Anyone have digital copy of a Sunbeam Turbogenerator service manual? Please PM if you have one you can scan, or would lend for scanning. This is for reference in restoration of Maine Central 470.
Please PM me or email newenglandsteamcorp@gmail.com .

I would like to publicly thank EVERYONE, and there are a bunch of you folks, who have offered us documents and catalog copies for the Sunbeam Turbo. It means a great deal to have positive and helpful assistance from experience people.

A quick update for everyone interested in the Maine Central 470 restoration. We are separating the boiler and frame because of road limitations, and some very, very, cooperative friends who are professionals at heavy lifting and transportation. We are squeezing every cent we can, very hard, to get as much bang for the buck as possible. But the locomotive is being moved professionally under the guidance of qualified engineers who sit on our BOD. We are the recipients of a trailer which will not only carry the boiler, but will hold it indefinitely while we thoroughly U/T test every square inch in detail. Thus, it can be moved if necessary. The chassis and running gear will follow shortly thereafter, accompanied by the tender. These will be unloaded onto live rail in Washington Jct. Yard, Hancock, Maine, again, completely movable.

We have purchased a arch tarp structures to sit on 40 foot containers which will be the work arena for the complete overhaul. 470 will be under cover for the duration of her overhaul ("How long will that be?" - I don't know, we operate at the speed of money*). This building was paid for by the Freeman Foundation, to whom we owe a heck of a lot. Thank you, Freeman Foundation!

There is a special fund set up to purchase steel and restore the tender cistern and bunker. The original is good as a pattern, and that's it. This has been supported by two Family Foundations, local to Maine. We have received additional donations, but naturally, need considerably more to cover a new tank. The frame brakes, and trucks of 470's tender are all solid and need cleaning, painting, oil and grease. After 62 years outdoors, that's something.

I generally update via our Facebook site, our website, or a totally independent Facebook site which is extremely well done. These are the only sources of factual information, unless you hear it here from me or Mr. Fernald, our CMO.

The whistle we were donated by Penobscot Energy Recovery Corporation (PERC) of Orrington, Maine, was tested three weeks back on CNJ 113. Thanks to them!

The Sunbeam Turbogenerator is being rebuilt by A.C. Electric of Bangor, Maine, who many of you may recognize from their professional rebuilding of Diesel traction motors. Again, huge donations are going into this effort.

If I may say it with pride, we are doing a difficult but necessary performance to restore 470 to operation. If the CNJ 113 guys can do it, so can we all. When you donate to New England Steam Corporation, you are not watching money go down a sink hole. We are stubborn, tight-fisted Yankees, and we will finish this job. "Creation is an act of will", to quote Michael Crichton.

Every locomotive has it's supporters and every effort has a few ill-informed detractors. I ask each and every reader to consider offering Maine Central 470 the hand it deserves. Our best wishes and support go out to every other locomotive restoration project in the nation and Canada, because nobody knows what it's like until you wade into the stream.

* Great quote, shamelessly stolen from this site.