Maine Central 470 is a 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in May 1924 for the Maine Central Railroad (MEC). Currently owned by the New England Steam Corporation, it is being restored to operating condition at Washington Junction in Hancock, Maine.
History
Revenue service and retirement
In the early 1920s, passenger traffic was rising on the Maine Central Railroad (MEC), particularly for stops between Boston, Massachusetts, and Bangor, Maine, and so the railroad was buying larger and more powerful engines to boost capacity and speed.[1] Among them was the American Locomotive Company's popular 4-6-2s, which ALCO vigorously promoted to the railroads, especially in the passenger-dense East Coast.[2]
In May 1924, ALCO's plant in Schenectady, New York, produced the locomotive designated as builder's number 65555.[3] MEC bought the locomotive for $62,296.90 (the equivalent of ±$839,000 in present-day U.S. dollars) and numbered it 470. Delivery was expected during the summer of 1924.[4]
During its 30 years of service, No. 470 pulled named passenger trains including The Gull, the Bar Harbor Express, and the Kennebec Limited.[5]
The engine was the last steam locomotive to be operated by Maine Central Railroad. Its final run on Sunday, June 13, 1954, was nationally publicized and attracted widespread spectators along the route.[6] Passenger service had been in steady decline, and Maine Central discontinued all passenger service in Maine six years later.[7][3]
After its final run, Engine No. 470 was transferred to the Railroad's Maintenance Shops in Waterville where it was drained, winterized and towed to a display plinth near the public railroad station on June 17, 1954.[3] On October 28, 1962, in celebrating Maine Central Railroad's centennial anniversary, the locomotive was presented as a gift to the City of Waterville.[8][3]
Sale and restoration
In 2012, after being exposed to the elements and subsequent hazard to the public, the City of Waterville requested bids for the sale or restoration of the No. 470 locomotive.[9] Of the six bids that were received, only one bidder planned to keep the locomotive in Maine.[8]
On December 3, 2013, the City Council of Waterville voted to sell the No. 470 locomotive to the Maine-based non-profit New England Steam Corporation (NESCo), which entered a delayed purchase and sale agreement with the city, vowing not to disturb the locomotive until it had raised the purchase price and the anticipated moving costs.[10] On November 5, 2015, the NESCo purchased No. 470 for $25,000 and prepared to move it to the Downeast Scenic Railroad in Ellsworth, Maine.[11][3]
Between July and August 2016, NESCo moved No. 470 to Washington Junction in Hancock, Maine. In cooperation with the Downeast Scenic Railroad, they plan a complete restoration, returning the No. 470 locomotive to operating service. That effort is now underway; a new tender cistern and coal bunker were placed on the tender frame on November 13, 2022.[12] Volunteers hope to have the locomotive finished for its 100th anniversary in 2024.[3]
See also
- Atlanta and West Point 290
- Atlantic Coast Line 1504
- Boston and Maine 3713
- Florida East Coast 153
- Norfolk and Western 578
- Pennsylvania Railroad 1361
- Reading and Northern 425
- Southern Pacific 2467
- Southern Pacific 2472
- Southern Pacific 2479
- Southern Railway 1401
- U.S. Sugar 148
References
- ^ ALCO (Bulletin No. 1016). November 1913.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)[full citation needed] - ^ Leonard, Dr. Richard. "ALCO Pacifics 1913". Rail Archive.
- ^ a b c d e f "history & significance of Maine Central 470". Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ Central Maine Magazine. 1 (4).
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)[full citation needed] - ^ "About Maine Central #470". New England Steam Corporation.
- ^ "Steam locomotive that made last run 60 years ago to run again". Bangor Daily News. June 17, 2014.
- ^ White, Jonathan N. (2001). "A History of the Maine Central Railroad".
- ^ a b Calder, Amy (November 10, 2012). "Six bids to restore Old 470 locomotive to be considered by Waterville City Council". CentralMaine.com.
- ^ Calder, Amy (September 24, 2012). "Waterville officials hope someone can either buy or restore Old 470 steam locomotive". CentralMaine.com.
- ^ Gluckman, Nell (December 7, 2013). "Waterville council approves sale of 1924 locomotive for restoration, relocation to Ellsworth". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ Wlodkowski, Dustin (November 5, 2015). "Historic Waterville steam engine to move to Ellsworth". WCSH. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ Hartley, Scott A. (April 2023). "The return of Maine Central No. 470". Trains. No. 4 Vol 83. Kalmbach. pp. 44–45.