Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington Railway # 9 under steam

b. barry · **Posted:** Sat Dec 05, 2015 9:56 pm

WW&FRy # 9 was steamed up and moved under her own power today. After some successful runs around the yard coach 3 was hooked up and a run was made to Alna Center with a standing room only crowd.

philip.marshall · **Posted:** Sat Dec 05, 2015 10:15 pm

She is absolutely gorgeous, and under steam for the first time since 1933!

ArtS · **Joined:** Thu Sep 12, 2013 4:31 pm **Posts:** 53

Very cool!!

Congratulations to everyone involved!

Art S.

Reading 900 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:27 pm **Posts:** 118

Thank you posting those pictures of an absolutely beautiful engine steaming again on her home rails. Congratulations to the team at WW&F, a tremendous job Well Done!
Alan

trolleyira · **Joined:** Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:22 pm **Posts:** 219

Words fail me to describe the joy.

Thank you.

whodom · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2015 1:19 am

Very nice. One question- what's up with the series of holes near the top of the stack and near the bottom of the stack? It appears the stack is double-walled.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2015 2:10 am

What can I do except to simply add to the compliments and best wishes for those who brought this machine back to life?

She's a jewel of which you can be proud.

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2015 7:54 am

Congratulations! I have been intrigued by Maine narrow gauge and this engine ever since I read her story in a TRAINS magazine article from the 1980s. Looking forward to an opportunity to visit Maine and see her under steam.

Best regards,

Joshua

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2015 9:37 am

I believe she is starring with the WW&F Christmas trains and festival, next Saturday. I hope to be there.

b. barry · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2015 10:20 am

Richard Glueck wrote:

I believe she is starring with the WW&F Christmas trains and festival, next Saturday. I hope to be there.

We are hoping 9 will be available for Victorian Christmas but we have more days of testing to do. Number 9 has only rolled up a little over three miles so far. Victorian Christmas is two weeks away on the 19th.

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

The holes at the top and bottom of the stack are to provide air flow around it. The inner stack is somewhat cone-shaped to provide a Venturi effect, while the outer covering is a straight sheet-metal tube. A couple of years ago, my friend Bernie Perch and I riveted a new outer stack in place.

By the way, the Victorian Christmas event is actually on Dec. 19, not next weekend.

Frisco1522 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2015 11:04 am

Another one live and breathing. Good work guys, enjoy your "new" baby.

b. barry · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2015 12:05 pm

Running in the yard.

https://youtu.be/1_DAagJCW4g

whodom · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2015 12:45 pm

G. W. Laepple wrote:

The holes at the top and bottom of the stack are to provide air flow around it. The inner stack is somewhat cone-shaped to provide a Venturi effect, while the outer covering is a straight sheet-metal tube. A couple of years ago, my friend Bernie Perch and I riveted a new outer stack in place.

Thanks very much for the response. I found some info on the WW&F forum that says the #10 was actually fitted with a Lempor exhaust system a few years ago. Perhaps the #9 got the same treatment? That would explain the tapered stack.

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

I can assure you, Mr. Odom, that No. 9's stack was replicated precisely as the original Portland Co. stack. I was personally involved in its removal from the original boiler and its repair and reinstallation on the new boiler.

While I cannot vouch 100% that No. 10 does not have a Lempor exhaust, I can say that both it and No. 9 have undergone modifications of their original front end netting and exhaust arrangements.