Maine Central 470, 519

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:53 am

At Lewiston, Maine, 7/38:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... c470_2.jpg

At Waterville, Maine, newly displayed, 9/12/54:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... mec470.jpg

Early Steamtown view:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... mec519.jpg

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:24 am

The image of the 470 is a classic view! The photo was taken immediately after being placed on display. This locomotive went onto the plinth in steam! Today, it looks nothing like this. The progress towards cosmetic rehabilitation is going much too slowly to save what is left of the locomotive, but a few individuals who have not been "purged" from the project continue to work in that direction.

dwoodbury · **Posted:** Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:58 am

Can anyone point me to a website giving info on the effort to restore MEC 501 at Conway?

Pat Fahey · **Posted:** Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:24 pm

www.470rrclub.org there dicusssion board,,Pat.

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

Richard,

Waterville seems to have a problem with maintaining historical artifacts. I visited the Lombard tractor last fall. What a shame. Yes it's under a shelter but its deteriorating rapidly. This is very sad because it's a very unique machine - even among Lombards. There also a complete lack of historical information. For instance this particular tractor was owned by Edouard Lacroix's Madawaska Company and operated out of Churchill is support of the Eagle Lake & West branch railroad.

Once again Waterville has shown a complete lack interest in preserving its past and respect for the inventive genius and imense contributions of one of its past citizens. Are they embarrased by thier rich industrial history or is it simply a lack of funds and appreciation?

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Stephen Hussar · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:43 pm

Terry, as I recall the shed was built in such a way that it's nearly impossible to even photograph the Lombard!

Stephen

PS - recent photographs of one of the Eagle Lake engines show it sporting what appears to be a newly restored (or at least freshly painted) headlight...can you 'shed any light' on this?

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

Hello Stephen,

Yes, the shelter is enclosed with a chainlink fence which works fine for keeping vandels out but makes it very, very difficult to photgraph. I founds this while I was collecting data for my Lombard drawings.

EL&WB No. 1 is indeed sporting a new headlight. It was donated by the Cole Land Transportation Museum and installed by Volunteers from the Allagash Alliance Group last year. At the same time they also installed the new stack on No. 1 as well as cover plates for the smoke box fronts. While not pretty they will keep folks from filling them up with beer cans etc. and setting fires. The stacks have been capped as well.

Again, if anyone knows of the whereabouts of the original doors (missing since the early 1980's) please let us know. We have a no questions asked policy.

Best regards,

Terry