Conway Scenic steamless another year- 2004, 2005... 2006?

It looks as if the Conway Scenic's 0-6-0 #47 is not going to be running this season, in spite of assurances to the contrary in a letter to me earlier this year from the management. They blamed the FRA for being negligent in getting the inspection/paperwork done. Now I'm hearing from people who've been to the CS that the repairs on the locomotive were "botched" and parts are needed before certification can be completed. The project appears to be on indefinite "hold" status. Even Dwight Smith says he doesn't know what's going on! I suspect that if he were still in charge up there that these problems would not be ongoing.

File this under MOTS = More Of The Same.

Well all I know is that the longer it takes them to fix the steam engine 7470 (47) the longer that it is going to be, before the ex-Maine Central steamer sitting in the yard can resume on its restoration. The number is 501. I was told that the 7470 is in the spot where the 501 needs to go for it continued restoration. The ex-Maine Central engine is owned by the 470 RR Club which also owns the ex-Boston and Maine 4266 (still in operation) and the 4268 (not in use *not sure if they ever plain on using it for future operation). The ex-Maine Central 2-8-0 is scheduled for operational use when it’s finished

Here are some pictures of the 470 RR Clubs engines ex-Maine Central and the ex-Boston and Maine engine’s 501, 4266 and 4268 and the Conway Scenic Steamer 7474 (47)
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic this picture was taken of the 501’s tender, it doesn’t look to be in bad shape but definitely needs some paint work.

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic This is a picture of the Conway Scenic engine 7470. Was the FRA the one who pulled this engine out of service because it needed a new boiler, that’s what I have been told before….?

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic Engine 4266 at Conway, NH

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic Engine 7470

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic Engine 501 year of the picture taken is 1989; it doesn’t look this nice today though.

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic Engine 4266

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic it looks like the 4266 will need a new paint job pretty soon.

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic engine 501, you can see the engine as already started its restoration but has been put on hold till they finish with the 7470

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic Engine 4268

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic 470 Club engine 4266 and the Conway Scenic 6516. Notice the 501’s tender sitting off to the right of the picture.

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic Conway Scenic engine 47 later to be renumbered 7470. The picture seems to say it was taken in 1970 but the Conway Scenic wasn’t around then. The Boston and Maine RR was still operating the line in 1970. It wasn’t until 1974 when the Conway Scenic started so this picture had to have been taken sometime after 1974 or during. Buy the way for those that don’t know the B&M abandoned the line on October 31, 1972 the Conway Scenic started operations on August 2, 1974

A good bit of the work done on MEC 501 was, how shall we say, "not quite up to proper standards", as reported by experienced steam locomotive people who saw the results. Not much is being said about this situation, but it looks like most of what has been done will need to be redone, and much additional expense. Don't plan on seeing 501 in steam real soon.

O I know that the 501 will not be up and running anytime soon, can't really do much with it, till they can get it out of the weather. Meaning the longer it takes them to fix the 7470 the longer its going to take for the 501 to resume its restoration because the 7470 is sitting where the 501 needs to go. You think the Conway Scenic really cares about the 501? not a chance because they don't even own it. I mean look... they can't even fix one of there own, so don't think that they are going to hurry up so that another engine thats not there's can get worked on. If the 470 RR Club was smart they should have the 501 moved to another location where they can resume the work they started. Though I would think it would coast money to have it moved either by truck or by rail. Hey maybe it could got to where the Flying Yankee is being restored... *I'll keep dreaming on that one*. No but to bad the old Round House in Bartlett wasn't in such bad shape (if its still standing... I last saw it in the summer of 2000). That would be a perfect spot to put the 501 in and work on it. Hey maybe if its still standing it might be a good idea to put some work into the Round House so that the 501 can be moved into it. Now im not talking about bringing the turn table back because that would coast to much but just the building itself. Yeah I know where talking about money here now and it doesn't grow on trees but in order for things to get done you have to spend money. Hey is the Round House in Bartlett still standing?

The Bartlett roundhouse was there in August when I rode and drove through town.
Let's give CS some credit for being a complex, active scenic RR. Compared to some of the one-locomotive roads that don't even run the engine around before heading back to the station, CS is a marvel.
On the other hand, I'd like to see them add other stops, so that people could combine, say, a ride on the train and a hike to Arethusa falls, or so they could ride down through the Notch and back out of it, or so they could do a short RT from Conway and avoid the mall traffic.

Hi guys, new here...

I was just at the CSRR yesterday 10/5, and good news- looks like the 7470 has been moved from the stall it was occupying in this picture ( I took that pic by the way:)

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... way_Scenic

This is a picture of the Conway Scenic engine 7470. Was the FRA the one who pulled this engine out of service because it needed a new boiler, that’s what I have been told before….


And there is a passenger coach in that stall. Couldn't tell which stall 7470 was in because all doors were closed and I could only see in the window to the stall that the coach was in.

Maybe some progress has been made?
The 501 looks the same as last year and the tender is still off of the turntable in good cosmetic shape.

And, they have 4 1st generation 567 powered EMD diesels, AND an Alco S4. Not many scenics have that kind of hardware. All 4 (B&M F7A 4266, ex-MEC GP7 573, and ex CNL FP9As 6506 and 6515) were running Tuesday.

Well it’s a little off topic from the title, but I have to ask. The Bartlett Round house is still standing, so then how owns it? The State? The town? Who? I know the Conway Scenic doesn't own it. Are there any plans to restore the building itself?
If the 7470 is finished I guess that means the 501 is next in line . Maybe in 5 years from now we will see the 501 under steam again though it will probably be longer than that. More like 10 years from now. God I hope it won't take that long

JUst to let all you guys know the State owns the bartlett roundhouse and the 7470 is allmost done! The CS crews have plans to make her operational by the fall of 2005! Keep your fingers crossed!

Does that mean the 501 is next in line or will the two new engines push that back because they need repairs? Speaking of which, has anyone seen the 44 toner #15? Is it still in one of the stalls or was it sent away to be fixed?

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Can someone here help clarify this topic? Is the CSRR going to restore the MEC 501? I thought that it was owned by someone other than the CSRR and that they were just allowing this group to store / restore her in the CSRR yard.

Is there a realistic timetable in place as to when we will ever see the MEC501 running again under her own power?

If she ever gets to that point, will the CSRR allow her to run on their rails?

The 501 is owned buy the 470 Railroad Club along with the 4266 and the 4268. The 470 Railroad Club does have plains to restore the 501 and to operate it. I have heard rumors that the plan is to run it as one of the Crawford Notch trains. Obviously for that to happen they will need to sit down with the state for this one because two things need to happen from what I was told buy an ex-B&M engineer. The state would need to reconstruct the Y at Faybans for the engine to turn direction and would also need to construct some type of water system (tank or water pipe) for the steam train to load up on water for the return trip. These reasons are why the Conway Scenic doesn't operate steam through the Notch.

steveh so your saying that the roundhouse in Bartlett is going to be restored. Do you have anymore information on that? (Like putting in a turn table or just restoring the building). I hope they restore it to accommodate some use with trains.

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Paul Hallett is the new Operations Manager at CS. He replaced Gary Webster this spring. Paul is a dedicated steam man, with many talents. He has credentials ranging from Edaville to Maine Narrow Gauge Museum. In correspondence with him, he assured me that he would not have taken on the position if there was not a committment to get the 7470 back in operation. Whether it will be this season will depend on the needs of the business. Obviously maintenance/repair of the diesel fleet comes first, as they are the bread & butter. Steam is the dessert!

the MEC 501 is a whole 'nuther ball of wax. No predictions on that debacle. The 470 Club is responsible for what has/has not been accomplished so far on that project, and the near total silence from them on the matter is a disturbing factor.

I guess we need to keep our fingers crossed and stay tuned.......