patty topped with Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Mayo, and smoked Gouda cheese on a homemade roll! We're donating $1 from each Burger to New England Steam Corporation!

2014-03-11_unnamed.jpg

A Thank You Note

Thank you, Richard Gibson, whose employer matched his contribution, doubling the power of his donation. We value each of our contributors, but find it overwhelming to look up addresses. Please know, what you have given is making a huge difference, and will continue to do so. When we indicate to potential corporate donors the amount raised by you "investors", it raises eyebrows, and justifiably so.

We continue to be overwhelmed with the support from individuals who want to see #470 rebuilt and returned to service. Your wish is our command.

Owls Head Presentations

With additional memberships and general donations, we raised an additional $700 at Owls Head Transportation Museum on Saturday, February 8th. The setting was delightful, the audience large and gratifying. Thank you to Ethan Yankura and the staff at Owls Head for making us feel welcome. If you've never visited Owls Head Transportation Museum, we heartily recommend it as a "world class" museum in our own back yard. Remember Owls Head Museum will host an open house on April 12th, while New England Steam in cooperation with Maine Eastern Railroad, will being hosting "Touch-A-Train" in Rockland. The two locations are four miles apart. A great outing for families.

Membership Update

Members have wanted to know how well the Amherst Show was to New England Steam. We sold over forty of our "Keep Calm and Steam On" logo tee shirts, sold some wonderful donated memorabilia, buttons, and collectibles, and allowed people to ring #470's bell, allowing them to donate if they chose. The direct memberships and sales of shirts, collectibles, and memorabilia brought in $2,400. The donation jug and the bell ringing brought in an additional $675. This was, by far, the best fundraising activity to date. This is not a precise figure, but in the first two months of active fund raising, New England Steam Corporation has raise slightly more than $10,000 of our $100,000 goal to purchase and move #470. We have three more substantial donations coming in from Maine corporations in the next two weeks.

Broadway Limited Imports, makers of some of the finest model locomotives, has donated a USRA light Pacific, in HO scale, which will be used for fundraising. The model will be detailed as MEC #470, of course, using decals donated by member Jim Abbott, High Ball Graphics, of New Hampshire. 

Our second Indiegogo campaign is nearing launch. We have ticket perks from the WW&F Rwy., Maine Eastern RR., Downeast Scenic RR, and Conway Scenic RR! 

We have tremendous support for our "Touch-a-Train" event in Rockland, on April 12th, hosted at the Maine Eastern roundhouse, in conjunction with Owls Head Transportation Museum's rail fair. A second "Touch-A-Train" is being planned on the Downeast Scenic Railroad, at the Washington Junction rail yard.

The tremendous response we've received to date is the result of individuals, families, and generous Maine corporations, wanting to see #470 preserved, protected, and operational. We have room for you, your business, and any support you can bring forward. None of the Board or staff of New England Steam Corporation takes a salary or reimbursement for planning or work pertaining to Maine Central #470. Every cent goes towards the locomotive.

We have 22 months in which to meet a goal of $100,000 . The sooner this is achieved, the sooner restoration begins on New England's largest remaining steam locomotive, "The Mascot of Maine", Maine Central #470!

New tee-shirts have arrived, in extra large sizes, too! Order online and have yours in a week!

NESCo Presenting at Owls Head Transportation Museum

On Saturday, February 8th, members from the New England Steam Corporation will discuss the history, retirement and restoration of Maine Central Railroad’s last operating steam engine, #470, at the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head, ME. The presentation, beginning at 1:00 PM, will include details of the group’s plans to restore steam rail operations in Maine.

NESCo will also be in attendance at the Whitefield Lions Model Train Show in Augusta, ME on February 15th.  Come say hello!  More information can be found on the show flier below:

2014-02-05_Whitefield_Augusta.jpeg

Post-Springfield Updates

Check out a wonderful newspaper article in the South Portland Sentry!

At the Springfield Amherst Railroad Club show we met and greeted thousands of supporters, donors and well wishers from as far away as California, New Mexico, and Florida! Thank you to everyone who rang #470's refinished bell and stuffed the bottle with dollars and coins! You told us how much the restoration of this one locomotive means to you as historians, preservationists, and railfans. Your wonderful ideas and suggestions just keep us pumped about bringing #470 to safe harbor in the next two years. Thanks also to the many businesses and historical societies who offered to link our website to their own. Let us add your supporting website url to ours. 

We are ordering more "Keep Calm and Steam On" tee shirts, including more in the XXL and XXXL sizes. If you missed out on the shirt of your size, please place your order through this website.

Thank you, John Spargo, of the AT&SF #2926 project for spending your time talking to us about your safety program and organization. The #2926 people have been supporters since the beginning of our crusade.

A wonderful gift arrived from Daniel Troy Photography, of Hulmeville, Pennsylvania, in the form of original poster prints for the NESCo board, of CNR #3254, in Christmas mode, at Steamtown. These are beautiful, skillfully composed shots of a winter "steam in the snow" scene, which was once a common event in America. A rare thing today, it reminds us of another reason to rebuild and operate MEC #470! Thank you, Daniel.

Last, but not least, the owner of American Locomotive Work plate #65554, Maine Central #469's plate, shared it with us to photograph and make rubbings from. This will be the model from which #470's new plates will be made. #469 was #470's sister from the same order, but a significantly different locomotive in detail. A photo of #469, donated to NESCo at the show by Kevin Farrell of Train Books, reveals that #469's plate was cracked when shop people tried to bolt it into position over a new steam delivery pipe flange. #470's builders plates were removed before the end of service, probably during the installation of her Coffin feedwater heater.

2014-01-27_Amherst Train Show 017.JPG

Be certain to mark April 12th on your calendar for "Touch-a-Train" at the Rockland roundhouse of the Maine Eastern Railroad. Remember, the Owls Head Transportation Museum will also be hosting an open house on the 12th.

NESCo Removes #470's Bell for Preservation

Volunteers from Cianbro Construction of Pittsfield, ME used donated equipment from their employer to remove 470's bell and yoke on January 8th. The entire unit weighs well over 200 pounds, requiring the use of specialized machinery to lower it to the ground. The two pieces have gone to Cianbro's shops where they will be cleaned, resurfaced, and repaired, including the installation of a new clapper. The pneumatic ringing device was broken back in the early 1960s, and parts may require machining in order to repair it. 470's repaired bell will be available to ring at upcoming events. Please watch for us at the Springfield, MA train show!

Parts removed from 470 for repair are inventoried, numbered, logged, and stored in a single secure facility.

New England Steam Corp.
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
P.O. Box 302
Winterport, ME 04496