Bridgton #7 Test Fired in Maine!

As many of you know, the volunteer Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum has been working for many years to restore one of the two extant Bridgton & Harrison Baldwins to service. The 33-ton #7 has always been a favorite with 2-foot aficionados, and would be the largest of the Maine 2-footers to be back up and running. Their folks have been posting progress updates on the project over on the WW&F Forum, and recent updates have been very encouraging......but I had no idea they were this far along. Their Steam Ops Manager, Jay Monty, has just posted a YouTube video indicating that a test fire was done this Easter Weekend at the shops of Maine Locomotive & Machine up in Alna, ME. During this test, the locomotive actually moved for the first time under its own power since 2003.




Bridgton #7 Test Fire

This is an incredible accomplishment for this team. This engine is twice the size of any of the running Maine 2-footers, and is a most impressive locomotive to see in operation. All of my photos of her are on film, so it's been a while!

Bridgton #7 in Portland

Big shout-out to the folks at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum and Maine Locomotive & Machine. At some point in the not-too-distant future, this pretty Baldwin will be back in service in Maine!

/Kevin Madore