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This past weekend was ‘Steam Weekend’ at Clark’s Trading Post in North Woodstock, New Hampshire. During this time some of the old steam engines from the logging days of the White Mountains come back to life and run up and down the mile and a half long track at Clark’s. This was a lot of fun this afternoon. I actually got to ride with the engineer on Baldwin #5, as well as Porter #1. Here is a video of Climax #4 and #6 pushing passenger cars:

[googlevideo]6544804469929517320[/googlevideo]

Can’t wait until next year!

Baldwin #5, at 100 years old, probably the last logging steam locomotive in the northeast:

Hitch for the logging truck:

Baldwin #5:

Baldwin #5 with log trucks:

Porter #1 coming to the end of the line:

Railbus that used to operate in Maine:

Head on view of Baldwin #5 with trucks:

Climax #4, notice midway down mounted on the side of the tank a cylinder at a 45 degree angle, this is one of the pistons that power the drive shaft. There is another on the other side of the engine:

The mighty Shay #5, notice that all of the wheels are part of the driving force . This engine needs extensive repair to make it run again… who knows, maybe someday!

Notice on the Shay #5 that the boiler is just to the right of center of the front hitch. This was done to counter balance the weight of the three pistons on the side of the engine.

A look at the three pistons. Having this external drive on the wheels gave the engine better traction on inclines and better braking ability when going downhill.

Closer look at Porter #1:

Some may ask, ‘what the hell does this have to with winter alpine fun?’

Well, the sister engine of the Porter #1, (Porter #3) sits in front of Loon Mountain. So there!

But also, there’s less than two months before winter season begins!