Volunteer and NESCo member, Ron Jenkins, prepares to replace fourteen ties on Track 7, at Downeast Scenic Railroad. This will be where #470 is restored. The siding is long enough to accommodate the locomotive and tender, while allowing it to be moved considerable distance for outdoor work. Civil Engineering students at the University of Maine at Orono, are designing a new shop building as a Senior Capstone project. This will include a drop pit, jacking pads, and utilities. It is another integration of the education component of the restoration program, providing practical experience to Maine students at the University level.
#470 Ultrasonic Testing 10/24/2014
Weather permitting, NESCo's CMO and Project Engineer, along with several trained volunteer members, will be gridding and ultra-sonic testing 470's firebox wrapper and boiler, all day, October 20th. Oiling, greasing, and polishing of journal bearings will continue at that time. Visitors are welcome, but may not enter the fenced area due to safety concerns. NESCo Board officials will be on hand to answer questions from the press and public. Additional volunteer workers are not required to perform work at this time.
#470 Work Session 9/24/2014
Several NESCo members turned out on the evening of September 24th to lubricate #470 and check her journals. ABC Network affiliate reporter Karina Bolster spent about 90 minutes with us. She did a great job interviewing, and learning as much as she could about the locomotive. Some photos are included here to show the interview process and the results of the inspection. Overall, the journals are far cleaner than we had hoped for. The tops of the axles are smooth, oil basted, and nearly ready to roll once more. The sides are rusted, but not nearly as badly as we feared. Some Scotch-Bright on a paddle will clean the surfaces nicely. NESCo member Bob DeWachter came equipped with surplus ATF, once used to test radar equipment and perfect for our needs. When we convene again, it will likely be journal polishing time, then repacking and making certain the oil covered all surfaces. We were able to address all but two tender journals. The booster journals received a dousing of oil and acetone, but would not release. These journals had been full of rain water for a long time before we drained them, so this was not surprising. Lots of new surfaces got lubed this time out. Bob DeWachter is tall enough to get those surfaces the rest of us can't easily reach!
Dinner was provided by Governor's Restaurant, as part of their marvelous, continuing support.
The news article and video is available here: http://www.foxbangor.com/news/local-news/6547-preliminary-maintenance-underway-for-historic-restoration.html
NESCo Receives Headlight Donation
Retired engineer Ken White, has donated this beautiful Sunbeam headlight from a long scrapped Maine Central locomotive, to replace or restore the headlight on 470. While the face glass is cracked, the reflector and bulb socket remains intact. These items are usually the first casualties when a locomotive is displayed. It is unknown as to which locomotive this headlight was removed. New England Steam is very grateful for this gift. Thank you, Ken!
470 Moving Preparations
New England Steam Corporation is prepping the big Pacific for a move to take place sometime in the next year. "When" will be determined by the alignment of donated services and continued growth of the capital fund. Recent foundation awards and the generous response of the railfan community. Maine retailers have also supplied tools, equipment, and lubricants.
Over the past few weeks, volunteers have met at the locomotive to begin applying rust penetrant and oils, in this case, a mixture of acetone and automatic transmission fluid. Two weeks ago, we began by applying it with brushes to every surface that should move. Yesterday, the effectiveness was only too clear. The rods have opened, there is some "little" movement, and we could began loosening up the joints. A rental office in Waterville donated use of a power washer and Pan Am allowed us to use their spigot to give 470 its first cleaning in sixty years. A three man team spent four hours washing out debris, broken glass, and probably a thousand pounds of ballast from the frame, ash pan, and every tight space where it could accrue. Some material was bagged for removal.
After the washing, a second team arrived and reapplied rust breaker lubricant. They got into crevices which were painted shut and filled with matter only two weeks before. Several journal boxes had been filled with storm water and generous helpings of stone ballast. Drain holes were drilled and the water piddled out. Workers went in with gloved hands and scooped out the stones. The bearings will be inspected, cleaned, and re-lubed. The holes will be tapped and plugged. Eventually donated roller bearings will replace the friction surfaces, but maintained to appear as historically shown.
New England Steam Corporation is very careful with donated funds, but we wanted to show supporters that progress is being made and we are in the "positive column" with regard to restoration. The lubrication program will continue indefinitely as prepping for removal from the park.
Please check us out on Facebook! Your donations (funds, parts, materials) make a huge difference. NESCo is a tax-deductable 501c3 organization.
NESCo Wins Tom Dailey Foundation Grant
New England Steam Corporation has been chosen as one of fourteen railroad preservation groups to receive a grant from the Tom Dailey Foundation. An award of $2,000 to be applied toward moving Maine Central 470 was made in a response during the second quarter voting. The Dailey Foundation has become a friend to railroad preservationist in recent years, and the NESCO board is honored to be included among other strong candidates. We wish to thank the Dailey Foundation, and want to assure them, their funding will be applied as intended.
A second private foundation, this one based in New England, has just sent NESCO notice of its intention to further underwrite development of the "Mascot of Maine" project. At this time we understand that grant to be at least $5,000, but may be substantially more. An official announcement of that funding will be made in the near future.
Are you a grant writer? Do you want to become more active in New England Steam Corporations support activities, such as representing the NESCO's goals at fairs, town celebrations, and public events? We are looking for responsible, skilled, energetic, and available individuals to help raise the restoration fund. Applicants must be members in good standing and ready to meet and greet potential donors, as well as to get the word out. If this sounds like you, send us an email at newenglandsteamcorp@gmail.com. Tell us what you are interested in doing, what your skills include, and where you live. We'd like to meet you!
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.
Touch-a-Train at Downeast Scenic Railroad
On Saturday, June 21st (this coming weekend!), the Downeast Scenic Railroad is hosting another Touch-a-Train event in Ellsworth, ME benefitting the New England Steam Corporation. Admission is free, and the event runs from 9AM to 12PM.
More information is available on the Downeast Scenic Railroad's website. The official press release is available for download here.
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.
Governor's "Big Locomotive Burger" is a Hit
NESCo wants to remind followers, when in Maine, be certain to go to one of the Governor's Restaurants and order "The Big Locomotive Burger"! Governor's is the official restaurant of the effort to restore Maine Central #470, and an early supporter of New England Steam Corporation!
Be sure to look for our rack card in displays that look like this:
NESCo Launches New Indiegogo Campaign
New England Steam Corporation has launched a new crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, and we have some really nice perks to offer. Please pass the following link to your other railroad friends, hobbyists, clubs, etc.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rebuild-maine-central-470/x/5982643
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.
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!
Membership Meeting
There will be a Board of Directors meeting on March 7th, at Governor's Restaurant, Waterville, Maine, at 5:30PM. The meeting is open to members.
Next Show Date
New England Steam will be at the Maine 3-Railers Model Railroad Show on Saturday, March 22nd in Augusta. See the show flier below for details!
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.