List of Bangor and Aroostook Railroad locomotives explained

The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad (BAR) of northern Maine was at the northeastern tip of the United States rail network. Its location offered no bridge traffic between other railways, but required dependable service when winter weather made transportation difficult. Potato loadings peaked during winter months, and a fleet of ten-wheelers built by Manchester Locomotive Works provided reliable service through the early 20th century. Consolidations for the heavier winter freight service were built at other American Locomotive Company (ALCO) plants. Potato traffic remained relatively constant through the Great Depression, and declining bridge traffic revenues which brought insolvency to other railroads were irrelevant to BAR. BAR provided reliable paychecks attracting competent maintenance personnel, and continued to replace older engines with modern steam locomotives through 1945. As less fortunate railroads began replacing their worn-out steam power with modern diesel locomotives, BAR initially purchased a number of used modern steam locomotives from railroads converting to diesel power.

Steam locomotives

NumberBuilderTypeDateWorks numberNotes[1]
1Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-012/951647ex#27 rebuilt 1915 to 4-4-0 #215
2Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-012/951648ex#28 rebuilt 1915 to 4-4-0 #216
3Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-01/961649ex#29 rebuilt 1921 sold to Woodstock Railroad #4
4Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-01/961650ex#30 rebuilt 1915 to 4-4-0 #214
10Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-05/941620ex#17 rebuilt 1922 scrapped 8/1929
11Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-05/941621ex#18 rebuilt 1921 scrapped 8/1929
12Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-06/941622ex#19 rebuilt 1924 scrapped 12/1930
13Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-06/941623ex#20 rebuilt 1923 scrapped 8/1929
20Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-06/991699ex#35 scrapped 12/1936
21Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-06/991700ex#36 scrapped 12/1936
30Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-08/991709ex#38 sold 1916
31Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-08/991710ex#39 sold 1917
32Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-010/991717ex#40 sold 1916
33Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-04/991697sold 1917
34Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-04/991698sold 1913
35Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-010/991718ex#41 sold 1917
36Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-011/991719ex#42 sold 1917
50Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011788sold 8/1928 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #17
51Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011789scrapped 1934
52Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011790sold 8/1928 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #18
53Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011791scrapped 1935
54Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-07/011782ex#44 sold 1/1940 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #19
55ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226022scrapped 6/50
56ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226023scrapped 1933
57ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226024scrapped 8/1929
58ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226025scrapped 2/1948
59ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226026scrapped 1939
60Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-07/011783ex#45 sold 11/1939 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #20
61Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011784ex#46 sold 4/1945 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #61
62Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011785ex#47 scrapped 1938
63Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011786ex#48 scrapped 12/1930
64Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011787ex#49 scrapped 4/1927
65ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0531137scrapped 6/1950
66ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0531138scrapped 12/1951
67ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0531139scrapped 5/1951
68ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0531140scrapped 5/1952
69ALCO Manchester4-6-07/0537518scrapped 1937
70ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0537519scrapped 1935
71ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0741434ex#78 scrapped 6/1950
72ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538813scrapped 1929
73ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538814scrapped 1935
74ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538815scrapped 1929
75ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538816scrapped 5/1951
76ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538817scrapped 1929
77ALCO Manchester4-6-012/0641433scrapped 1931
82ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743362scrapped 1935
83ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743363scrapped 1936
84ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743364scrapped 1936
85ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743365scrapped 5/1951
86ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743366scrapped 1935
87ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743367scrapped 1941
90ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150547superheated 1926 scrapped 8/1951
91ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150548superheated 1926 scrapped 12/1951
92ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150549superheated 1927 rebuilt 1935 scrapped 5/1952
93ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150550superheated 1917 rebuilt 1939 scrapped 6/1951
94ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150551superheated 1928 scrapped 12/1951
95ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150552superheated 1918 scrapped 5/1951
100ALCO Schenectady4-8-211/2968218scrapped 1/53
101ALCO Schenectady4-8-211/2968219scrapped 6/50
102ALCO Schenectady4-8-211/2968220scrapped 6/50
103ALCO Schenectady4-8-211/2968221scrapped 1/53
104ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3068525scrapped 6/50
105ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3068526scrapped 6/50
106ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3068527scrapped 1/53
107ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3568705scrapped 6/50
108ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3568706scrapped 1/53
109ALCO Schenectady4-8-22/4573055scrapped 1/53
120ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967987ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #452 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 6/1949
121ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967989ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #454 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 6/1949
122ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967994ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #459 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 6/1949
123ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967995ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #460 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 6/1949
124ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967990ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #455 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 2/1948
140ALCO Rhode Island4-6-010/0641519superheated 1916 scrapped 3/1947
141ALCO Rhode Island4-6-010/0641520superheated 1915 scrapped 6/1950
142ALCO Rhode Island4-6-010/0641521superheated 1915 scrapped 5/1951
170ALCO Rhode Island2-8-03/0741522scrapped 5/51
171ALCO Rhode Island2-8-03/0741523scrapped 6/49
172ALCO Rhode Island2-8-03/0741524scrapped 5/51
180ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454944wrecked 3/45
181ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454945scrapped 8/51
182ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454946scrapped 8/51
183ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454947scrapped 8/51
184ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454948scrapped 8/51
185ALCO Schenectady2-8-09/1656742scrapped 8/51
186ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162626scrapped 5/51
187ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162627scrapped 3/47
188ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162628scrapped 6/50
189ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162629scrapped 5/51
190ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162630scrapped 5/51
191ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162631scrapped 5/51
192ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/2465970scrapped 6/50
193ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/2465971scrapped 8/51
194ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/2465972scrapped 8/51
195ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/2465973scrapped 5/51
196Baldwin Locomotive Works2-8-03/1339409ex-Boston and Maine Railroad #2684 purchased 8/1946 scrapped 6/50
197ALCO Schenectady2-8-03/1353253ex-Boston and Maine Railroad #2692 purchased 8/1946 scrapped 12/47
200Grant Locomotive Works4-4-01876ex-Patten and Sherman Railroad #1 acquired 1901 scrapped 1908
201Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-05/841195ex-Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad #5 sold 1913
202Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-01/881368ex-Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad #8 scrapped 1911
203Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-09/931596ex#13 rebuilt 1921 scrapped 11/1930
204Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-09/931597ex#14 rebuilt 1919 scrapped 2/1941
205Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-010/931598ex#15 scrapped 1914
206Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-011/931617ex#16 rebuilt 1920 sold 1940
207Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-09/941624ex#21 rebuilt 1920 sold 1941
208Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-010/941625ex#22 scrapped 7/1923
209Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-01/841172ex-Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad #7 scrapped 1914
210Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-06/931592ex#9 rebuilt 1919 sold 1936
211Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-07/931593ex#10 rebuilt 1919 sold 11/1927 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #16
212Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-08/931594ex#11 scrapped 1937
213Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-08/931595ex#12 sold 9/1936 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad 2nd #16
214Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-01/961650rebuilt from 2-6-0 #4 1915 scrapped 1923
215Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-012/951647rebuilt from 2-6-0 #1 1915 scrapped 1924
216Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-012/951648rebuilt from 2-6-0 #2 1915 scrapped 1924
220Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-010/951645ex#31 scrapped 1923
221Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-010/951646ex#32 scrapped 6/1924
230Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-02/951629ex#23 scrapped 7/33
231Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-03/951630ex#24 scrapped 8/25
232Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-05/951635ex#25 scrapped 7/24
233Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-05/951636ex#26 scrapped 7/23
234ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0743369scrapped 1926
235ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0743370scrapped 1926
240ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0226742ex#60 scrapped 1928
241ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0226743ex#61 scrapped 1930
242ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0226744ex#62 rebuilt 1935 scrapped 11/50
243ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0741435ex#79 rebuilt 1935 scrapped 8/51
250ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767422scrapped 5/53
251ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767423scrapped 1953
252ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767424scrapped 3/45
253ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767425scrapped 12/53
254ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767426scrapped 12/53
300Manchester Locomotive Works0-4-02/971656ex#37 sold 1917
310Manchester Locomotive Works0-6-01/001726ex#43 sold 1917
311Manchester Locomotive Works0-6-07/011766ex#54 sold 1916
320ALCO Manchester0-6-03/0531135ex#63 scrapped 1935
321ALCO Manchester0-6-03/0531136ex#64 scrapped 1935
322ALCO Manchester0-6-07/0537520ex#71 scrapped 1937
323ALCO Manchester0-6-01/0741431ex#80 scrapped 1935
324ALCO Manchester0-6-01/0741432ex#81 scrapped 1936
325ALCO Manchester0-6-06/0843368scrapped 1937
330ALCO Schenectady0-8-011/2867669scrapped 8/1951
335ALCO Schenectady0-8-09/2263439ex- Boston and Maine Railroad #614 purchased 2/1946 scrapped 6/1950
336ALCO Schenectady0-8-09/2263448ex- Boston and Maine Railroad #623 purchased 2/1946 scrapped 6/1949
337ALCO Schenectady0-8-09/2263454ex- Boston and Maine Railroad #629 purchased 2/1946 scrapped 6/1950
338ALCO Schenectady0-8-09/2263436ex- Boston and Maine Railroad #611 purchased 2/1946 scrapped 6/1950
340ALCO Schenectady0-8-011/3168599scrapped 5/53
341ALCO Schenectady0-8-011/3168600scrapped 5/53
400ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769022scrapped 7/56
401ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769023scrapped 12/53
402ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769024scrapped 8/51
403ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769025scrapped 7/56
404ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769026scrapped 12/53
405ALCO Schenectady2-8-03/4573054scrapped 12/53

Diesel locomotives

After ALCO's Black Maria demonstrator failed to meet expectations while testing on the BAR, the company purchased Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) E7As for passenger service, NW2 yard switchers, F3A-B-A multiple units for heavy freight service, and unusual BL2s for branch line freight service in the late 1940s. After observing their performance, BAR sold the F3B units and purchased more flexible EMD GP7s for regular service. Steam locomotives were initially retained to meet the peak winter freight loads; but these were replaced by EMD GP9s seasonally leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad to handle summer ore traffic from the Great Lakes. BAR purchased the first EMD GP38s to replace its least satisfactory first-generation diesels prior to loss of the potato shipping business. Subsequent sale of their refrigerator car fleet idled the mechanical refrigeration maintenance shop force until BAR began purchasing and rebuilding used locomotives. Rebuilt locomotives were leased or sold to other railroads, and the rebuilding efforts preserved several earlier models for subsequent purchase by museums and heritage railways.

NumberBuilderTypeDateWorks numberNotes[2]
10EMDE7A4/498417ex BAR #700 renumbered soon after arrival, re-geared for freight service 1961, and repainted BAR Freight blue. Noted for pulling the named passenger train "Aroostook Flyer" from Bangor to Van Buren, ME. Traded to EMD 1967 towards a New GP38.
10General Electric65-ton11/5030806ex- Fraser Papers #6 purchased 1972 sold 1974
11EMDE7A4/498615ex BAR #701 renumbered soon after arrival, re-geared for freight service 1961, and repainted BAR Freight blue, Noted for Pulling the named passenger train "Potatoland Special" a sleeper from Bangor to Van Buren, ME. Traded to EMD 1967, towards a New GP38.
20EMDNW24/498157ex#800 sold 1970 Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England #26
20Montreal Locomotive WorksS-33/5476434ex- Fraser Papers #7 purchased 1972 sold 1975
20EMDGP71952ex-Santa Fe Railroad purchased 1991
21EMDNW24/498158ex#801 sold 1970 Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England #28
21EMDGP71952ex-Santa Fe Railroad purchased 1991
22EMDNW24/498159ex#802 sold 1967 Republic Steel #906
22EMDGP71952ex-Santa Fe Railroad purchased 1991
23EMDNW24/498160ex#803 sold 1967 Republic Steel #907
23EMDGP71952ex-Santa Fe Railroad #2206 purchased 1991
24EMDGP71952ex-Santa Fe Railroad #2023 purchased 1991
30General Electric193611785ex- New Haven Railroad #0901 purchased 1952[3] traded to EMD 3/66
30EMDSW93/5114103ex- Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad #8935 purchased 1972 sold 1975
31General Electric193611786ex- New Haven Railroad #0902 purchased 1952 scrapped 1957
31EMDSW93/5114102ex- Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad #8934 purchased 1972 sold 1975
32General Electric193611787ex- New Haven Railroad #0903 purchased 1952 scrapped 1965
32EMDSW93/5114104ex- Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad #8936 purchased 1972
33General Electric193611788ex- New Haven Railroad #0904 purchased 1952 scrapped 1962
33EMDSW93/5114099ex- Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad #8931 purchased 1972
34General Electric193611789ex- New Haven Railroad #0905 purchased 1952 traded to EMD 3/66
34EMDSW93/5114106ex- Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad #8938 purchased 1972
35EMDSW93/5114101ex- Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad #8933 purchased 1972
36EMDSW93/5114108ex- Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad #8940 purchased 1972
37EMDSW92/5114110ex- Pittsburgh, Chartiers and Youghiogheny Railroad #3 purchased 1972 sold 1975
38EMDSW912/5217224ex- Pittsburgh, Chartiers and Youghiogheny Railroad #4 purchased 1972 sold 1975
39EMDSW99/5318710ex- Pittsburgh, Chartiers and Youghiogheny Railroad #5 purchased 1972 sold 1975
40EMDF3A10/475170ex#500 scrapped 3/84
41EMDF3A10/475171ex#501 traded to EMD 9/67 towards the 3rd GP38 for Sept, 1967
42EMDF3A10/475172ex#502,repainted original #502 and used as Heritage Unit for many years. Runs,Traction motors are out, but stored with it, in storage, Maine as of 2013 (Oldest F3-A)
43EMDF3A10/475173ex#503 traded to EMD 9/67
44EMDF3A5/485174ex#504 sold 1986 Tri-State Historical,currently Restored as Lackawanna #663 and operates in PA, at Steamtown with sister #46 (ex 506) (Oldest operating F3A with sister #664)
45EMDF3A5/485175ex#505 scrapped 3/84
46EMDF3A5/485180ex#506 sold 1986 Anthracite Railroads Historical Society minus engine, generator and other major components. Restored by ARHS using components from ATSF CF7 #2649, now in Lackawanna paint as # 664. Works with Sister # 44 (ex 504) in PA. at Steamtown (Oldest operating F3A with Sister #663)
47EMDF3A5/485181ex#507 rebuilt #49 in 1973 scrapped 11/84 at Derby shops.
50EMDBL23/498161ex#550 scrapped 4/84
51EMDBL23/498162ex#551 lightened by 10 tons for service on the Greenville Branch scrapped 1993
52EMDBL23/498163ex#552 As of 2014 operates as SNC #52 in passenger service pulling Super Domeliners at the Saratoga & North Creek Railroad, in NY
53EMDBL23/498164ex#553 wrecked 9/1972
54EMDBL23/498165ex#554 sold 1986 Wayne County, Pennsylvania
55EMDBL23/498166ex#555 scrapped 1/84
56EMDBL24/498616ex#556 lightened by 10 tons for service on the Greenville Branch, currently under restoration at Saratoga & North Creek Railway in NY
57EMDBL24/498617ex#557 repainted original paint scheme in 1980 and named American Railfan.Currently on Static Display, Indoors, at the Cole transportation Museum in Bangor, ME., minus traction motors.
60EMDGP711/509933ex#560
61EMDGP711/509934ex#561 scrapped 1991
62EMDGP711/509935ex#562 wrecked 1985
63EMDGP711/509936ex#563
64EMDGP711/509937ex#564
65EMDGP711/509938ex#565
66EMDGP711/509939ex#566 sold 1991 last seen at MNNR in Minnesota in 2004, scrapped in 2005-6
67EMDGP711/509940ex#567
68EMDGP711/509941ex#568 to MMA
69EMDGP711/509942ex#569
70EMDGP711/509943ex#570
71EMDGP711/509944ex#571 to ACWR #710
72EMDGP78/529945ex#572 sold 1991 to MNNR
73EMDGP78/529946ex#573 painted Bicentennial red, white & blue in 1975, renumbered 1776 and named Jeremiah O'Brien TO MNNR
74EMDGP78/529947ex#574 sold 1991 to MNNR
75EMDGP78/529948ex#575
76EMDGP96/5419553Sold to the Green Mountain Railroad as #1848 in the 1980s and later sold to the Belvidere and Delaware River Railway in August 1997.
77EMDGP96/5419554became California Western Railroad # 67 in 1998[4]
78EMDGP96/5419555
79EMDGP96/5419556to MMA # 79
80EMDGP96/5419557
81EMDGP382/6631213renumbered #361[5]
82EMDGP382/6631214renumbered #358
83EMDGP383/6733050renumbered #357
84EMDGP383/6733051renumbered #365
85EMDGP383/6733052renumbered #350
86EMDGP389/6733199renumbered #352
87EMDGP389/6733200renumbered #359
88EMDGP389/6733201renumbered #360
90EMDGP3812/677076-3ex-Conrail #7662 purchased 1983 renumbered #354
91EMDGP3812/677076-4ex-Conrail #7663 purchased 1983 renumbered #362
92EMDGP3812/677076-5ex-Conrail #7664 purchased 1983 renumbered #355
93EMDGP3819697151-1ex-Conrail #7661 purchased 1983 renumbered #353
94EMDGP3819697154-2ex-Conrail #7666 purchased 1983 renumbered #366
95EMDGP381967ex-Missouri Pacific Railroad renumbered #363
96EMDGP381967ex-Missouri Pacific Railroad renumbered #356
97EMDGP381969ex-Missouri Pacific Railroad renumbered #364
98EMDGP381969ex-Missouri Pacific Railroad renumbered #351
600EMDF3B10/475176sold to Pennsylvania Railroad #9530B
601EMDF3B10/475177sold to Pennsylvania Railroad #9532B
602EMDF3B5/485178sold to Pennsylvania Railroad #9534B
603EMDF3B5/485179sold to Pennsylvania Railroad #9536B

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bangor and Aroostook The Maine Railroad . Angier, Jerry . Cleaves, Herb . amp. Flying Yankee Enterprises . 1986 . 253–261. 0-9615574-2-7.
  2. Book: Bangor and Aroostook The Maine Railroad . Angier, Jerry . Cleaves, Herb . amp. Flying Yankee Enterprises . 1986 . 262–266. 0-9615574-2-7.
  3. Web site: New Haven DEY-2 Switchers . Smith . Joe . Signal Station 199 . 9 September 2023 .
  4. Web site: California Western Railroad. Central Coast Chapter NRHS. 2010-11-12. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717004707/http://www5.pair.com/rattenne/nrhs/CWR/CWR.htm. 2011-07-17.
  5. Book: Bangor and Aroostook RR in Color . Angier, Jerry . Morning Sun Books . 2004 . 6. 1-58248-134-2.