8/6/2022 Work Session

Ahhh!! Fresh air! Fabrication of the new removable cistern hatch was completed this weekend, allowing powered ventilation inside the tender cistern without restricting access at the manhole/ladder. Space is super tight up here and the extra inches saved in the manhole will be so valuable! Bob finished up the welding while Paul completed grinding of the opening to remove all the rough bits. Bolt holes still need to be drilled for permanent attachment to the cistern.

We also installed the rear cistern mounting brackets with new 1” diameter hardware. The location of these brackets was checked thoroughly, as these will be used to ensure the cistern positioning during the upcoming pick. Following the pick, these brackets will have to be removed and riveted to the tank a bit higher than the top surface of the frame. This will ensure that the cistern is pulled tightly against the deck.

The lateral tank positioning was checked a third time to verify it was correct. We are definitely flying with the motto: “measure a bunch, pick it up once”! Definitely want to get it right on the first try.

The tender pick is near to happening, with just a few tasks left to complete!

Present were: Bob DeWachter, Paul Van Steenberge, and Jim Armstrong

7/30/2022 Work Session

This Saturday's workers included Jim Armstrong, Bob DeWachter, Hanna Brooks, Brian Herbert and Matt Hoffer. Robert Moore, from Downeast Scenic RR, performed maintenance on our crawler crane in preparation for the tender lift.

Jim continued to work on the coal pocket doors. They are now all cleaned up and primed. Matt got all the tender brake rigging cotter pins installed. This took a bunch of crawling around under the frame. He also removed a bit of brake piping, so it couldn't be damaged during the cistern install.

Another small access hatch was cut in the deck of the tender. This is for fan ventilation duct. This allows the man hatch to be completely clear. It is fairly small and running a 13” duct really hinders using the ladder. The cutout was transformed into a flanged hatch that will receive a rubber gasket and be bolted into place. Much of the plasma cutting and welding required for this transformation was done by Hanna (as her first lessons in MIG welding) on this under Bob's tutorage. Brian ground the edges smooth on the riveting access openings. This was important as there will be a lot of activity in this area riveting, and you don't want injuries for sharp edges.

Additional work included taking measurements to locate the cistern guides to properly locate the tank when it is set in place. We also finished stripping the old upper front cab wall to allow its use as a pattern for the new wall. A brand-new refrigerator was delivered and stocked with water, making the crew quite delighted! A special thanks to the NESCo members for cold water during these hot work sessions!

7/23/2022

Well, it was probably our hottest work session to date. Perfect for torch work, plasma cutting, welding and grinding!

Leverett worked to remove old rivets from some of the coal doors, so that Jim could further clean them up for paint. Jim was at it with the grinder and wire wheel, cleaning up coal pocket doors and draft gear. He also swapped over to weld prep for Bob when needed.

The second large coal pocket access panel was cut out with a plasma cutter to allow riveting. These would make good jump seats for guest coal pushers who can use their feet to kick coal down to the fireman.

Additionally, we made another step closer to being able to put the tender tank in place! Clamp on guide posts were fabricated to assist locating the tank side to side properly as it is set down. We are very close to making this lift happen. The guides still need to be adjusted for the 5 inches of tank overhang needed to center it on the frame. It will not be easy to shift the tank about once it is set, so we want the location spot on the first time.

Finally, Bob cut out a new 1/4” thick buffer plate shim to replace the one in poor condition. The faces of the buffer plate are pictured above. Not to worry, the pitting is of no consequence.

Attending: Leverett Fernald, Bob DeWachter, Jim Armstrong and Al Jenkins paid a visit.

7/16/2022 Work Session

Present for work on July 16 were Jim Armstrong (welcome back Jim), Paul Van Steengerghe, Ron Jenkins. From the DESR crew, Earl Shaak, Robert Moore and Charlie Freeman.

Our biggest accomplishment, which was not on the list, but in the planning stage for several weeks, was the installation of a crossing in front of the engine bay. This will allow us to use the tractor to replace the draft gear in the tender. It will also help with snow removal next winter, plus help move equipment around the yard by making the area by the fence more accessible.

Other accomplishments include compressing the draft gear in preparation for reinstallation and cleaning up the yoke and coupler shank for reinstallation. The left water outlet flange holes were laid out and drilled, too.

Thanks to all who participated!

7/9/2022 Work Session

Work continued on the tender this weekend to prepare for the next stage of picking the tender up and placing it on the frame, as well as riveting. During the week, we traced out and drilled the required boltholes in the angle iron that will be used as lifting lugs during the pick. These have now been secured to the tender.

In order to make riveting possible throughout the tender, we cut a series of panels into the tender frame. A man hatch into the water leg behind the stoker compartment, which will eventually be converted into a bolted down hatch. An access panel was also cut out of the coal pocket to make riveting possible in this area. The other side of the pocket will also need to be cut. These panels will be welded back into place, and there won't be much evidence of this once we are done — none when a load of coal is in place.

We also worked to take apart the tender connection fittings in preparation for reconnecting these fittings to the new tender frame. Pictured is the mounting bracket for tender pipe connections after Brian disassembled and needlescaled it. Leverett and Al cut holes for the water flanges in the new tender body.

Additionally, this week, we installed a new “task” board in the shop and continued work on the Detroit Model A lubricator. There are two seals in the lubricator that gave us trouble when trying to remove them and will need to be replaced before the lubricator can be put back together.

Present for work this week: Bob, Paul VS, Brain H., Leverett, Al, Ron, and Hanna

Seal Cove Auto Museum -- Cars and Coffee Event (9 July 2022)

New England Steam Corp joined Seal Cove Auto Museum for their bi-monthly Cars and Coffee event on Saturday, July 9th. Focused on steam, the event had wonderful weather, great turnout, a variety of beautiful cars, the 1898 Skene Steam Carriage (on loan to Seal Cove), and Seal Cove’s 1914 Stanley Mountain Wagon!

Hanna talked with visitors about the NESCo restoration project and brought #470’s bell for people to ring!

6/25/2022 Work Session

This weekend, volunteers worked to remove the front of the cab. While we were hopeful that the front wall could be saved, the steel was too far gone to be used safely. As we have done with the sides, the original steel has been carefully removed so that it can be used as a template for the new steel.

We are preparing to lift (or pick) the tender onto its frame in the coming months. This requires careful planning to make sure the crew and equipment are safe. New angle iron came in this week which will be used as anchors on each side of the tender. Volunteers cleaned up the angle iron in preparation for the next step, tracing out and drilling the required boltholes.

Lastly, we finished cleaning up the shop from Touch a Train by putting away the headlight and moving the tender frame back into the tent.

Present were: Leverett, Paul VS, Tim, Hanna, and Robert

Touch a Train 2022

Our annual Touch a Train event was back on June 11th, 2022 after a two-year hiatus. Hosted jointly with Downeast Scenic Railroad, the event invites the public to Washington Junction Yard to learn about diesel and steam passenger and freight trains, as well as the maintenance equipment used to repair and replace rails and ties. One hundred years of engineering on display to learn about, touch, and ride on!

This year’s event featured:

  • Speeder car rides

  • Downeast Scenic caboose rides

  • Locomotive cab tours of Downeast Scenic #1055

  • Displays of track maintenance vehicles

  • A chance to blow a steam whistle and ring a locomotive bell

  • Tours of the Maine Central #470 steam locomotive restoration

  • A model train display by Maine 3-Railers

  • A wooden scale model of the Maine Central #470 made by Wooden Alchemy

  • A historic car from Seal Cove Auto Museum

Thanks to everyone who came out to make the event a success! See you next year at Touch a Train 2023!

6/4/2022 Work Session

Preparations were made at the Washington Junction yard to get ready for Touch-A-Train next weekend!

5/15/2022 Work Session

Present for work on 5/15 were Bob, Paul V., Ron and Al.

Paul was able to get the smokebox door dogs painted black and painted some more on the tender steps and helped organize parts.

Bob brought up the number board with a new 0 and numbers all nicely cleaned up and painted and also worked on the treads for the tender steps.

Ron and Al also helped move and organize parts.

Numberboard

470 was missing the zero on its front number plate, so Bob set about to fabricate a new one. Looking back at old photos, things changed over the years. We believe only the number 4 is original. The 7 was changed and is stamped MCRR. The lower 1/4 is a brass repair or possible alteration of a bronze 2. The 4 is all bronze and marked with a 7. It was riveted in place with bronze rivets. The 7 had screws.

The new zero was machined from brass. With the mixture of brass and bronze, they didn't look right polished up together. Bob used an easily removable gold wax based product to make them look the same. At a later date, we can use the brass zero as a pattern to cast a bronze one.

Celebrating Alden and Cully & 5/8/2022 Work Session

We are celebrating our long time volunteers - Alden and Cully - who graduated this weekend from the University of Maine! As a break from the festivities, the guys joined the crew to help move stoker parts, set up our newly donated sandblaster, hang the smokebox inspection door, and put their new degrees to use while painting the smokebox dogs.

Congrats guys! We will miss you up at the yard, but know you will be back to see us soon!

Also present were Hanna, Brian, Ron, Paul and Leverett.

NESCo Receives Mass Bay RRE Grant

New England Steam Corporation (NESCo) is proud to announce that it has received a $5,000.00 Mass Bay RRE Railroad Preservation Grant from the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc. (Mass Bay RRE). This gracious grant will be applied to the ongoing restoration of Maine Central steam locomotive 470.

NESCo is honored to be the recipient of this grant in recognition of the historic significance of Maine Central 470 and the important restoration work that NESCo is conducting.

4/24/2022 Work Session

Present for work were Bob. Paul V., Brian, Hanna, and Leverett.

Bob cut all new diamond plate treads for the tender steps and secured the smokebox front to the stand.

Brian and Paul worked on cleaning up the smokebox front and inspection door.

Hanna and Leverett worked on organizing parts located in Building 1 on the DESR property.

4/17/2022 Work Session

Present this Sunday were Leverett, Alden, Cully, Matt, Paul V., Hanna, and Ron.

Ron and Hanna resumed work on the lubricator. Matt, Paul, and Leverett did some more work on the tender frame. Piston travel was adjusted to 7 inches and all of the pins were greased and cotter pins applied.

Alden and Cully removed as many flexible staybolt caps as they could on the throat sheet. Later, Ron, Matt, Hanna, and Leverett brought over the Barco flexible connections that go between the locomotive and tender.

4/10/2022 Work Session

Work Sunday had the crew removing superheater units. All of them are out and in storage! This was hard work, but the crew all did a great job.

Steps were bolted back on the tender frame. The tank valve for the right side of the tender was disassembled and inspected. There was a crack found in the housing that will be repaired. The rest went home with Bob to be rebuilt.

Leverett hooked up air to the tender brake and everything works. Adjustments will be made to get the piston travel right, but it all seems to function correctly.

Present were Brian, Hanna, Alden, Cully, Paul V., Bob, Ron, Al, Alex and new volunteer Matt Hofer. Great work done by all.

There will be a work day next Sunday, April 17th. Work plan to be announced later this week.

4/4/2022 Work Session

This Sunday's crew was able to remove the first row of superheater units. We have a system that seems to work well.

The brake cylinder on the tender frame is now permanently mounted and the brake rigging is all hooked up.

Present were Hanna, Paul V., Ron, Timm, Cully and Leverett.

Next Sunday we will continue to pull superheater units. Tender steps can also be mounted.

2/6/2022 Stoker Update

Some of the finishing tasks for the stoker engine are pictured below!

The completion and installation of these final parts led to test running of the engine on compressed air. It ran quite well on first startup. A few tweaks were made. Copper head gaskets are not being used at this point; Bob used paper substitutes for testing and repeated removal. The new copper ring gaskets will be saved for steam.

1/9/2022 Stoker Update

More stoker engine final assembly is taking place. Click for captions!

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