While adding some info for the Project 3713 Facebook page, I came across this picture of our dear 4-6-2 displayed with B&M #84, the diner Mountaineer, at Engine City, a part of the Pleasure Island display in Wakefield, MA (one of the earliest incarnations of F. Nelson Blounts collection that would become Steamtown). The picture reminded me of just how much Blount did to preserve railroading at the end of steam in eastern North America. #84 was a regular on some of the B&Ms most famous routes, not the least of which was the joint run with the Maine Central over Crawfords Notch. When you look at the original Blount collection and see #3713, the GT 4-8-2, B&M buggies and even departed artifacts like CPR D-10 #1098 and the beautiful CN 4-6-2 #5288, what you have is a tremendous moment in New England time captured in the still life of preservation. #5288 was a regular on the Central Vermont, and the CPR D-10s were a staple on that roads Vermont line. I think any New England steam fan mourns the loss of the Rutland L-1s (or all RUT steam for that matter), CV Mountains and the B&Ms big R-1s, but thanks to Blount we have a pretty good cross section of artifacts from those last days of steam in New England. In this picture, two of Blounts saves enjoy the early days of retirement. One is going to come back to life soon, maybe someone would make a cause of resurrecting the other? friendsofpleasureisland.org/images/mary-mahoney/20.jpg
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 02:17:09 +0000
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