7/26/2007 On July 14, 2007, we operated #7470 on a steam-powered fan trip to Fabyan Station; this train was sponsored by the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts. This event was a big success, and I am told that it is the first time that steam has powered a train to Fabyan since 1953 when the last MEC steam powered train went through. We were assisted by the Twin Mountain and Whitefield Fire departments at Crawford Depot where we took 3,000 gallons of water from Whitefield and 500 gallons from Twin Mountain to fill 7470's tender. We had a problem with the coal not producing the kind of heat that we needed on the heavy grades, but other than that things went well. Since we had our U23B #2820 available we used it for dynamic braking westbound from Crawford Station to Fabyan and then on the eastbound trip from Crawford to Bartlett. The four-car train returned to North Conway from Bartlett on its own.

We invited photo submissions from the event, the best of which are now posted on this web site Thanks to all for your support of this trip and of CSRR in general.

#7470 will be down August 2-4 for its scheduled boiler wash, but we expect to have it back in full operation for our 33rd birthday bash on August 6th.

Paul Hallet

6/1/2007 #7470 has received one new wheel set under her tender and has had extensive work done on the water tank itself to make it tight for the coming season. Four new washout plugs have been turned for her boiler by Boothbay Railway Village in Maine. The locomotive will be inspected by the Federal Railroad Administration Inspector in mid-June and barring any unforeseen problems will return to service on Saturday, June 30, 2007. Call before you come, though, just to make sure!

2/1/2007 #7470 is peacefully slumbering in stall #3 of the Roundhouse at North Conway after returning to service in 2006. The locomotive operated 35 days last year for the first time in four years. She finished the season by hauling trains to and from Conway and hauling the Polar Express© during the third weekend in December.

We expect to do some work on the tender tank over the course of the winter in addition to normal maintenance items. The locomotive is expected to be ready to go back to work on or about July 4th 2007.

PSH

#7470 Update Archives:
Locomotive #7470 2009
Locomotive #7470 2008
Locomotive #7470 2007
Locomotive #7470 2006
Locomotive #7470 2005

The Wheel Report is written 10 times a year by Paul Hallett, our Operations Manager, for "Notch Eight", the newsletter of the North Conway Railroad Club. To get an inside view of Conway Scenic Railroad's operations, please read on:

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