Maine Central Pacific, 470, was plinthed while under steam, in 1954. Since then, she has had no attention other than to have asbestos removal and a very occasional coat of paint. The movement to have her saved and put under cover, several years ago, has fizzled, with insufficient fund raising and incompetent management. I visited the locomotive today, and took these images. Fifty Maine winters and unchecked vandalism have been brutal. Incidentally, Mayor Paul LePage has now thrown his hat into a vigorous campaign to be the Republican candidate for Governor.

Meh.

I've seen FAR worse. I'm confident a lot of us have, too. Even with locomotives that have been "preserved" for the same amount of time, and even under cover or steam for part of that time.

Not to discount her condition but I've seen a lot worse. These days cosmetic restorations sometimes run into 6 figures but I'm thinking for a couple of thousand dollars and a couple of hundred man hours of volunteer work she could be made to look quite nice.

Probably the most important thing has already been done... Asbestos removal. That does more damage to a locomotive boiler than anything. It's not the asbestos itself. Asbestos retains the water, which does the damage.

My wife and I personally got a look at 470 about three years ago. She is indeed one the finest proportioned and best looking 4-6-2's out there. She certainly has the flair of the Georgian style. It is indeed a shame that she has not had better care, but at least the lagging has been removed. A shed would go a long way toward her long term preservation.

Mike

I'm surprised she's not in worse shape than she is given that there's no (visible) fence. A beautiful engine deserving at least a fresh coat of paint!

You would think that the 470 Club would conduct a fundraiser and put up a shelter for their namesake locomotive.

In case someone wonders where this is and didn't expand the first photo: Waterville, Maine.

(also bait for the search engine)

While I'm certain other locomotive have fared worse, the metal on this locomotive is splintering into blisters and chipping away. The tender is rotten, straight through. It isn't even safe for the pot smokers who use it as a hide out.
Fortunately, the stack is capped and a group of dedicated volunteers, took pains to grease and oil her, about three years ago. I'm certain her running gear and boiler could be rehabbed, Possibly the cylinders, although they've been left open for decades. Rebuilding for operation would mean at least a million to fabricate those parts which could not be blasted clean or easily replaced. Cosmetically, she could be made presentable for considerably less, but still, in the hundred thousand range. I agree, a shelter and fence is the minimum to preserve her for another ten years.

I have grave fears for the longevity of the locomotive.

I have asked officers twice in the last 5 years and they do not appear to have any interest in this locomotive. In fairness they don't really have any concentration of members in Bangor and I suspect they don't have a lot of money.

Anytime I hear anybody complain about anything--terrible TV shows, political wrangling, the cost or quality of their beer, Wal-Mart, you name it--I respond: "Propose a VIABLE alternative."

In this case, there are several alternatives.
They could move/sell the loco to a place with better weather. (See Steamtown USA.)
They can sell/move the loco to someone that intends to restore/operate her.
You can convince the current owners that either of the above options is in mutual best interests. (See the "Lost Engines of Roanoke", or the West Va. Northern locos formerly in Pa.)
You can convince government bodies to pony up the funds for your proposed preservation project. (See Steamtown NHS and several state RR museums.)
You can engage a public-private partnership. (See Va. Museum of Transportation, Link Museum, and a multitude of other preservation projects.)
You can start passing the hat amongst yourselves to raise funds to make better preservation happen. How much does a pole barn cost? How much a quick-and-dirty paint job? How much a competent and thorough paint job?
You could attempt to acquire the loco and preserve it yourselves.
And, of course, there's the "do-nothing" alternative: turn around,walk away, and focus your monies and energies on the WW&F, or the Maine NG RR Museum, the B&M 3713 at Steamtown, the Downeast Scenic RR...........

There has to be some reason why, after I've been hearing about this problem loco for 25 years or more, nothing has apparently happened. What is that reason or set of reasons?
And further: If I asked the town of Waterville the same question, what would their response be?

If it's money, some library or bookstore up there may have "Fundraising for Dummies." (If not, there's Amazon/Alibrius/etc.) If it's bad blood between Waterville and the 470 enthusiasts, there's "Public Relations For Dummies." (I swear, I'm not making up these titles!) If you have to overthrow Waterville government, there's probably a "Dummies" book for that, too.

Brother Mitchell makes some really good points. All it takes is a couple of guys with some motivation and lots can happen.

Doing anything is better than nothing. Buying a gallon of Rust-oleum and slopping on some paint is better than letting it rust. Even poorly applied paint on a poorly prepared rusty surfaces looks better than rust and also protects what left of the metal. In fact simply stopping by and speaking to a few local paint stores would probably yield a donation of the Rust-oleum. The whole thing could probably be painted with about 5 gallons of paint.

As for cosmetic restoration, think of a a scale of 0-10 with 10 being a museum quality full blown restoration and a 0 as doing nothing. To get to the 10 you can can run into 6 figures easily. I will argue that with a handful of volunteers and a couple of thousand dollars you can get to a real nice 8 or even a 9.

I have gotten many items donated to my local steam railroad simply by asking. The list includes: two welding machines, an air compressor, boxes of rags, used motor oil, high-bay shop lights, and even some good old fashioned cash money.

Some towns seem unable to let go of an engine, even if it has no real connection to the town (ie never passed through, or within a hundred miles), simply because its been sitting there for so long and many people have seen it (rotting) there, their entire lives...

And just how does one know that's actually the case, sir? Has anyone out of the multitude of whiners who've bitched and moaned incessantly about "the sad state of this wonderful locomotive" (as well as far too many others) over the past several years had the stones (much less anything even remotely approaching actual motivation) to even ask if the city would be willing to part with the locomotive or at least allow a volunteer group to take up the task of maintaining said loco? Hell, if a bunch of longtime residents can get together and restore a 4-8-4 locomotive that had been sitting in one of their city's parks for several years (and had suffered far worse abuse than most park locomotives) then whyinthehell can't a few folks take the time to at least ask the city parks department (or public works or whoever is responsible for said park) if they themselves could try to at least stabilize this particular locomotive? As others have said here (and elsewhere when similar topics have been discussed), it really doesn't take that much effort to prevent an outcome like this. Then again, it's so much easier to whine and moan than to actually lift a finger and do something. And some people have the gall to ask why this country is so far up fecal matter creek...

I believe the short answer to that question is yes.