Damariscotta History: Steam Locomotive on the Brunswick to Rockland Branch, 1949

[Bill Reidy]

A recollection of a double-header train on the Rockland branch that included Maine Central No. 470.

https://lcnme.com/opinion/columns/damariscotta-history-247/

[Keith Taylor]

Except 470 is no longer on display at Waterville.
It is being restored at the Downeast Scenic shops.

[Benjamin Richards]

Kind of interesting they would put two Pacifics on a coal drag. I guess you use what's available...

[Bob Holmes]

Truly fascinating story -- I never imagined such a massive train on the Rockland branch.  Whatever else did the branch support besides Dragon Cement?

Bob

[Benjamin Richards]

For freight: BIW must have generated some traffic. There's also an interesting bit in Woolwich, right near the Cumberland Farms. Where the "pedestrian tunnel" now goes under US 1, that was a spur that led down to the east bank of the river. Must have had some kind of transload there.

Of course, I don't have to mention interchange with the WW&F...

The MEC owned the Hotel Samoset in Rockland for a time.

[Steve Smith]

Can anybody tell us what progress on the 4-6-2 #470 restoration has been made?

[Graham Buxton]

There are photos of recent #470 work sessions  here:

https://www.newenglandsteam.org/news
The most recent photos there are from 11/6/21.

[Steve Smith]

Thank you, Graham. On my outdated operating system (El Capitan) I couldn't see any pictures but it was great just to read about the progress.

[Eric Larsen]

Most of the freight on the branch in the late steam days was pulled by 2-8-0's.