Excellent write-up with photos of an old logging railroad in the Allagash region of northern Maine. http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/history/allagash/rr.htm
Hmmm. I wonder about the future for those steamers. I don't recall previously hearing or reading about them.
Ken, I doubt if there's any future other than what has been done. They're really out in the boonies, so no tourist traffic other than fishermen, hunters, and the occasional wilderness packer. The roads shown on the map probably are all rough dirt for logging, forestry, and fire lanes. I believe most of the fishermen either canoe in or come by float plane. IIRC, moose is the predominate game, though there are deer. https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=111633296789154616664.00046ca78c73cd70ab7df I assume you haven't heard about these because the Allagash Wilderness is so remote. Also Colorado, Nevada, and northern California are so much more publicized and accessible areas. You know, "Wild West Mining & Logging" and all that "spiffy" stuff.
Hank, interesting. Similar situation to the two NYC locos that are abandoned in the woods somewhere (I forgot the exact location).
I believe that at least one of the Eagle lake steam engines is ex NYC , for some reason I'm thinking that one is ex LIRR. Randy
Randy, the article said #1 was built in Schenectady in the late 1800s, so it easily could have been an NYC engine for 30 years before coming to Maine. What I found amusing was that both engines were converted from "steam" to burn oil...hmm, must think about this awhile. <gr>
All I know that next time I go back in there I either gotta quit smoking or ride a horse. They are in rough shape to be sure. The Maine DEP burned down the engine house with the engines in it. Souvenir hunters stripped then hardcore. Randy
For as much as we seem to do, this country falls flat so many times with historic preservation. Too many people cannot comprehend that once it's gone, IT IS GONE FOREVER.
Jim, this possible abandoned locomotive isn't in the Adirondacks or Catskills, but it is in New York, Brooklyn to be precise. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/nyregion/thecity/15tunn.html?_r=0
The story I heard 50+ years ago was that the locomotive hauled dirt away from the tunnel face to where the dirt could be lifted to street level. It's possible this was a fireless compressed air locomotive. I heard that the locomotive was left at the tunnel face because it would have been too expensive to disassemble and salvage when the project was cancelled due to lack of funds. Please understand that what I was told is nothing more than folk lore, not even a good rumor...LOL
Sometimes what is considered to be myth or folk lore does prove true. Many an archaeological expedition has shown this to the world. So, maybe, just maybe.... If real, wouldn't this example be interesting? I'd hope enough New Yorkers would agree to seeing it brought out!
