Class C (Locobase 6527)

Data from 1923 and 1924 Maine Central locomotive diagrams supplied by Allen Stanley in May 2005 from his extensive collection.

By the time of their retirements in the mid-1950s, most of the class had had the 8 sq ft of arch tubes (i.e., one arch tube) removed from the firebox in favor of 51 sq ft of thermic syphons. In addition to increasing direct heating surface area, the change raised overall heating surface area to the figure given in the specifications.

Class C-3 (Locobase 2803)

Data from 1934 Maine Central locomotive tables and MEC-PTC 4 -1956 Locomotive Diagrams supplied by Allen Stanley in May 2005 from his extensive collection.

These were the last five Pacifics bought by the MEC and they arrived in two batches -- 3 in 1917, 2 more in 1924. They ran until 1951-1952 with most of them having had their fireboxes rearranged so that 12.7 sq ft of arch tubes and 51 sq ft of thermic syphons contributed to the heating surface.

The Waterville, Maine website (http://waterville-me.gov/470/history.html, last accessed 11 April 2008) carries an article by David Albert in which he describes 470's service in greater detail:

"The 470 was built to handle the heavy 10 or 12 car passenger trains between Portland and Bangor. She operated on such trains as the “Flying Yankee”, “Pine Tree Limited”, “Bar Harbor Express”. “The Kennebec”, “State of Maine Express” and the “Gull”, an overnight Boston to St. John, New Brunswick train. The 470 also hauled trains on the Portland to Boston route over the Boston & Maine RR when the two roads were under joint management. It was not uncommon to see the 470 and other Maine Central locomotives at North Station in Boston during the period 1932 to 1953."

#470 was preserved, "retained ..." says the 1956 diagram, "...as a permanent monument to the days of steam." Its outdoor display location had its demerits, as Albert noted in 2006:"Today after more than 50 years of outdoor display, time and vandalism has left the 470 in an utterly deplorable condition."

On the other hand, "A dedicated restoration committee backed by the city of Waterville, many supporters and rail enthusiasts has undertaken a project to restore this symbol of railroad history. The 470 is to be restored to its original condition and permanently housed by an authentic railroad structure to protect it from weather and vandalism. The story is not over."