By Eric R. Grover
For the first time in decades, a Boston & Maine blue GP9 is running in New Hampshire’s White Mountains thanks to the dedication of the 470 Railroad Club.
In 2020, the Maine-based non-profit announced that it had purchased former B&M GP9 1741 from Utah’s Heber Valley Railroad. The GP9 was one of three locomotives the Heber Valley purchased from Pan Am Railways in 2018. While two of the GP9s went west (heritage units 52 and 77), one stayed in New England and eventually was deemed surplus by the Heber Valley.
In 2024, a major push was made to get the locomotive back on the main line, to have it in service by the club’s annual fall trip to Fabyans, N.H., on the famed Crawford Notch Line.
Boston & Maine GP9 1741 when it was still in service for its original owner. Photo by Dave Hutchinson.
Volunteers performed many tasks in 2024, such as replacing the side cab door that wouldn’t stay closed (It turns out the door was from a GP40 and was only put on the locomotive for shipment to North Conway). Most, if not all, metalwork was cut out and new diamond plate or metal plating was replaced. Between the front steps, flooring, and subfloor in the nose, the front end of the locomotive is almost brand new. Workers put time into front walkways, new drop step mounts, cab heaters, and blower mounts to traction motor number one.
By mid-September, a paint contractor was brought in to paint the unit back to the original “bluebird” scheme. With sanding, steam cleaning, primer and paint done the engine came out of the roundhouse looking like the day it was delivered to the B&M in 1957. New builder’s plates, painted door gaskets, mirrors and new glass were some of the punch list items to make it FRA compliant.
B&M 1741 (still wearing its Guilford number) is seen in North Conway, N.H., in late 2023, receiving work with the help of a crane. Photo by Eric R. Grover.
On October 20, a trial run up the mountain was made on the Conway Scenic Explorer train. The 1741 was paired with CSRR GP35 216 and made a flawless trip to Crawford Notch and return. On November 2, it joined the 470 Club’s two former B&M F7s on a trip from North Conway to Conway and then Conway all the way to Fabyans.
While the locomotive looks great on the outside and runs great on the inside, there are still things that must be completed before the locomotive can be called “done.” The 470 Club is accepting donations to get this project over the finish line.
Eric R. Grover is a volunteer with the 470 Railroad Club. For more information about the club and 1741, visit its Facebook page.
Before: In 2024, the Guilford gray the locomotive had worn since the 1980s was slowly replaced with B&M blue. Photo by Eric R. Grover
After: B&M 1741 is seen sitting on the turntable at the Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway, N.H. Photo by Cory Fothergill.
In November, the locomotive teamed up with former Maine Central 573 to lead Conway Scenic’s Mountaineer. The excursion is seen at Fabyans, passing a Mt. Washington Cog locomotive on display. Photo by Eric R. Grover
