New England Steam Corporation will be presenting Waterville City Manager Mike Roy a check in the amount of $25,000 for the purchase of Maine Central steam locomotive 470. This event will occur on the morning of Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 10:00 AM at the locomotive display site in Waterville. Please see our press release for further information.
Shop Building Grants Received
The Board of New England Steam Corporation wishes to announce that they NESCo is the recipient of two grants to construct an all-weather shop facility at Washington Junction, Maine, on the tracks of the Downeast Scenic Railroad.
A grant of $10,000 has been awarded by the Deupree Family Foundation, and a grant of $51,400 has been awarded by the Samuel Freeman Foundation. These generous awards will be used to construct a 50' x 100' arch-tarp structure, which will be seated upon re-purposed cargo containers, on a footing of crushed stone.
This structure is based upon a design suggested and developed by senior Civil Engineering students of the University of Maine. It is expandable in the future, if deemed necessary. The student design was a capstone project which culminated in the awarding of their engineering degrees.
The arch-tarp structure will be ordered from Tarp-Rite company of Woodstock, New Brunswick, and is designed to withstand wind and snow loads commonly sustained in the Maine winters. The cargo containers will provide individual shop and storage spaces, as well as a library and office for New England Steam Corporation.
Volunteers of the Downeast Scenic Railroad prepared the track 7 siding to receive locomotive 470 over the summer, with new ties and track leveling. The shop building will be shared with DESR to perform maintenance on an "as needed" basis. This structure will be the first indoor facility to house locomotive 470, since 1954.
#470 Move Update
Dear Members: A few words here to keep you in the official loop of what's happening with 470.
No less than three moving plans have been proposed, subject to scrutiny, and dissected in detail. We had originally proposed moving the locomotive as a complete item. After reviewing load limitations and clearances with our carrier, our engineers have decided to move the locomotive in two pieces, with the boiler moving on one truck and the frame, wheels, and mechanism on another. In preparation, 470 was weighed at the park, using specially developed equipment which measures back-pressure and provides a figure. The tender weighs 40 tons, and the locomotive weighs 120 tons! Discussion of separating the boiler and frame was undertaken with several consulting parties, including Steam Operations Corporation, the agency which has recently restored Norfolk & Western 611. It was decided this new approach would require far more effort, but in the long run, was a better plan.
470's boiler will sit on a loaned trailer bed alongside the frame, which will be on Track 7, at Washington Jct. Both will be under the cover of the Arch-Tarp structure which is being developed right now. Both pieces will be mobile and can be moved if required. The tender frame will likewise, be on the rails, indoors.
Three grants have been applied for the funding of the Arch-Tarp building. One grant has been answered in the amount of $10,000, another $1,000 has been donated by an individual, and two grant applications remain to be answered. Assembly of the structure by a large volunteer service group has been under development, making the shop structure a matter of purchase and assembly. We would like to further the matching of the $10,000 grant, so companies and individual can make donations specifically for the shop by specifying them as such. Crushed rock for the base is something we can use immediately.
Since 470's tender an absolute necessity, it will be the first part of the locomotive to receive attention at the new shop. A grant to purchase new 1/4" steel plate has been submitted. Of course, no grant is guaranteed to be funded, but this is our current line of thinking. We believe the frame, brake rigging, and trucks are all in good condition. Each of these will be disassembled, cleaned, repaired where required, then primed, painted, and reassembled. What remains of the tender cistern and coal bunker is only useable as a pattern for replacement. A few items such as the coal bunker doors, ladder, stoker motor, and restored headlight will be reapplied. We are looking for a skilled volunteer to do CAD work in developing a precise mechanical drawing of the tender cistern and bunker. Our colleagues at WW&F Ry. have offered us use of their power riveters to rebuild the tender in the manner of the original work, and helping us maintain the historic character of 470.
The tender will be moved this fall, in a matter of weeks. The locomotive will be disassembled and loosened as much as is possible, while the weather allows us to work safely. We have until December 28th, 2016 to move the locomotive, but plan to have it at Washington Jct. before summer of 2016.
A brief note of thanks to Ms. Kerri Marion, who, as a Waterville area historian, maintains a wonderful Facebook page regarding 470. As we have moved forward, Kerri has patiently followed us and kept an accurate record of our work.
Official answers to your questions are always available through our website or our Facebook page. NESCo will have tables at the Brewer Train Show in November, and at "The Big E" in Springfield, Mass., in January.
Drawbar Progress
Photo by Jessie Drezner, "Hot Shots", of San Pedro, California. From Left to Right, volunteers Al Jenkins, Paul van Steenberghe, Ron Jenkins, and Richard Glueck, at the end of a particularly hot and humid August work day. The team has been working on freeing up the drawbars and tender connecting pin under 470. After four weeks of intense work, it has been determined that corrosion between the drawbar pin and the tender frame casting will require sacrificing the pin, but sparing the two drawbars. Once this is accomplished, the tender can be rolled back and removed. Ms. Drezner spotted the crew working while on a photo tour of Maine and took over a hundred original photos of her own, while interviewing the members of the work crew.
Touch-A-Train - June 20, 2015
"Touch A Train 2015" proved to be a huge success for NESCO, bringing in hundreds of families, senior citizens, and other guests from the region. Downeast Scenic Railroad were the perfect hosts for this occasion, made only better by the presence of Governor's Restaurant and Darling's Ice Cream Truck. We had many more children visiting the exposition, many wearing their "Thomas the Tank Loco" shirts and hats, but all wearing happy faces. We also want to recognize Hancock Fire and Rescue for bringing in one of their trucks, and Whited Ford trucks of Bangor also brought in a "big rig". A special thanks to "Operation Lifesaver," which has recently lost a significant leader, but made it to "TaT 2015" just the same.
A huge thanks to everyone who made donations, became members of NESCO, or purchased hats of other items. We hit the Father's Day Weekend weather exactly right, too! The caboose rides were especially enjoyed by visitors, with a the sound of a Crosby steam whistle echoing in the woods of Ellsworth for the first time in decades! Downeast Scenic Railroad ran their afternoon train as scheduled, once "Touch A Train" was over. Thank you to DESR once more, for being such great friends and supporters.
View our photos of the event below!
Audio from 470's Last Run
Here it is! The radio broadcast from WGAN recorded 61 years ago today, during 470's final run. We can all finally hear 470 for the first time in 61 years.
470's Backup Light
470's tender headlight has suffered as much abuse over the years as the rest of the locomotive. Since the entire tender body must be replaced in its entirety, we removed the damaged backup light in hopes it could be restored. The cast iron lens ring was snapped off, leaving just the hinge hangers and pins, with the can body was crushed and home for hornet nests. The paint was scrawled with graffiti. Forrest Autobody of Winterport, Maine, stepped up to the plate on this project and here are the spectacular results. The body was hammered out and back into shape, the dings were patched, and the entire piece was sand-blasted clean. Judd Moores, owner of Forrest Autobody, had the whole lamp primed and painted with a permanent outdoor finish. The missing side door and front ring still need to be cast, but in the meantime, 470's new tender has a beautiful example of restoration to ride above. Much of what we are doing will require a community response and recognition of Maine's history. NESCO wishes to thank Judd Moores and Forrest Autobody for being a significant piece of this effort!
Touch-A-Train 6/20/2015
Please view this poster for Touch A Train 2015, a railroading event for parents, children, and grandchildren (Grandpa, too!).
Please join us and consider sharing the poster with friends, family, and co-workers! We look forward to seeing happy faces on train lovers of all ages!
Free ice cream from Darling's Ice Cream truck! Free desserts from Governor's Restaurants!
Work Session 4/26/15 and "470 Night" at Governor's
We worked at the 470 for another extended day with some wonderful accomplishments. Bob DeWachter was able to burn off the nuts being used as wheel stops behind the tender. While there is no chance of the locomotive rolling, a chain wheels stop was placed on the rail end. Peter and Paul (members, not Apostles) worked on removing the tender wedge and steam booster pipes. Ron was able to clean out a portion of the locomotive stoker, collecting the remaining coal from 470's last service run of the 20th century. Dick and Tom worked on cleaning the crossheads and crosshead guides of dirt and rust. They then used paint solvent and scrapers to remove as much of the paint that had been applied to the pistons as possible, bringing them down to clean, bare metal before heavily oiling them. In some places the paint was 1/16th inch thick. Leverett cleaned and lubed the booster journals, getting most of the corrosion off the sides. Toward the end of the day, Ron continued to attack the stoker covers while Leverett heated the nuts with a torch to loosen them. Finally, we cut free the throttle bar and were able to slightly move the throttle for the first time in 60 years. Everyone in attendance did numerous other chores, helping out the team members.
At the close of the day, our crew ate at Governor's Restaurant, which sponsors our work sessions with complimentary food.
Each work session is exhausting, long, and strains the muscles. Each work session has resulted in a great number of positive leaps forward in prepping 470 for her next trip. Tiring, but most rewarding.
Please join us for "470 Night" at the Governor's Restaurant in Bangor, ME on April 29th from 4PM to 8PM!
Work Session 4/19/15 & "470 NIGHT" at Governor's
Major accomplishments today, and one major frustration. First the good news. Shawn Melvin and Bob DeWachter worked together to remove the cylinder head cover and Shawn got the nuts free, so the team could open them. The cylinders appeared a bit worse for wear on early inspection, but oil and Bob's motorized brush cleaned them up beautifully. We feel this indicates the worst of possible damage could be a non-issue. Bill Alexander got a number of stuck nuts off and polished up the threads beneath. We removed the pilot from the locomotive and found the pony truck journals to be in good condition, with the single exception that one of four oil cellars was missing probably from her last shop visit. Joe Foley, our heavy-lift engineer, took an ample supply of measurements, still perfecting the best way in which to remove 470 when her turn comes.
The frustration remains in the form of the wedge inserted between locomotive and tender. Despite some very interesting devices applied to striking it, the wedge would not budge. Stronger measures remain to be taken, and the piece will come free.
We had a number of visitors, including Mr. Roland Boulette, who actually worked on 470 while she remained in service. He told us a number of stories, including one of a friend who was hit by the locomotive and had steel plates inserted in his wrists to correct the damage.
Wheel stops are going to be put on the track end, and we will soon burn off the nuts welded in place to keep the tender from rolling. That may increase the slack in the connection and help with the wedge issue.
Please join us for "470 Night" at the Governor's Restaurant in Bangor, ME on April 29th from 4PM to 8PM!
470 Work Session - 4/12/2015
Perfect day to work on prepping a big locomotive for restoration!
Leverett, Peter Violette, Peter Grant, Shawn Melvin, Bill Alexander, Joe Foley, and myself, worked from 9AM until around 4PM, turning nuts and bolts that haven't turned in over 60 years. This was major grount work, but, oh the rewards! The program of lubricating the moving surfaces over the past six months paid major dividends, and while a few objects required major encouragement to finally move, we opened just about everything we attacked. To use a well worn phrase of the past, "What we didn't find was better than what we did find", but we didn't find anything really bad to begin! Of special note, the eccentric rods are loose and we can remove them once the locomotive is rolled. The valve chests and the engineer's side cylinder, of which we worried quite a bit, were glassy smooth on the inside, with only a few pebbles and dead mouse carcass inside the cylinder. They still bore grease. If they prove to still be round, we may have dodged yet another bullet. We still have to open the fireman's side cylinder. We were able to remove the journal boxes from the heavy booster truck, to inspect the bearings. These boxes weigh about 100 pounds each, so they required some persuasion to pull out.
Our heavy-lift engineer, Joe Foley, took careful measurements and data to perfect his plan to lift the tender from the site by crane. Joe also collected data for the locomotive move, later this year.
Peter Violette opened the cover of the feedwater heater pump and discovered the turbine to turn freely, be rust free and in beautiful condition.
A common question is, "When are you going to move it?" The best answer is, we are moving it this year. To be more specific, the tender will lift out first, perhaps in July or August, but possibly in June, assuming the crane and low-boy truck equipment is available -and- assuming the ground is dry enough to support such heavy weight. Right now the park is a sea of mud and residual snow. Moving the locomotive will come later, since it is heavier and it requires far more attention. We hope/plan to have it out no later than November.
Problems of today- Separating the tender and locomotive is going to be a problem. There is a steel wedge between the two, placed there by the railroad to take up slack. That wedge is not cooperating, even under the authority of a sledge hammer. The wedge must be pulled in order to remove the drawbar pin that links the pulling power of the locomotive to the train.
470 Tender Move
This set of drawings has been professionally engineered for NESCo, indicating the most probable method of removing 470's tender from the current location. Assuming the city of Waterville is satisfied with our meeting the terms of their contract with us, it is likely the tender will be moved to its restoration site by mid-summer. There is considerable mechanical preparation to be completed before this move takes place. The locomotive itself will hopefully follow by fall of this year. Stay tuned!
NESCo Hats Now Available
It won't answer "who let the dogs out," but it will tell who runs with the pack!
NEW!!! NESCo MEC #470 baseball hat!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
Black cotton, all cloth, including the back, embroidered tender speed logo in red and gold, with "470" stitched boldly in the center. NESCO website on one side, "Restoration" on the opposite. Adjustable cloth strap with bronze finish adjustment slide. Caps stitched in Maine!
Price:
Non-Members $14.00 + $6.95 Priority Shipping
Members $10.00 + $6.95 Priority Shipping
This summer, run with the steam dogs!
(Model does not date customers.)
470 Night at Governor's, Waterville, Mar. 26th, 2015
Come join NESCO at Governor's in Waterville, Maine, March 26th, 2015, to learn about our restoration project, meet members of the Board of Directors, see historic slides of Maine Central 470, see the restored bell and replacement headlight, and buy your tee-shirts and new 470 baseball style hats! Presentations at 5PM and 7PM, Governor's great food, and a chance to show your support for restoration of Maine Central's last operating steam locomotive!
NESCo Donations on Amazon.com
NESCo supporters can now support NESCo through donations with their purchases on Amazon.com. Visit this link for more information: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/46-1459338
Maine Central 470 in HO Scale
A year ago at the Amherst Train Show, Broadway Limited Imports President Joe Grubba, in cooperation with Factory Direct Trains, of Arden, NC, donated one of their USRA 4-6-2 models to be rebuilt as an accurate representation of Maine Central 470. Shortly afterward, a stock model of Erie 2922 arrived and was handed over to NESCo's webmaster, Rudy Garbely, for the reconstruction.
Rudy's HO scale models are incredibly detailed, and easily mistaken for the prototypes upon which they are based. Over the year, an accurate model of 470 began to emerge, starting with the replacement of the tender body and trucks, then moving forward with inclusion of a Delta truck with booster, replacement of the stock cab, and relocation of many small but necessary fittings. With the inclusion of a set of Maine Central speed lettering decals, donated by Highball Graphics, we now have the most accurate DCC-equipped HO scale representation of NESCo's pride and joy, just in time for the 2015 Amherst Train Show. Details of the complete rebuild will emerge in a detailed article later on.
At Amherst this year, please drop by New England Steam's booth to see this superb model locomotive.
Once again, thank you to Broadway Limited Imports, Factory Direct Trains, and Highball Graphics for your generosity and donations. Thank you Rudy Garbely, for using your artistic skills to create something wonderfully unique.
MEC 470 Receives $5,000 Grant
Locomotive 470 has become the recipient of a grant of $5,000, from the James & Betty Jacobs Family Charitable Trust. The grant was created by the family of James and Betty Jacobs, who owned and managed Longview Lumber, of Orrington, Maine. The Jacobs Family Trust also this year awarded a grant to Habitat for Humanity.
It is no small item to receive family funding with which to do well and good. New England Steam Corporation's resurrection of the 470 will have a long standing economic impact on Maine families, and in doing so, will create jobs and empower families to live just a bit better,as she steam's on. The Board of Directors wishes to thank the Jacobs Family, and pledges to use their gift wisely, that this seed may flourish!
11/4/2014 Work Session
Jim and Sandy Abbott of Highball Graphics, made, donated, and delivered a beautiful sign, which we hung on the smokebox on November 4. It is chained in place, so winter winds won't shake it off. Thank you Jim and Sandy!
During the work session, the last of the tender journals were tended to. More mapping was done in the firebox, and project manager Jason Lamontagne was able to get under the locomotive to inspect the driver journals, which are in better condition than we expected.
October 20th Work Session & Headlight Restoration
WABI covered our October 20th work session on 470 with an excellent video - CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
The Waterville Sentinel also covered the session - CLICK HERE TO READ!
The crew emptied the smokebox completely of cinders, removed the cinder grating to inspect the flue sheet, lubricated the locomotive again (we do this every two weeks to break rust and grit), began gridding the firebox sheet to ultrasonically test the thickness of the steel, and polished the tender journals. While we eventually will convert the tender journals from friction to roller bearings, these require servicing so the tender can be safely relocated. We also made an attempt to insert a fiber-optic camera into the cylinders and boiler, but met resistance from the digital age.
In other news, NESCo Treasurer Bill Alexander has nearly completed restoration of the Maine Central headlight donated to us by Ken White in September. This will adorn 470 when her restoration is complete.
DESC Prepares Track for #470
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.
