Gentle People,

This is one of those my-neighbor-found-it-in-the-attic stories. I have a color postcard (complete with uncanceled 3 cent stamp) that shows a a 4-4-O American said to be Boston and Maine locomotive No.494 displayed on a short stretch of track. Just wondering about the location and status of this locomotive now.

The full caption on the postcard is:

"'Old 494' Steam Engine built in Manchester, N.H. in 1892. Displayed at the 1940 World's Fair. Now on permanent display in White River Junction in front of the hartford Municipal Building, at the junction of Routes 4 and 5 and Vermont Route 14. Ektachrome by William F. Schmitt"

Very nice lookng cosmetic restoration (who's to say how accurate?). Graphite smokebox and stack, teal boiler (meant to be Russian iron?), and otherwise black. Polished rods, all the fittings, and some copper piping. From the condition of the ties and ballast, probably recently put on display when the photo was made.

Regards to all,

Phil Padgett

http://www.uclick.com/client/nyt/bs/
ebt4evr@aol.com

The 494 has been undergoing a very nice cosmetic restoration in White River Jct., VT. I happened upon this spot and took this picture last fall. The plan is to build a shelter overhead but I'm not sure how far along those plans have progressed. Maybe David Woodbury can give an update.


SJHussar@aol.com

The engine is located near the depot in White River Junction, Vermont. It has been on display in the area (about three different sites, I think) since about 1957.

ryarger@rypn.org

> Gentle People,

> This is one of those
> my-neighbor-found-it-in-the-attic stories. I
> have a color postcard (complete with
> uncanceled 3 cent stamp) that shows a a
> 4-4-O American said to be Boston and Maine
> locomotive No.494 displayed on a short
> stretch of track. Just wondering about the
> location and status of this locomotive now.

> The full caption on the postcard is:

> "'Old 494' Steam Engine built in
> Manchester, N.H. in 1892. Displayed at the
> 1940 World's Fair. Now on permanent display
> in White River Junction in front of the
> hartford Municipal Building, at the junction
> of Routes 4 and 5 and Vermont Route 14.
> Ektachrome by William F. Schmitt"

> Very nice lookng cosmetic restoration (who's
> to say how accurate?). Graphite smokebox and
> stack, teal boiler (meant to be Russian
> iron?), and otherwise black. Polished rods,
> all the fittings, and some copper piping.
> From the condition of the ties and ballast,
> probably recently put on display when the
> photo was made.

> Regards to all,

> Phil Padgett

Work on 494 has slowed this year due partly to my two daughters getting married and partly to indecision as to the location of the shelter and it's overall place in town planning. Work is ongoing on the cab exterior and interior.
Like you, I had doubts as the authenticity of the 1939 restoration, but after reviewing very early photos of sister engines, it's clear that the men in Billerica knew almost exactly how it looked when new and went to a lot of trouble to replicate a near perfect locomotive. Hope we can do half as well.


wrj494@aol.com

The B&M 494 has a very colorful history. I may get a few details wrong here but here is the crude synopsis of what went on:

After 494's restoration and display at the Chicago(?) World's Fair, the locomotive was returned to Billerica where it remained stored and PROMISED for donation to the Railroad Enthusiasts. It remained there until during the tenure of Patrick B. McGinnis as president of the B&M. When Pat saw the loco (as the story goes) he asked his long time friend Nelson Blount if he would like it for his collection. This work quickly spread to those in Billerica who were loyal to the RRE and in the dead of night the 494 was spirited out of Billerica and moved to a hiding place in the Portsmouth, NH roundhouse. Of course, Pat was furious as nobody knew anything and all were as tight lipped as you can possibly imagine. As soon as it could be arranged, the loco was then secretly moved to the shop at Westboro, NH (W. Lebanon) and one night the switches just happened to be lined just right and the CV switcher from accross the river just happened to "accidently" couple onto the 494 and drag it off the B&M property. Eventually, things calmed down, Pat went to jail abd the 494 was brought over on the B&M and placed on display by the courthouse.

sjwhitney@adelphia.net

Scott:

Was 3713 the "consolation prize" for Nelson?



hpincus@mindspring.com