Maine: Downeast Scenic acquires B&ML 70 tonner!

Stephen Hussar · **Posted:** Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:36 pm

All, the Downeast Scenic Railroad has acquired former Belfast & Moosehead Lake GE 70-tonner No 54! The 54 is shown arriving at Washington Junction, 2 miles east of Ellsworth, ME (the junction point of the Bar Harbor line and the line that went to Calais). This is where a storage yard and maintenance facility will be. Congrats to all!

All photos: Larry Fickett

junior · **Posted:** Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:55 pm

Where did they get the Northeastern caboose from?

Is it a Reading or other RR?

trolleyira · **Joined:** Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:22 pm **Posts:** 219

The caboose is definitely ex-Reading as the trucks have "Birdsboro" cast into the side frames. I do not know any further history but it has been repainted inside and out and looks very nice.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:43 am

Note the 70 tonner was delivered by truck, rather than rail, as Guilford refused to interchange the locomotive. There are also several crossings on the remaining line between Brewer and Ellsworth, that need the flangeways cleared of asphalt, rock, etc.

Nice to see a Maine locomotive preserved for continued service, even though the future of the B&ML remains sketchy, at best.

All in all, the folks at DESRR have done an amazing job of replacing a railroad where is should be to begin with!

BML1149 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 05, 2008 9:22 pm

Hi all,
The caboose we bought from the BML along with the 70 tonner, a ballast hopper car and a bulkhead flat car. The caboose is an ex Reading and I believe it was built in 1926. The BML got it from the Reading in 1963.
Leverett Fernald
Downeast Scenic Rail

P.S. Our thanks to Stephen Hussar who posted the pictures for us.

Terry Harper · **Joined:** Tue May 08, 2007 4:59 pm **Posts:** 148

Leverett,

Glad to see things progressing nicely. You folks have sure put in a lot of hard work.

Best regards,

Terry Harper

caboose9 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:23 pm

Hi,

The DESR caboose is Reading 90715, Class NMe (90710 - 90719), built in 1926. It became B&ML 28.

Cheers, Roger, www.arches.org

Don C. · **Posted:** Tue Nov 04, 2008 7:59 pm

I love those classy wings painted around the headlight. With the M&ET 70 tonners looking like they will be replaced by hybrids, it is good to see another of these nifty little beasts preserved. I hope all of the operable M&ET units, which are not retained by the railroad, can avoid being made into razor blades.

Don C.