New front end loader for the railway.

[Brendan Barry]

The museum has purchased a Case loader to take some of the burden off of Fred's tractor. The new to us loader has a quick coupler set up with a bucket and forks. Yes it came with the cab enclosure.

Loaded up on the truck for the trip to Maine.



Parked in the parking lot after being unloaded.







The same machine at the railroad about 8 years ago.

[Paul Uhland]

Way to go, guys. Nice looking 'chine.
And stenciled already.
NMSL&RHS (2926) IDs everything, from sawhorses, both their forklifts, to all equipment.

Got a  1976 Sandia Labs sg  car mover donated to Abq Rail Museum, leased to us , put a magnetic sign on it, is seen on local streets going to get gas.


Advertising never hurts. 

[Bill Piche]

Is that bucket wider than the one on Fred's? Might make coaling a bit more prone to overflow (which is a constant problem when we coal anything in Portland).

[Bob Holmes]

Excellent!  A sorely needed piece of equipment.

[Mike Fox]

Coaling should still be done with the John Deere. The loader can be used in back-up, but only by qualified operators, like anything else the museum owns or borrows.

The new loader takes the pressure off the John Deere. We have been using that for more than it was designed for.

[Paul Crabb]

Has it been given a name yet?

[Steve Smith]

Paul, I don't suppose it was donated, but if it was, we could consider Franky Freeloader. 

[James Patten]

It was not donated.  It belonged to the same person that did donate the new(er) truck, Dean, so it will probably be forever known as "Dean's loader".

[Richard Cavalloro]

It's great to see the museum obtaining the equipment we need to keep moving forward.  Is there a plan in place to keep them under cover somewhere?   Is there any opportunity for an amateur wrench turner to get involved with them, maybe like a PM day?

[Gordon Cook]

I am trying to remember if the old front loader is still at Alna Center?
If it is still there there may be some interest from collectors of vintage construction equipment rather than just hauling it to the junkyard.

[Ed Lecuyer]

I am trying to remember if the old front loader is still at Alna Center?
If it is still there there may be some interest from collectors of vintage construction equipment rather than just hauling it to the junkyard.

The Terraloader at Alna Center was recently retrieved by a collector of vintage construction equipment. He was particularly excited to get this specific loader, as his father "did everything" with it while he operated it at Edaville RR.

Apparently, the Terraloader originally served at Blount Seafood in RI. (As in F. Nelson Blount.) So the old Terraloader is notable to New England Railfans.

It has gone to a good home, so everyone wins.

[John Kokas]

I hope that when the enginehouse is completed and the permanent coal dock is established that we install a bucket jib crane similar to ones used back in the day by all the 2 footers.  Front loaders did not exist back then and although its a necessity now - I hope its continued use for coaling is only short term.

[Ed Lecuyer]

Hi John,

That idea has been discussed for many years and certainly has merit. Given how tight things are developing around the enginehouse, we will have to carefully consider how to balance authenticity with the practicality of how coal is delivered and stored.

[John McNamara]

Should the Case loader be named "Justin?"

[Bill Baskerville]

Should the Case loader be named "Justin?"

Is that because it arrived justin time to keep us from wearing out Fred’s tractor?