Engineman Joe Fox. WW&F Engineman Joe Fox carefully watches the water glass as he runs the right-side injector on Locomotive #9, during a morning steam-up in the Sheepscot Yard.
Locomotive #9 is an 1891 product of Maine's Portland Company and is the oldest of the 5 extant Maine 2-Foot Locomotives. Although the recently restored engine has a lot of new parts, including a welded boiler, many parts of her are indeed original, including the wooden cab. Take a look at the texture of the cab walls. They remain well-worn from a 40-year operational career on no fewer than 4 of Maine's 2-Foot railroads....and 50 subsequent years of storage in a barn in Connecticut. Locomotive #9 was likely turning 100 years old about the time Joe was born. He's one of a number of younger members of the WW&F crew, representing the next generation who will lead this vibrant museum well into the 21st century. Joe's railroad experience goes way beyond his volunteer work at the museum. In his day job, Joe is a Locomotive Engineer for Class II freight carrier.