The ¾ inch to 1 foot scale model of the 2-6-2 Baldwin Locomotive built by Gene Stevens, on display at the Norway Museum and Historical Society.
Gene Stevens and two young rail fans with one of the steam locomotives operated on the 3 ½ inch gauge track on Fair Street, Norway.
Elliott Steward developed a life-long interest in live-steam and worked with Stevens designing, building and operating the scale models. NHS photos
Even if you’re not a rail fan you probably enjoy seeing a train going along the track. There is just something majestic and fascinating about a locomotive leading a string of freight cars. We are fortunate to have in the collection at the Norway Historical Society a model steam locomotive which is a true work of art. Every part was made by the late Gene Stevens (1881-1958), a life-long resident of the area. If the piece couldn’t be turned on a lathe from stock materials, the part was fashioned in wood and sent to be cast at a foundry. He built more than a hundred model steam engines, boilers and locomotives.
You can understand his interest in steam power when you know that he worked as a fireman on the Grand Trunk Railroad. The fireman was responsible for shoveling coal that fed the fire that heated the water that produced the steam that powered the locomotive. Later, Gene was one of the first to be appointed an officer when the Maine State Police force was formed in 1921. For the next 15 years he rode a motorcycle over mostly dirt roads.
It wasn’t enough to just build these steam and smoke belching units, Gene operated his creations on a track off Skeetfield Road in Oxford and traveled to Massachusetts for live steam meets. When the Skeetfield Rd. site was abandoned, Gene managed to salvage enough track to construct an elevated setup in his Fair St. backyard. In the picture you can see the “engineer” riding on a flatcar hauled by the locomotive. There is even a small shovel for throwing coal from the tender into the boiler.
As you can imagine, when the trains were running in the Fair St. yard, one sounding of the engine’s whistle would bring interested children and adults.
The locomotive on display at the Historical Society shows the name “Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad” and is assigned the number 8. The SR & RL Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that during its time had a number of engines similar to this. Gauge refers to the distance between the rails: standard gauge is 4 feet 8 ½ inches and narrow gauge in Maine was predominately 2 feet.
The locomotive was modeled on one built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (1831 – 1956) of Philadelphia. This model was also known as a Prairie Type as it was popular in the flat interior of the country. Steam locomotives are often referred to by a number, in this case 2-6-2. This is a classification system from the early 1900s used to describe locomotives. In case you’re ever on Jeopardy, here is the meaning of 2-6-2: (look at the photo) starting from the front 2 is the number of leading wheels, 6 is the number of driving wheels and 2 is the number of trailing wheels on the unit. You’re welcome.
An interesting note is that the innovative Matthias Baldwin, “father” of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, introduced piecework rates as a worker incentive.
Along with the steam engine, tender and rail car on display there are many of the wood patterns for making castings of parts that went into the model locomotives and steam engines created by Gene Stevens. As a young man, Elliott Steward became interested in the hobby and worked with Stevens creating live steam equipment.
These are just some of the fascinating artifacts in the collection. Although we must be closed to the public at this time, we look forward to welcoming you when we can reopen. Visit our website at www.norwayhistoricalsociety.net.
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