WW&F Railway Museum Acquires Historic Locomotive“It’s perfect for our Mountain Extension,” says CMO Jason Lamontagne
Like a proud new father, WW&F Railway Museum President David Buczkowski stands in front of “Peppersass.” The museum has acquired the historic locomotive for its Mountain Extension. WW&F Railway Museum photo. The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum announced today it has acquired the Mount Washington Cog Railway’s locomotive No. 1,
Peppersass. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
For the past year, the museum has been working out engineering requirements for its “Mountain Extension,” extending from Top of Mountain down to Route 218 near Head Tide village in Alna, Maine, a distance of about ¾ mile. With the extension’s steep grade, museum engineers were concerned with the slippery conditions that might be encountered on the completed railway, particularly during the harsh Maine winters that typically extend from September through June.
“Then
Peppersass became available,” said Jason Lamontagne, the museum’s Chief Mechanical Officer, “and it became apparent that a cog railway is the solution.”
“
Peppersass is perfect for our Mountain Extension,” he added.
The museum and its contractor, ROW MOW Manufacturing, Inc., are now working out plans to rebuild the historic locomotive.
Mike Fox, President of ROW MOW, estimated his shop can have the locomotive regauged to two feet in about a day. Renovation of the gearing will take another day.
One point of contention for the locomotive’s rehabilitation has been the rack system. As constructed,
Peppersass was designed to use the Marsh system, developed by Mount Washington Cog Railway founder Sylvester Marsh in the 1860s. Fox would like to see the rebuilt
Peppersass converted to the more modern Abt system, developed by Swiss engineer Carl Roman Abt in the early 1880s. Fox believes he can machine the 3,800 feet of Abt rack rail needed for the extension in about one day.
“The more complicated Marsh (rack rail) would take at least twice as long,” he said.
Lamontagne is not a fan of the Abt system, however, noting the historic roots of the Marsh’s system in nearby New Hampshire.
“Old is good,” said Lamontagne.
Now the museum is looking to fund a new boiler for the locomotive.
When he first learned of fellow directors’ interest in the locomotive, museum Treasurer James Patten’s initial reaction was “Now what is
this going to cost?” After learning more about the project, Patten has become a fan of the effort, to the point he is now spearheading fundraising efforts.
“Two years ago, our museum launched the ‘21 Campaign’ to fund new boilers for our existing steam locomotive #10 and planned locomotive #11 (‘10+11=21’),” he said. The successful campaign has brought in nearly $95,000 in funds for the two locomotives.
When restored to operation,
Peppersass will be assigned the number 12, in keeping with the original railway and museum’s tradition.
“So we have decided to rebrand the ’21 Campaign’ the ’33 Campaign
©’ (‘10+11+12=33
®’), Patten said.
The WW&F Railway Museum will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding in 2019. To celebrate the museum’s heritage of accomplishments by its can-do corps of volunteers, once number 12 is put into operation the directors plan to rename the locomotive “Fred.”
