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ADDITIONAL
QUICK LINKS OF INTEREST
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TRAINS, PLANES, AND BASEBALL - BOY'S TOYS
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FROM
FLYING YANKEE
LIBRARY |
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PRESERVATION - Wayne Gagnon, Pres. B&M RR Hist. Soc.
I, along with others, are following a re-birth and rekindling of a past, not forgotten, but somewhat faded, almost like curtains or tapestries in a home or museum. These "colors" need to be brought out in the open and unfolded to the public once again. Lest we all forget, most of us were mere "boys and girls" when the B&M 6000 and her storied sisters and cousins plied the rails and we took it for granted because it didn't affect our daily lives. I rode the cab of that streamliner several times and the memories are VIVID. For those of us who had railroaders in our families, like I did, we didn't foresee the end of steam or the early arrival of diesel. We took the train back and forth, point A to point B, back to point A, and got off the steps of the coaches. Only when we heard or learned, after the order of execution was enacted from the Motive department to take out of service or "be retired, serviceable", did we slightly listen. LISTEN is now what we hear as our past is succumbing to the torches, never to return. All of us really need to LISTEN to preserve our past and to present our future generations of what railroads WHERE, and, now, can still possibly be....not only the B&M, but rail transportation globally. The B&M is unique, not only for being a major player in the growing railroad development of 1920's, but for being a major hub and player in the Northeast as a funneling point both north to Vermont/Maine and Canada, south to Connecticut and New York and New Jersey, and west to New York and Chicago. We need to preserve this heritage and WE need to be able pass on to our future generations this heritage along with our recollections and photos. |
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| NOTE: Up through World War II, the United States had the most modern and efficient rail service in the world. The high speed we see today was actually developed during the Depression. The "streamline" units could travel at speeds up to 112 +/- MPH. |
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DON'T MISS IT!!! THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES.
CLICK ON ICON AT LEFT FOR HOBO RAIL ROAD WEB PAGE
Visit the Hobo RR site for various programs going on. Hobo's Clown entertains adults and children alike with magic, balloons, and more. Choose to have a Hobo Picknik Lunch (packed and picked up fresh for each trip at the Lafayette Dinner Train) while you travel along the beautiful and scenic "Pemi" river and through the woods. Also, a fully equipped Hobo playground and great gift shop on site. 
 Check the schedule for all 3 sites, as well as Hart's Turkey Farm Dinner Trains (served hot at your table as you travel around the "Winni"). Fall Foliage excursions are very popular as the White Mountains show off their colors. Reservations being accepted now. Various styles of entertainment included on most trips. |
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Early areal view Boston & Maine Rail Road Yards, Concord, NH. Photo graciously provided for this issue only by Frederick Nowell, archivest/historian for Boston & Maine Rail Road Historical Society.
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TURNING THE FLYING YANKEE FOR SERVICE AT B&M CONCORD, NH YARD
Lou Barker, NH DOT and liaison to the Flying Yankee Restoration Group, asked how this 3 car, articulated unit was turned and serviced at the B&M Concord, NH yards.
Wayne Gagnon, President of the B&M Rail Road Historical Society, who, along with most of his family grew up serving the B&M in many capacities, wrote the following explanation.
"Here is what I was told by my dad and grandfather, both engineers, and my uncle, who worked at Concord Shops, in the passenger coach car section department. I can tell you of 2 ways.
First, my dad and grandfather told me that a 'protect' engine crew was called to run out of Lowell, MA that ran in front of the train from Lowell 'north'/outbound to North Chelmsford, MA where the wye for the 'Stoney Brook' Branch to Ayer, MA and Fitchburg, MA was used to make the engine/train face south towards Boston. The 'protect' engine would then run just ahead of the #6000 as it ran 'backwards' to Concord Shoppes. The conductor would be in the solarium car using the 'riding brake hose' and the train communication signal horn to communicate to the engineer and fireman. It could then back in on the siding to the shops where it was already facing 'south' towards Boston, be serviced, back out of the 'shops', and go directly to Boston as an 'engine light move"....This assumes the train was 'powerable'." |
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"Second, per my uncle, it had an emergency 'knuckle' in the rear of the solarium (3rd car). If it had to be towed, then you would follow the same procedure as above except the 'protect' engine provided the power to get it to Concord, NH. This was very rare as most times the #6000 was in operating condition, right up until its retirement from service in 1957. This 'gal' was very reliable in her running service.
This 'move' was usually done late Saturday night, after the #6000 came in from its run and was serviced at Concord the rest of Saturday and early Sunday, made ready to depart for Boston arriving at the enginehouse late Sunday night, turn on any of the wyes in Boston yards, be tied up at the enginehouse, and then back down from the enginehouse to North Station for its early morning Monday run to wherever.
These are my memories of times past." |
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Further information from Wayne on the above subject - "Sorry, I do not have any photos of this 'move' as it happened usually late at night and this was not something the rail fan public at that time was accustomed to stay up for.
Due to the 'scheduled' maintenance schedule per FRA (Class 1, 2, 3, etc.), this was usually known in advance by the shop superintendent and they had planned crews working to handle this expedited servicing.
I know for fact that sometimes #6000 had to stay in Concord for longer period(s) and the B&M would try to have either a 3800-3820 class (E-7) or 3821 (E-8) cover the run(s) or the steam boiler equipped F-units (4225 thru 4228) with conventional passenger cars on those runs would substitute.
If not available, then steam would be power, whatever the engine dispatcher had at his 'fingertips' at the ready on the power board. Sometime, the run(s) had to be canceled but this was very rare as the B&M was very 'passenger conscious' at this time in their history." |
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Thelma Hanson (second from left) and three friends - Pat Timbury, Dick Hamilton, and Tina Avery.
Thelma hand stitched and upholstered all the seats and chairs of the Flying Yankee by hand. Not only was this quite a feat and time consuming, but Thelma was able to research the original fabric, and obtained the exact color and nearly the same fabric.
B Car with some of the seats reupholstered by hand by Thelma Hanson. She also matched the color and fabric perfectly. Many thanks and kudos for a seemingly impossible job very well done
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FLYING YANKEE
FOR EDUCATION & TOURISM
LAST OF ITS KIND TO EVER RUN AGAIN |
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The trucks are complete, weatherization done, doors and windows finished, interior components ready for installation, and "B" Car finished/set up as it was in 1935. The Flying Yankee is open for scheduled Open House Dates, call ahead requests, and scheduled Tour Group requests. See www.flyingyankee.com web page or hit Flying Yankee link at top of this newsletter for dates.
Our present goal is raise the funding to do the air brakes, etc. and put the Flying Yankee back on its restored trucks and back on the tracks. Once this is completed, we can then "tow" the Flying Yankee to various sites through out New Hampshire for Education/Tourism. We will need to raise approximately $125,000 to $150,000 in order to get this done.
Upon completion of the above phase, the mode of power will be worked on full time. There are a few ideas on the drawing board and is being discussed. However, at this time, it is felt that being able to remove the "tent", remove the blocks it is sitting on, and make the Flying Yankee visible, available, and useable. |
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