11/08/2002
”Anne Elizabeth” is ready!

Edaville’s Holiday Festival of Lights opened today and #21 was taking part in it. Unfortunately I didn’t take pictures because I left too early, she was scheduled to take out the 7:00 PM train. I was on the first one at 5:00 PM and rode in one of the new cabooses which was pulled by diesel #2 . At that time it was still light enough that you could see #21 building steam outside the shop with her new paint shining. She had already been steamed up yesterday for a test run.
As a publicity stunt our train backed up first and was spotted behind Swan Pond for the news photographers to take pictures across the water while Ronald Mac Donald ceremonially threw the main switch that transformed Edaville center into the Christmas wonderland that most of us know. The displays have grown again and are arranged better along the track than last year, there are more than 5 million lights that make up this year’s displays.
It looked like the track alignment between 14 Acre Bog and Eastman's Flume was complete, although it was difficult to see in the dark.
Beginning tomorrow "Thomas the Tank Engine" will be visiting Edaville again and he was already waiting on the old turntable lead giving parents and children a photo opportunity.

Go to bottom of page

09/28/2002
Diesel #5 is now in service

Today our train was pulled by diesel #5, the "new" Whitcomb. The shop crew once again did a great job transforming a secondhand piece of machinery into something that looks new. This locomotive has such a roomy cab that they were able to install two short benches for guests (cab ride tickets are $5.00 at the gift shop).
Another first for me was to see brake shoes on some of the passenger cars. The first car behind the locomotive was one of the excursion cars built by the Edaville shop and it already was equipped with the new air brakes. The original Maine cars had all their brakes disabled after guests just couldn't resist the temptation to try to stop the train by cranking the brake wheel. Cars built in the shop in later years weren't even equipped with brake rigging, the railroad simply relied on the locomotive's brakes. Now the railroad is equipping all trains with air brakes for safety.
Because of the beautiful day I rode in one of the new open cars and after passing 14 Acre Bog suddenly the sweet smell of creosote was in the air: the train was passing stacks of brand new ties. The track close to the road between 14 Acre Bog and Eastman's Flume is going to be relocated this coming week to create more clearance for the fire truck and bog tour next to the train.

08/24/2002
Thomas has arrived

Yes, "Thomas the Tank Engine" did make it in time to Edaville. I didn't even try to get near the entrance and went right to Mt. Urann to take pictures. But even that area was busy: the ball field was used as an overflow parking area with shuttle busses provided by Edaville to take people back to the main entrance. The event rivals the Christmas festival and "Thomas" proves to be a moneymaker for Edaville. For how long remains to be seen.
The train was made up of all new rolling stock, including an open car, coaches, and a caboose. Since "Thomas" has no "guts" diesel #2 provided the power for the consist and was cut in behind "Thomas". The little fake even has his own British sounding whistle. I took some more photos at Eda Avenue and after the train arrived back at the station I could hear much whistling in the distance. It sounded like some kids were allowed to "pull his string".
In case you didn't follow the discussion forum, the track near the new Swan Pond was also finished earlier in the week and trains were running around the full loop again.

07/26/2002
They are here!

If you follow the Edaville forum you know that the 2 new cabooses are here and they are vey nice looking. The first coach is also sitting behind the car shop on blocks, ready for trucks. The yard right now is littered with parts for air brakes and trucks. You can find everything from air tanks to wheel sets and truck frames.
Excursion #113 has the new trucks installed and was running at the end of the train today. The steps had to be modified because the new trucks raised the car body up.
Diesel #5 was outside the shop with the engine complete again and the top of the hood back in place. It now has a headlight on the front of the hood with No. 5 marked on the side.
For a change of pace the trains today were running only half-way around the loop and then backing up to return to the station. Management had decided not to let the trains pass the construction area near the new Swan Pond. Diesel #2 and #3 were handling the train with #3 leading when we left the station and #2 pulling us back. Operations should be back to normal by next weekend. For me it was a new experience to travel around the reservoir clockwise, just like the years when Edaville first opened.

07/05/2002
A great opening day

As in the past the shop crew did an outstanding job getting the train ready for the opening of the park. All the cars were freshly painted and the new red roofs look nice with the yellow cars trimmed with green. The painting must have been done just recently because there was no time to add the name and numbers. I still don't know if combine #11 will retain the old number now that it has been converted to a coach.
"Porky" was getting masked in preparation for the paint job and is turning into an interesting looking machine. The shop crew even built a trailer for it. The train should be very appealing to little riders when it hits the track, but I am not sure it will be running on the main line.
The "new" Whitcomb had the hood and parts of the power plant removed. It also had some more new handrails added (nice straight and sturdy) since I last saw her.
Just before I left Jack and Rimus were applying the road number to the old Wolfeboro #250. I still don't know what railroad it will be lettered for, but when they left I saw what looked like "Casey Jones" written above the number. A wooden stairway has been added on the backside of the locomotive to allow visitors easy access into the cab and this feature was enjoyed by many of them today.
"Thomas" also appeared for a first visit to check the place out. This was not Edaville's own but a borrowed "street" version that is only here for a week. While some excited children welcomed the engine a railfan was joking, "I'll have to kick Thomas' tires before I go home."

06/14/2002
Still waiting for parts

The sand dome on the "Anne Elizabeth" looked finished and piped in. The actuating rod was already in place, just not connected to the dump valve. She also had a set of the new couplers installed.
Combine #11 is no longer a combine. The inside wall has been removed and the benches extend the full length of the car. The carpenter crew did a nice job closing the side doors and adding windows. While I visited the interior woodwork was being stained. The car's number was painted over and I don't know if it will retain its old number after the car is repainted or will be renumbered as a passenger car. All passenger cars now also have their roofs painted red.
It looks like all passenger cars have now been converted to window benches instead of the center benches. Even coach #26 (built with benches in one half and fold-over seats in the other half of the car) has been converted to all benches. Coach #21 had one fold-over seat installed and rumor has it that it will retain its individual seats.
If you thought the inspection lawn tractor/speeder was a curiosity, take a look at this. "Porky" is now being converted to a track auto.
The new Whitcomb finally has the regauged wheels installed and was inside the shop. The locomotive looks rather chunky and will have a lot more pulling power than Whitcomb #3. All the bent hand rails had been removed and the first new ones are in place. I am sure she will be another handsome looking loco by the time the shop crew gets done with her, just like #3 was transformed from an ugly duckling...
The old Wolfeboro #250 is painted all black so far and I still couldn't get information on the planned paint scheme. We'll see what she will look like in 3 weeks on opening day.
There were still no new trucks in sight or any of the new cars. But as you can see, the crew is busy and things are changing.

05/17/2002
Waiting for parts

Locomotive #250 has received a coat of primer after the sandblasting was completed. The loco is now waiting for it's finish coat. I was unable get an official word on the paint scheme.
The shop crew is anxiously waiting for the arrival of the new trucks so they can fit the cars for air brakes. They had hoped to finish #113 before it left the shop, but so far nobody knows when the trucks will get here.
Excursion #114 is in the shop to have the roof lowered while #113 was outside getting a new coat of paint, sitting on temporary trucks.
Whitcomb #5 (the "new" diesel) is still on blocks behind the shop without its wheels, something else the crew is waiting for. They are at a shop of site to be machined.
The track installation behind the old turntable pit is complete with a nice bumper. Although the elevated track from the old machine shop does not rotate, it will be of great help for the crew. Let's hope for nice weather when they have to work on the running gear of any car or locomotive. I was saddened when I noticed the work car on the elevated track, it used to be the small compartment car that arrived here with the "Anne Elizabeth". The body has been removed and dumped. In the past I still had hoped to see it in use for special occasions.
Work is continuing on the "Anne Elizabeth". The air tank has been installed on the right below the new walk. The air pump from the Wolfeboro #250 has been mounted against the cab on the left with a heat exchanger and water separator below the raised deck. While I was there Mark was working on the sand dome.
Good news for two foot fans is that a shipment of brand new couplers has arrived, this is the first time that two foot couplers have been manufactured in years.

05/06/2002
Restoration on Wolfeboro #250 has started

Bruce Wilson visited Edaville on Saturday (05/04) and reports the following:
Work was underway on the Wolfeboro steam locomotive. It was being sandblasted and Jack will be putting a walkway up around the boiler and cab for visitors to climb up on.
I noticed the elevated track structure formerly from the machine shop was now set in place in the old turntable pit. Jack will be laying about 60 to 90' of rail beyond the pit in order to get all of the tip cars and work cars out of the way.
Jack told me that the display engines that were alongside the machine shop and next to the platform, have been relocated to the Pine Grove. He will be erecting tents both at the Cranberry Junction entrance and approximately where the machine shop was.

04/10/2002
Getting ready for train air brakes.

Since the new cars ordered from Hamilton Construction (no delivery date yet) will be equipped with air brakes, all locomotives will have to be able to generate the supply. Diesel #2 has been running with a small compressor, just large enough to operate it's own brakes. The original compressor had been disconnected when a loose pulley damaged the shaft. Now the unit will be repaired and re-installed into the engine compartment.
With the arrival of the new Whitcomb work on #21 has come to a crawl. The only changes I noticed were the addition of a nice ladder and some grab irons on the back of the tender. The space below the new walk on the engineer's side will eventually hold the air tank for the new train air brakes. Right now the shop crew is considering salvaging an air pump from one of the display engines since the "Anne Elizabeth" originally had steam brakes.
Diesel #5, the new Whitcomb, is still sitting on blocks. The regauged wheel sets will not be ready for another two to three weeks. In the meantime the shop crew already moved the transmission and is working on the brake linkage. Just like a year ago on #21, all pins need to be replaced.
Excursion car #113 is almost ready to leave the shop after having its roof lowered, unfortunately the new truck have not yet arrived. So far the car is sitting on blocks and they would like to put the new trucks under it. Excursion #112 is completed and sitting outside on old trucks, excursion #114 so far has not been touched.
The diamond between the old machine shop and the turntable has been removed since there is no longer a need for it. MNGRR will soon come and remove the turntable also, the name "Edaville" on the side has already been painted over. There is talk now about installing the old raised track from the machine shop into the turntable pit to make work under the locomotives easier.

03/15/2002
A new addition to the fleet.

Edaville Railroad has added another diesel locomotive to their motive power roster: a 25 ton Whitcomb. The machine is currently sitting behind the car shop on blocks for some major modifications. Originally built for 30" gauge she is being regauged for 24". Besides modifications to the axles to move the wheels in the drive sprockets and brakes also need to be relocated. To measure up to the high standards of the Edaville fleet some cosmetic work is also needed as can be seen in the photo. Most of the work will be done by Edaville's own shop crew.
The crew has made good progress over the past months on #21. The window openings are cleaned up and ready for the wood frames, the bell is now mounted on the front of the cab, a shop-built sand dome sits on the boiler (no piping yet), and the top of the tender sides are solid instead of the open slats.
Work also continues on the modifications to excursion cars #112, #113, and #114. All three of these cars will have their roofs lowered to lower their center of gravity.
As you have probably read on the Edaville discussion forum and seen on the photo site, the machine shop was demolished on February 22. The tracks have been removed back to the diamond in the main line and most of the hole is already filled in.

01/25/2002
More changes for the "Anne Elizabeth".

With the crowds gone for the season #21 went back into the shop, this time for another "face lift". She ran well at the end of the Christmas season, it seems like the mechanical problems have been solved for the time being. Now the crew is working on cosmetic changes to give her a more American profile. The original ventilated roof has been closed in and the arched side windows are gone. The front windows will also be modified so they can be opened in the summer. I am rooting for nice oak frames, but we will have to see if my wish comes true.
Future plans include the relocation of the bell and the installation of a real sand dome in its position on the boiler instead of the original sand boxes. The slats along the top edge of the tender might also get replaced by solid sides with an American outline.
Excursion car #112 is almost completed after the roof was lowered. All the boards around the shortened posts and the letter board have been re-installed. The crew removed about a foot from the height of the car to make it more stable on the track. The difference was very noticeable with excursion #113 next to the modified car. #113 was off her trucks and still looked considerably taller.
The "toast rack" cars have been modified again. Now they lost all the benches and plans are to use them as flat cars for track work rather then hauling passengers.

Go to top of page