G PaineMaine Narrow Gauge runs along the waterfront in Portland; they have a couple of the largest remaining locomotives from the ME 2 foot fleet. This spring they just got title to some land in nearby Gray, ME that was donated by Central Maine Power. They will be relocating the museum there sometime in the future. Funny thing, not everybody likes the sound of steam whistles and the smell of coal smoke in their front yard.
After living in Maine for 14 years--and a couple of those on Munjoy Hill--I know exactly the type of person that would complain about coal smoke. There was a good article with nice pictures in the Bangor Daily News last month about Monson #4 at the Maine Narrow Gauge RR Museum. I took some decent pictures of it last year under steam.
http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/rail-enthusiasts-in-portland-say-goodbye-to-monson-no-4/?ref=maineframe
Bruce
galaxyI can't imagine why some people object to the coal smoke the tourist lines produce! Some have organized petitions to stop tourist lines!
It is just not steam locos. IN Maine, Maine Eastern has had many complaints to diesel exhaust fumes when their FL-9s are at the station in Rockland. ALso, they neighbors were bothered by the horn noise at in town grade crossings, so the town declared a "quiet zone" and installed signs at grade crossings saying no horns would sound. In Brunswick, Amtrak wants to build a maintenance faciliy so the late evening Downeaster can stay overlight and leave for Portland early in the morning. The project is stalled because of exhaust and noise pollution in the neighborhood. NIMBY lives on!!
A few years ago, I went on the Mount Washington Cog Railroad. They were all steam then. A guy standing next to me said, "Look at all that pollution!" seeing one of these tiny locos coming down the mountain. These days, they run mostly diesels that run on "biodiesel"
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Based on the appearance of the crosshead (at about the 4 minute mark) the locomotive is really a Mantua, not a Baldwin!
Sir Madog G Paine Funny thing, not everybody likes the sound of steam whistles and the smell of coal smoke in their front yard. ... which completely escapes my understanding
G Paine Funny thing, not everybody likes the sound of steam whistles and the smell of coal smoke in their front yard.
... which completely escapes my understanding
I can't imagine why some people object to the coal smoke the tourist lines produce! Some have organized petitions to stop tourist lines! they may not succeed, but they have made a point! People have tried to get Steamtown to cut out their steam locos, but have failed as of yet. WIht no active steamer at the moment, they get a reprive, but once steam is running again, the same ones will complain again!
The smell of coal and steam oil, That is "music to my nose" and tells me a great, breathing, living thing is at work.
if they enjoyed the magnificent beauty of the steam loco like we do, they would not object!
When we arrived at the motel about 5 miles from Strasburg RR for the first time, I could smell the coal burning carried on the air. I enjoyed it!
I guess I can see why some would find that objectionable, as I don't like cigarette smoke in the air either. Stinky.
oh well,
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Some more info on the Brecon Mountain Railway:
This railway has a most unusual roster of locos. # 2, as seen in the video, is a 1930 Baldwin 4-6-2, built for the Eastern Province Cement Co., Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It was purchased for scrap value in 1974 and underwent complete reconstruction in 1993/1994. It is the only loco in service so far.
The railway has some interesting restoration projects ongoing. Loco # 1 is a 1897 Baldwin 2-6-0, built for the Mogyana Railway in Brazil. It is currently being converted into a 2-6-2.
Loco # 3 is a S.R. & R.L. RR 2-6-2, currently being completely rebuilt. Completion date not yet known.
Loco # 4 is a S.R. & R.L. RR 2-4-4 Forney, expected to be in service next year.
I have to start to save up pennies and dimes to be able to go there and see them in action!
Further info on this extraordinary line you can find here.
Thanks for that Ulrich.
I noticed the big blowdown of trees around the 2:30 mark. The train must have really been moving that day.
Time to fill the wine glass, cheers.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Sir Madog wrote the following
Actually, a lot of the equipment comes from the former Edaville RR, that loop of track in an amusement park run by the late Ellis D. Atwood.
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Edaville gets the credit for saving much of Maine's 2 foot equipment as well as the Flying Yankee from being sold for scrap. When Edaville went bust in the early 90s, most of the 2 ft collection came to Portland, ME. The Flying Yankee was sold to a collector in New Hampshire, and sat in a lot by the side of the highway for a number of years before another group bought it and is restoring it to operation. Much or the work has been completed, the major item is a new prime mover, as the original Winton diesel engine could not be restored.
http://www.flyingyankee.com/
Nice loco! I do wonder at the reasoning of building a 2' 4-6-2.
It's also nice to hear that the valve timing is spot on. Good maintenance.
Ed
G PaineFunny thing, not everybody likes the sound of steam whistles and the smell of coal smoke in their front yard.
More info in this video.
That is a big locomotive for a 2 footer!
A couple of weeks ago, I had mentioned that the Maine 2 footers had roots in the narrow gauge RR in Wales. This morning I was looking through teh Maine Narrow Gauge RR website, and found a bit of history that links the Maine RRs to Festiniog in teh 1870shttp://www.mainenarrowgauge.org/history/maine-two-foot-railroads/
Maine Narrow Gauge runs along the waterfront in Portland; they have a couple of the largest remaining locomotives from the ME 2 foot fleet. This spring they just got title to some land in nearby Gray, ME that was donated by Central Maine Power. They will be relocating the museum there sometime in the future. Funny thing, not everybody likes the sound of steam whistles and the smell of coal smoke in their front yard.
http://www.mainenarrowgauge.org/
Great video and well kept steamer. They sure don't use whistles much, not even leaving the station. Doug
What a lovely steamer. Looks like it is well-kept.
Thanks for posting, Sir M.
Unusual sights & sounds in the Welsh mountains!
Enjoy this short video of a 1930 Baldwin 4-6-2 on 2ft. gauge rails in the UK!