W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Museum Discussion => Topic started by: Ed Lecuyer on December 02, 2008, 01:47:18 PM
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[Updated 6/18/2025]
I thought it might be helpful to the newer members of our hobby to give a brief rundown of what locomotives were whose and where they are now. Corrections from our more knowledgeable members are welcome.
SD Warren #1
While technically not a true Maine two footer, #1 operated at the SD Warren Paper mill in Westbrook, ME. (Just outside of Portland.) SD Warren had a decent network of two foot gauge track in its plant, as well as a few locomotives. After the plant abandoned the 2' railway locomotive #1 was sold for use at an amusement park. The park decided to gut the locomotive, and install a gasoline powered engine. The locomotive was eventually sold to Boothbay Railway Village, where it is on display (under cover) with a number of Maine narrow gauge cars.
See: http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=1709 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=1709)
SD Warren #2
Like it's sister #1, #2 also operated at the SD Warren Paper mill in Westbrook, shared a similar fate, being sold to the amusement park, gutted, and eventually sold to Boothbay Railway Village. Following years of display at the entrance to BRV (incorporated into a sign at the entrance) it has been restored (August 2018) to operation, complete with a new cab and boiler.
See: http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=1710 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=1710)
Monson #3
This loco operated at the Monson Railroad in Monson, ME. The Monson was the last of the two-footers to be scrapped. By some twist of fate, the 2 locomotives (#3 and #4) were not scrapped along with the rest of the line, instead they were shipped to New York state for storage or scrap. Ellis D. Atwood (the founder of Edaville railroad) learned of the two locomotives, purchased them, and ran them at Edaville. After Edaville's equipment was sold to the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum in Portland, #3 has become their ambassador. You could find it steaming on the Portland waterfront, or on one of its visits to Edaville, the WW&F, Monson, or Bedford and Billerica. (The latter two having short stretches of demonstration track.) #3 has also been leased to the Sandy River railroad, however that relationship stalled in 2018. Monson #3 is usually stored serviceable at Edaville Railroad, when not in use on the Portland waterfront.
See: http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=572 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=572)
Monson #4
Basically the same story as #3, except that it is out of service, in need of a new boiler. It is being restored by Maine Locomotive and Machine Works in Alna.
See: http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=566 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=566)
B&H #7
Following its career at the Bridgton and Harrison (or Bridgton and Saco River,) #7 was sold to Ellis D. Atwood for his Edaville Railroad. After some delay for reasons not clear to this writer, the locomotive eventually joined the collection at Maine Narrow Gauge in Portland. This locomotive is loved by many as their favorite of the surviving two-footers. It recently emerged from a complete rebuild and can be found operating or on display at Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum in Portland.
See: http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=576 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=576)
B&H #8
Like #7, it went from the B&H to Edaville to Maine Narrow Gauge. It requires work to be brought into FRA compliance before it can be run again. It is also the largest surviving Maine two-foot locomotive, and as such, not particularly economical to operate under normal conditions. It is currently on display at the WW&F in Alna.
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=577
WW&F #9
The most storied locomotive of all of the Maine two footers. I'm not going to retype all of its history. It is well documented at the following links:
http://wordpress.wwfry.org/?page_id=182 (http://wordpress.wwfry.org/?page_id=182)
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=3870 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=3870)
One interesting fact is that this was the last 2 footer to have its original boiler. (All of the Edaville locos were reboilered - with the original boilers scrapped.) This is why the WW&F museum has preserved #9's original boiler, to be incorporated into a future display about the locomotive. Operational restoration of #9 was completed in December 2016; it can be found operating at the WW&F Railway Museum.
Honorable Mentions go to:
WW&F #10
Originally a 30" locomotive, WW&F #10 began its life at a Louisiana sugar plantation. Edaville purchased it, regauged it to 24", gave it the number 5, and used it at the Pleasure Island Amusement Park in Wakefield, MA. When Pleasure Island closed, it returned to Edaville and remained in storage. Eventually it was purchased by the WW&F and given the #10, since #9 was the last locomotive on the historic WW&F roster. Taken out of service in January 2017, it awaits a new boiler (under construction.)
See: http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=574 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=574)
WW&F #11
Being built by the volunteers of the WW&F railroad. It is to be a replica of the original railroad's #7. Many parts have been constructed, including wheel centers for the leading truck, the headlight, and the bell. The frame is complete and parts continue to be added to the frame with wheels coming in 2025. The boiler is also being fabricated in conjunction with the new boiler for WW&F #10.
build11.wwfry.org (http://build11.wwfry.org)
Sandy River #4
While not a steamer (some would call it a "steam outline,") its construction in the 1970s marked an important milestone in the two-foot preservation movement in Maine.
Boothbay Railway Village
They have 6 two-foot locomotives - but were originally from overseas. Because they have been part of the two-foot scene in Maine for so long, it is only fair to include them as part of our family.
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=618 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=618)
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=619 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=619)
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=620 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=620)
http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=621 (http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=621)
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Thanks for gathering and propagating this information, Ed. It is indeed a concise guide to the surviving two-footers and will undoubtedly be useful to folks who browse this site, especially if they take the time to look for this thread and read it.
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Thanks Ed for the Info on all of the suriveing engines history! The engines history is very important to prevent scraping steam engines which we all hate! Down with the scrap heap up goes the steam engine! :) :D ;D
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Thanks, Ed, I also appreciate this concise history! Perhaps it could be a "sticky" post at the top, so those of us with a limited knowledge of the Maine two-footers would find it when first surfing this site?
Phil
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As you so wish, it is now a sticky!
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Great list!
thanks! ;D
since you didnt specify "Roster of Surviving Maine 2' steam Locomotives"
how about the other internal combustion locos?
The largest diesels are the three 23-ton GE's.
Built by GE for Whitin Machine works in 1949, built new as 2-footers.
No. 1
1949 - built as Whitin number ?
1967 - To Edaville No. 1
1993 - To Maine Narrow Gauge RR No. 1
2008 - Still MNGRR No.1 in Portland
No. 2
1949 - built as Whitin number ?
196? - (exact year unknown by me..late 60's or early 70's) to Edaville Number 2.
2008 - Is still Edaville No. 2
No. 3
1949 - built as Whitin number ?
197? - to "Steam Village Railroad" in Gilford, NH, in the 1970's.
197? - to "Koppers", a railroad tie manufacturer, in the 1970's.
1980 - Moved to Edaville, but was damaged by a low bridge while in transit to Edaville by truck.
1990's - moved to Portland, as a parts source.
2008 - still in Portland as a parts source.
(we know one of the three was Whitin number 5, but we dont know which of the three was number 5,
or what numbers the other two had while at Whitin.)
More detail here:
http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychaos/MNGRR_diesel1.html
and there are more, smaller gas mechanical engines at most of the museums.
Does anyone have a Maine 2-foot "critter list"?
thanks,
Scot
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Hey Ed why dont you also put up a post on surving 2 foot gauge rolling stock! It would also be very helpfull for others too! :o ::) :)
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A rolling stock roster would be beyond the basic knowledge of this author. The basis of one could be compiled, however, by combing the following web pages:
http://www.srrl-rr.org/roster.htm (http://www.srrl-rr.org/roster.htm)
http://www.srrl-rr.org/away.htm (http://www.srrl-rr.org/away.htm)
http://www.railwayvillage.org/roster.html (http://www.railwayvillage.org/roster.html)
http://www.wwfry.org/aboutus/museumequipment.html (http://www.wwfry.org/aboutus/museumequipment.html)
The biggest hole is that Maine Narrow Gauge doesn't seem to have a published roster of their equipment.
There are also a couple of oddball items:
- Edaville still has (I think) a combine from the SR&RL (which is listed on the "Away" page of the SR&RL site.)
- The group restoring the Albion station on the WW&F is rebuilding a flanger from some of the original hardware off a WW&F flanger.
- Beaver Brook Farm had a SR&RL boxcar. Again it is listed on the SR&RL "Away" page, but may have been sold and/or moved.
Others may have further ideas/corrections.
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Some details on the Whitin Machine Works diesels that went to Edaville:
| Whitin # | Edaville # | Date Built | GE c/n |
| 1 | 1 | 8/1949 | 30491 |
| 4 | 2 | 8/1949 | 30490 |
| 3 | 3 | 5/1950 | 30580 |
All were/are 28-ton units.
The Whitin Machine Work's 2-foot gauge railroad was electrified until 1949, when the GE diesel units were built to replace the electric locomotives. Prior to the closing of Edaville in the early 1990s, one of the Whitin 2-foot gauge electric locomotives was on display at Edaville.
Information source: "Electric Locomotives of the Whitin Machine Works" by Charles A. Brown, NHRHTA Shoreliner magazine, Vol. 12 Issue 4 1981.
- Bill
P.S. After writing the above, I followed Scot's link to his web page on the Whitin 2-foot diesels and saw at least two discrepancies:
1. Scot has a photo of one of the Whitin diesels as #5, so the roster from the Shoreliner article is clearly wrong; and
2. Scot states the locomotives each have a weight of 23 tons, not 28 as listed in the Shoreliner article.
So I don't know if the Shoreliner information above helps to clear up or just cloudies the situation!
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What about the 2 foot railcars? ::) ;) :)
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Some details on the Whitin Machine Works diesels that went to Edaville:
| Whitin # | Edaville # | Date Built | GE c/n |
| 1 | 1 | 8/1949 | 30491 |
| 4 | 2 | 8/1949 | 30490 |
| 3 | 3 | 5/1950 | 30580 |
All were/are 28-ton units.
The Whitin Machine Work's 2-foot gauge railroad was electrified until 1949, when the GE diesel units were built to replace the electric locomotives. Prior to the closing of Edaville in the early 1990s, one of the Whitin 2-foot gauge electric locomotives was on display at Edaville.
Information source: "Electric Locomotives of the Whitin Machine Works" by Charles A. Brown, NHRHTA Shoreliner magazine, Vol. 12 Issue 4 1981.
- Bill
P.S. After writing the above, I followed Scot's link to his web page on the Whitin 2-foot diesels and saw at least two discrepancies:
1. Scot has a photo of one of the Whitin diesels as #5, so the roster from the Shoreliner article is clearly wrong; and
2. Scot states the locomotives each have a weight of 23 tons, not 28 as listed in the Shoreliner article.
So I don't know if the Shoreliner information above helps to clear up or just cloudies the situation!
Thansk Bill!
its very possible we are *both* right!
its clear there were three units at Whitin..and they became the three Edaville units, today known as "1, 2 and 3"..
yes, I have a photo of one them wearing the number 5 while at Whitin,
and Bill has data showing they had numbers 1, 4, and 3 while at Whitin..
but considering they worked at Whitin for 18 years, its very possible some wore different numbers while there..
I would suspect Bills numbers (Whitin 1, 4 and 3) were the LAST whitin numbers..just before being sold.
which would be the numbers Edaville had in their records perhaps.
and then perhaps the photo showing one of the units wearing number 5 is much earlier..
but we still dont have anything definitive..its still just guesswork.
Scot
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Wow. I guess I haven't seen #5 in a while. That salt air is really taking it's toll. Too bad that could not have been repaired before all that salt took over.
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Folks,
In reference to the roster items posted here. Here is something that threw me a curve.
The two S.D. Warren paper mill locomotives were built with Baldwin Construction Numbers: #1
was C/N 14283 in April 1895 and #2 was C/N 14522 in November 1895.
However if you look at them today the plate numbers on them are 10187 and 10188. These are replacement boilers from 1923.
The Amusement Park that converted them to gasoline operation was Robert Deitch's Kiddie Zoo at Fairlawn, New Jersey. I have not been able to trace the year that they went to the Boothbay Railway Village. I have asked they and they can not tell me.
As I mentioned above; they are short on lettering the two standard gauge cabooses are 563 and 663.
And I should add that the riveted saddle tank on the restored #2 is the only one I have ever heard about. A great piece of work!
Ted Miles
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Although not a Maine 2-foot steam locomotive, another engine that you all may wish to include in a data base, would be the former Edaville no. 6. This is a small Henschel that was (in the early 1960's) rostered on the Edaville steam locomotive list. I believe that the engine is currently at Beaver Brook Museum in New Hampshire.
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as a modeler of the ww&f museum in 2010 in 7/8 scale, i ran across the accucraft 'forney' live steam model. it has a good reputation for quality, running, and value among my friends who operate them. as expected it is small for 7/8 scale at a driver diameter of 1.4" while it should be right at 2" in 7/8 scale. but this is not terrible to me as a readily available stand-in. a new cab is an easy proect. but i cannot find a drawing of our beloved #10, and was hoping someone here knows of one. thanks, dale reynolds, pendleton sc
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For Monson #3 and #4, im not sure its accurate to say "instead they were shipped to New York state for storage"..
They were found at a Rochester NY scrap yard..I dont think there was any "storage" intended. :(
If Ellis D. Atwood hadnt learned they were there and resuced them, im quite certain they would have been scrapped..
Otherwise the history is correct..I just question the use of the word "storage"..
has anyone ever heard how they ended up in Rochester?
who bought them, moved them to western NY, and why?
thanks,
Scot
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Ed and all,
The Boothbay Railroad Village shop is rebuilding the SD Warren #1 back to a steam locomotive putting the boiler back together and whatever else it needs to run again. It will be great to see them running a Maine locomotive rather than those German industrial locomotives.
Although the SD Warren plant was not a common carrier railroad it was a Maine Two- Footer as far as I see it!
Ted Miles
WW&F Member
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My understanding is that the restoration of SD Warren #2 to operation by Boothbay Railway Village has been suspended. I'd love to have updated information on the matter.
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Their website suggests (not surprisingly) that it's a funding issue. They're >$100,000 short, and are accepting donations to continue the project. See http://railwayvillage.org/explore/maine-railroad-history/baldwin-locomotive-restoration/ (http://railwayvillage.org/explore/maine-railroad-history/baldwin-locomotive-restoration/)
Also, it's S.D. Warren number 2, not number 1. Number 1 remains on display with WW&F boxcar 312, SR&RL boxcars 137 and 142, and SR&RL combine 11.
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Folks,
The reason that they were in Rochester is that the scrap company was Rochester Iron and Metals. I assume that they bought the rest of the Monson Railroad when it quit operating in 1941 (?)
In 1946 L.W. Moody did not recall where he heard that the two locomotives still existed; but we can be glad that a little bird told him and Mr Atwood had his check book handy!
Ted Miles
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Whether the Monson engines' sojourn in upstate New York counts as "storage" or not is a matter of semantics, but I would tend to agree with Ed's use of the term. Yes, the engines were on the premises of Rochester Iron & Metal, which was a scrap dealer, but the very fact that they weren't cut up on the spot in Monson Junction but were instead loaded on flatcars (there are a couple of great photos of this in Two Feet to the Quarries ) and shipped several hundred miles west to Rochester suggests that Rochester Iron & Metal thought they had resale value beyond just scrap -- which was correct. The engines were stored there for the duration of the War (which is pretty amazing if you think about it) and then for a couple more years, until they finally found a buyer -- Ellis Atwood.
I'm reminded of a poignant little news item on the closure of the Monson RR that appeared in the January 1944 issue of Railroad Magazine. The author (I don't remember the name, but it wasn't Moody) laments that "the Monson has followed the Bridgton and Sandy River lines into oblivion", that "no more is there a common carrier of this gauge in the country," and that "it seems unlikely that the little Vulcan tank job will escape the scrapper's torch", or something to that effect. He does note at the end, however, that a certain Massachusetts man by the name of Atwood has purchased some of the equipment of the Bridgton & Harrison, "but the War has interfered with his plans".
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I recently had a very interesting few days in late July visiting the Maine 2ft gauge sites as well as Edaville. I had long wished to have the opportunity to visit from Australia and I was not disappointed.
I particularly would like to congratulate the WW&F for the wonderful work being done. This places your operation in the top few I have visited worldwide.
To return to the topic of this thread, I make the following observations:
1. Another "honorary" addition to the 2ft gauge ranks would be the Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 #21 from Edaville (shop number 1664). This was built in the UK in 1936 to haul sugar cane in Fiji. I was very keen to see it but was told at Edaville that it is currently in Maine for refurbishment. I did not see it in Maine and would be very interested to learn where this work is being done.
2. There is now an additional Henschel locomotive at Boothbay Railway Village. This is shop number 23768, previously at Leyh Steam Museum, Ellicott City, MD.
3. I would like to have better information on the 2ft gauge critters on the lines I visited. I will make a list of what I saw below but would welcome further information to fill in the gaps of years built, shop numbers and origins
Maine NG Museum, Portland
• #1 GE Class B-B-46/46-4GHM844D 23 tons (30491, 8-1949) ex Whitin Machine Works
• Brookville Model BCL 10 tons (L-6303, 1977) ex US Metals Refining
• #11 Plymouth Model DDT 10 tons (7086, 1975) ex US Metals Refining
• #10 Plymouth Model DDT 10 tons (6727, 1970) ex US Metals Refining
• #14 Plymouth unidentified - is it Model CL-2 1515, 1923 ex Edaville?
• #6 Plymouth Model DDT 10 tons unidentified - is it 6738, 1970 ex US Metals Refining?
Boothbay Railway Village
• FRED Brookville unidentified - is it 2006, 1935 ex Maine Peat Moss Co?
• #3 Plymouth unidentified
• Brookville unidentified - is it L-6506 1979 ex US Metals Refining?
Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington RR, Sheepscot
• #52 Plymouth Model DDT-6 (6290, 1962) ex Carpenter Steel
• Brookville Model BSA 1.5 tons (3233, 1947) ex J B Atkins, Harwick, Mass
Sandy River & Rangely Lakes RR, Sanders
• #11 Brookville Model BCA-12P 12 tons (L-6601, 1980) ex US Metals Refining
• #12 Brookville Model DDT-6 12 tons (L-6702, 1981) ex US Metals Refining
• #14 Plymouth built 1947? unidentified.
Edaville, South Carver
• #2 GE Class B-B-46/46-4GHM844D 23 tons (30491, 8-1949) ex Whitin Machine Works
• GE Class B-B-46/46-2HM844 23 tons (30580, 5-1950) ex Whitin Machine Works
• #3 Whitcomb unidentified - is it 40736, 1952 ex Carpenter Steel?
• #5 Whitcomb ex Canada unidentified
4. I have now discovered that there may also be (or once have been) 2ft gauge critters in Maine at Albion and at Biddeford Station. Any further information would be welcome.
Thanks
John Browning
Brisbane, Australia
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John,
I can provide some general information about some of the critters. There is a Plymouth at Albion. I do not have any details about it. Also, there was a Plymouth at Biddeford Station that was a sister unit to WW&F 52. Plymouth 3 at Boothbay was used the building of a dam by Central Maine Power. Perhaps some of the local members at the museum can go into more detail regarding these critters.
Jeff S.
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You actually passed very close by to Edaville's Hudswell Clarke #21 when you were visiting the WW&F. There's a quonset hut alongside our line with some railroad equipment outside. The owner of the property works at Boothbay Railway Village and does some other work on the side. Edaville 21 is in his quonset hut.
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The Plymouth at Biddeford Station is gone, having been sold through a broker a year or two back.
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The Maine Peat Moss Co. locomotive at Boothbay. What's the story on that? Where was it located?
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One small correction I would offer is that the SR&RL is located in Phillips, not Sanders. Yes, they refer to their terminus as "Sanders", but that's the just the building (the original SR&RL Sanders station), not the location. The actual Sanders is several miles farther up the line, between Reeds and Perham Junction on the P&R.
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Although not a Maine 2-foot steam locomotive, another engine that you all may wish to include in a data base, would be the former Edaville no. 6. This is a small Henschel that was (in the early 1960's) rostered on the Edaville steam locomotive list. I believe that the engine is currently at Beaver Brook Museum in New Hampshire.
Update: This locomotive is now at the Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley Railroad (https://ucsvroute.com/) in South Columbia, NY.