The Boothbay Railway Village is bringing a special surprise for visitors to the 2017 Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show - a 1925 H.K. Porter steam locomotive.  The Amherst Railway Society's annual Railroad Hobby Show occupies four buildings at the Eastern States Exposition, draws 25,000 people, and is one of the most respected railroad shows in the country. For the first time ever, show visitors will have the opportunity to see a full-size locomotive under steam.

 

The H.K. Porter Company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania specialized in industrial locomotives. This engine was 1 of 11, all very similar, owned by Raritan Copper in New Jersey.   The craftsman of the Boothbay Railway Village rebuilt it for Edaville (South Carver, Massachusetts.) We saved the original cylinders and running gear. It was regauged from 30 inches to 24 inches and a new cab was constructed. The project also required a new boiler, custom designed and built by the Museum to modern ASME standards.  Work was completed in 2014. The engine was acquired by Edaville in 1957 and many might remember it from when it was on display next to the Carousel for decades.

The Museum operates a fully certified boiler shop. The ability to perform code work on boilers is unique in the museum field and we are fortunate to able to keep their own equipment and that of other historic preservation efforts in proper operating condition.

Currently, the shop is restoring the Museum's own S.D. Warren Co. locomotive No. 2 to its original operating condition, as built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and shipped to Westbrook, Maine in 1895.  Work on the locomotive, which last operated under steam in the 1940's, includes building a new boiler, repairs to the wrought iron frame, all new bearings, a new cab and a new saddle tank.  The planned restoration follows the specifications from the original order placed in 1895.

Our craftsmen have played a key role in returning WW&F #9, B&SR #7, and Monson #3 to operation along with other historic steam vehicles including two Lombard log haulers. Our clients have included Edaville, Conway Scenic, The Mount Washington Cog, Maine Narrow Gauge, WW&F, SR&RL, Clark's Trading Post, Loon Mountain, Fire Museum of Maryland and Maine Forest & Logging Museum. Our expert craftsman and engineers truly keep New England under steam.

If in Springfield for the show we hope you will stop by and see the live steam engine, perhaps blow the whistle and talk with the Museum's Chief Engineer Brian Fanslau about the restoration shop he oversees and projects both completed and in progress.