Maine Central 470 audio recording

Peter Violette · **Joined:** Tue Sep 24, 2013 4:28 pm **Posts:** 35

We were given access to a 16" acetate record with audio from the locomotive as well as interviews from various Maine Central officials including the engineer, fireman, and President. Definitely an interesting piece

Part 1
Part 2

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2605

Fascinating, the old Boston and Maine fireman rider said he preferred to stay in the "plush"? and the fireman on that job wouldn't bite on missing steam, saying he was going to go along with progress. The Road Foreman said it was "wonderful in it's day".

The engineer started in 1898? Holy Cow!

Thanks for posting.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Mon Jun 15, 2015 7:02 pm

Peter did a really outstanding job on researching out this recording. He has even interviewed one of the engineer's relatives and seen some of his railroad related papers. We were taken by surprise with the hard sell on "modern, clean, Diesel locomotives" by railroad officials. The fireman's askance attitude towards drawing the final steam run was almost comedic.

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

My late father-in-law spent 42 years in the mechanical department of the Pennsylvania Railroad as a machinist, gang foreman and finally assistant shop manager. He began his career in 1939, and in his words, "steam engines were just a lot of dirt and hot water down the back of my neck." He was very happy to see the arrival of the diesels, I think. Not until after his retirement in 1981 did he evince any interest in the Pennsy's steam power.