The Morning Sentinel wrote an article about her. I was hoping to see her run again. They want to keep her in Waterville, which is understandable from their perspective. It's sad though, having a running steam locomotive in Maine would be great.

While it's true the advisory committee has made that statement, the Maine group that has been developing a rebuild proposal has made a request for a second hearing. New information regarding the locomotive has been developed. This is not completely settled and decided by City Council vote as of this date. A coat of paint and a weather shed doth not a "museum" make.

I have heard that she is too close to Pan Am tracks, so IF a structure/museum was to be built it wouldn't be able to be where she is now. The building would be so small to keep out of the right of way, not to mention the need for a parking lot. So she would probably be moved, adding even more money to this mysterious foundations bill.

I think the "mystery" foundation is nothing more than an invention of theirs to keep 470 because they discovered it is worth $$$, remember how one of the council members was quoted as saying " I did not realize there were organizations in this country that spent money on such things." Right there was the 'hat tip" that their collective greed was kicking in and they suddenly realized 470 had more value than just a "pile of scrap iron". Suddenly their "eyesore" and "liability" started looking like a cash register to them. Maybe they have found some sort of "grant" to apply for to "preserve" the locomotive [ and keep a healthy chunk of the cash for "administrative fees" ]. Sorry to sound so suspicious but if it looks like a duck and waddles like a duck........ I also heard that land where it is sitting is wanted for some other purpose so if that is true the engine will have to be moved anyway. I think someone on the Waterville council figured out how to cash in on things, or they got some serious public outcry from the old timers not wanting to see any change thus "keep it here to rot" to appease the voters. I think the rail enthusiasts are going to have to double down on their efforts to get her where she can be RESTORED and not just "preserved", it deserves a better fate than continuing to be something for a dog to cock its leg up onto !

As spokesman for one of the six groups which submitted an RFP, I will offer this:

New England Steam Corporation has requested a second meeting with the Council Advisory Committee to discuss the results of a preliminary study of the locomotive's boiler, smokebox, and firebox. This study was conducted with permission of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and completed by recognized machinists, familiar with locomotive boilers. Overall, 470's internal structure is remarkably sound, while her external is, at best, "shabby".

The newspaper article was written by the reporter assigned to the city government. She reported on what she was told from a single resource person. The anonymous foundation referred to has yet to be identified. The cosmetic restoration has yet to be described, but structural changes and parts replacement would be required to preserve her integrity and make her look as she did when in service. The land on which the locomotive currently stands is close to the Pan Am mainline, but whether it is "too close" to erect a structure remains to be seen.

No final decision has been voiced by the City Council. Please do not draw hasty or hostile conclusions from a newspaper article. Once a final decision has been officially voted on and adopted by the city, you will read about it in RYPN.