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:

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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.

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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.

Maine Eastern Railroad Hosts NESCo "Touch-a-Train" Event

On Saturday, April 12, 2014, the Maine Eastern Railroad's equipment will be open to the public. 

The Maine Eastern will host a public Touch-a-Train event at the Rockland station through a partnership with the New England Steam Corporation, who will be collecting donations at the event to support the restoration of Maine Central steam locomotive #470. Admission to the event will be free, and visitors will have the opportunity to explore the cabs, engine rooms, and other parts of the Maine Eastern's locomotives, passenger cars, and even the snowplow.

This event coincides with the first annual Maine Rail Fair, hosted by the Maine Rail Group at the nearby Owls Head Transportation Museum.

See more information on the Maine Eastern's website by clicking here.

NESCo Signs Contract with Waterville

The contract to purchase Maine Central steam locomotive #470 from the City of Waterville, Maine, has been signed by NESCo President Dick Glueck. The donations made to date have been a wonderful source of inspiration, and put us solidly on the road to restoration. We have two years from this date to secure funding to purchase and move the locomotive. If you haven't donated yet, please consider doing so in the remainder of 2013. We have been gifted locomotive parts, hardware, and collectibles for fundraising as well. Remember, everything goes to the locomotive, not to the administration. New England Steam is a corporation, but this is your locomotive. We have a goal of $110,000 for this first phase. Encourage your Facebook friends to spread the word and donate as well. Don't forget our Indiegogo campaign!

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Upcoming Events

Another news update for followers and members: We have received the agreed-upon contract from Waterville, granting us two years to purchase #470 and another year to remove it from the park. Thanks to the great numbers of you who have stood by us, we are well on our way! Ultimately, you power the incentive to rebuild and preserve Maine Central’s last operable steam locomotive. Please continue to spread the word throughout 2014. 

We have arranged for a table next to Downeast Scenic Railroad's table for the Springfield, Massachusetts Train Show on January 25-26th. We continue to submit grant and funding proposals to agencies seeking submissions. 

We are currently working with the Maine Eastern Railroad to host a “Touch-a-Train” event at Rockland Station sometime in the spring. Children, accompanied by parents and grandparents, will be able to explore real railroad trains under the guidance of MERR professionals. We are also working with the Owls Head Transportation Museum to bring some historic vehicles as well. Who doesn’t want to sit in the engineer’s seat of a former New Haven Railroad FL9 diesel locomotive or have their picture taken in a great antique truck? This event is being further developed over the winter - stay tuned for further updates!

“Keep Calm and Steam On” shirts are ready this week in sizes S thru XXL. Sorry, they won’t be out for Christmas, but we can send them out to arrive before year’s end! Pay for them by check at our mailing address or online by PayPal under our STORE tab. 

We are seeking a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to remove the remaining offensive material from #470. We can make this a tax deduction for the donor of services, and it can significantly lower our projected expense level for this phase of restoration. As 2013 comes to a close, this is a corporate tax deduction that you can still take. Interested? Please contact us at newenglandsteamcorp@gmail.com.

As more news comes to pass, we’ll present it right here. Please enjoy a safe, happy, warm, holiday season.

Waterville Votes to Sell #470 to NESCo

On Tuesday, December 3rd, the Waterville City Council voted to sell Maine Central #470 to New England Steam Corporation.

I hesitate to say, "the good guys won", but this is the best chance the old locomotive has had in 60 years. We will be signing a contract with the City sometime in the next week. The contract calls for sale of the locomotive, payment within two years, and an additional year in which to move it.

I want to first say, "thank you" to all of you who wrote emails to the councilors. They were mentioned during discussion. If you ever wondered there value, allow me to say, "Yes, emails make a difference" - at least they did two nights ago.

Of course, with a turn in the batter's box, it is absolutely essential we make it round to home plate. We're not counting on home runs with which to accomplish this. Base hits will get us there, and we won't reject bases on walks either. Metaphorically, I'm trying to state that a single big donor would be welcomed, cheered, and applauded. I think it's far more practical to count on many players coming to bat and doing their best to come out ahead.

All cash donations are welcome, but so are tools, parts, or memorabilia regarding 470 and her "late sisters". Corporations, private companies, or any organizations wishing to help us reach our goal, please contact us directly.

Help us make a real Cinderella story for 470, producing real cinders! The real work begins now. Please read my article in the Morning Sentinel about NESCo's plans for 470.

-Richard Glueck, NESCo President

Membership Increases as Waterville Holds Second Vote on #470 Sale

Waterville City Council held a second vote to sell the 470 to New England Steam. Some wording in the sales agreement requires rewriting and a third vote will be taken in two weeks. This all appears to be in favor of a completed and signed sales agreement before Christmas. 

Membership continues to increase, with generous donations coming from Canada as well as the United States. News items have appeared on both Trains and Railfan & Railroad Newswires. 

Collectibles donated by "Union Street Station Hobbies" to support our project have been successfully auctioned on eBay. A special thank you to those donors and bidders!

A note of thanks to Odd Duck Foundry of Orrington, Maine for donation of a bronze recognition plaque, honoring the City of Waterville to be mounted on 470's rebuilt tender. It is truly beautiful!

New England Steam will be at the Brewer Train Show, Saturday, November 23rd. We will be selling posters, tee-shirts, and some donated artifacts. Please drop by and speak with us!

Waterville Moves to Protect MEC #470 while NESCo Begins Maintenance

Waterville parks and recreation has begun to erect an encompassing chain link fence around locomotive 470, with gates to allow New England Steam to access the locomotive for preventative maintenance. Financial campaign donations have started to accrue real dollars, and pledges amount to over $2500 in the first week since announcement. Material donations have also begun. Your support breathes life into the "Mascot of Maine". Thank you!

NESCo Moves Closer to Acquiring MEC #470

Our first reading with the City Council went well, with concerns voiced by one Councilor and two citizens. The first reading was voted positively and unanimously in our favor. There are two more readings scheduled, the next in two weeks. 

We would appreciate your taking the time to thoughtfully compose an email supporting operational restoration of MEC 470, rather than leaving it standing unprotected and deteriorating as it has for 60 years.  You may send your email to the Waterville city government at: http://www.waterville-me.gov/council/

Please visit the membership and donation pages, and join us with your donation. All funding goes to the locomotive, not to advertising or salaries. When you join and donate, you strengthen the effort by showing your determination in real numbers. Your donations mean the locomotive matters to you.

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