Monson 3 and 4 in Portland

[Brendan Barry]

Tuesday Monson number 3 was delivered to Portland to be used for Polar Express this Christmas and Monson number 4 was placed back in the museum for display. I understand number 3 will head back to the Sandy River in Phillips this summer.

Three arriving and being unloaded.
 












Four outside the engine house.



Three and four posed for pictures.













The engines were then switched out and four was trucked across the parking lot to the museum building.









Four just unloaded from the truck at the museum door.

[Ira Schreiber]

A great photo essay. Thanks.

[Philip Marshall]

Great photos, Brendan! It's so nice to see Monson 3 and 4 together again.

It's apparent that Number 4 really is slightly bigger than Number 3, not withstanding Moody's claim that he could never tell them apart except by counting the number of steps on the cab.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Nice pics B.

#3 looks good with the aluminum lettering and no markers, like it looked when in service on the Monson.

[James Patten]

And NO brass bands!

[Philip Marshall]

And NO brass bands!

Yes!

[Wayne Laepple]

I prefer an orchestra to a brass band anytime......

[Mike Arnold]

Is it me but she had brass bands longer then without? I know it's not original but it does take away from the Atwood/Blount Edaville look that saved the locomotives. Something has to be saved from the edaville days of what it was not what it has become. That railroad gave me my love for the two footers. When I worked for F Nelson's brother and niece I use to hear so many stories and they revoled around Edaville. The 3 looks amazing but missing thoes brass bands she just looks odd.
Mike

[Philip Marshall]

Is it me but she had brass bands longer then without?

In numerical terms I think you are correct. I wasn't alive then, but from photos I've seen the brass bands show up sometime in the mid-1950s under Nelson Blount. In fact, photos of the move of B&M 2-6-0 No. 1455 to Edaville in 1956 show No. 3 in brass bands in front of the enginehouse, which is pretty definitive.

That makes at least 60 years in brass bands, which is as long as the Monson RR itself was in operation.

[Bernie Perch]

I notice that the top of #3's steam dome is missing its top.  Is there any reason for that.  It looks unfinished.

Bernie

[Ed Lecuyer]

As far as brass bands go, I prefer the more inclusive term "wind ensemble."

I'm not a member of Maine Narrow Gauge so my opinion doesn't really matter - but I think they made the right call to restore #3 to its Monson appearance. They are, after all, the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum, and not the Edaville Railroad museum (or a Atwood-Blount tribute band.)

I notice that the top of #3's steam dome is missing its top.  Is there any reason for that.  It looks unfinished.

I think I read elsewhere that it is off pending the FRA inspection, then it will be reinstalled.

[Bernie Perch]

Ed,

Thanx.  That makes sense and I should have realized that because I have been around for FRA inspections.

Bern

[Tom Casper]

Three passed her FRA inspection and is ready to go for their Polar Express days.

Tom C.

[Cliff Olson]

I'm with James and Ed on the lack of brass bands on #3.  Also pleased that #4, as well as #3, now has no fake pilot.  The Monson lives!
Cliff Olson
(co-owner, Monson depot)

[Bill Sample]

No brass bands and no GIANT NUMBER.  The nice almost head-on shot diminshed those effects on #4.