Folk Festival Draws 2,000 to Combine
B&MRRHS Chairman Paul T. Kosciolek and visiting "passengers" enjoy the ambiance of Combine No. 1244 at the 2018 Lowell Folk Festival. Richard Nichols photo.
B&M 0-4-0 No. 410 and coach-baggage combine No. 1244 were in gleaming condition thanks to the efforts of Jim Nigzus and his crew of volunteers. Richard Nichols photo.
Nearly 2000 people passed through the combine on the two days of the Lowell Folk Festival, July 28 and 29, 2018. The HO layout is at right, exhibits line the walls, and lanterns from the Society's hardware collection hang overhead. Richard Nichols photo.
The HO scale model railroad layout was a big hit with visitors. Mal Sockol and Richard Nichols put the layout into top form ahead of the Folk Festival. Richard Nichols photo.
Russ Munroe, noted photographer of the B&M, relaxes in the coach end of the combine. Richard Nichols photo.
Lowell, Mass., July 30, 2018 -- Upwards of 2,000 visitors passed through B&M combine No. 1244 during the two days of the 2018 Lowell Folk Festival. Visitors were welcomed by a crew of Society volunteers who explained the history of the car and the exhibits contained inside. Children were impressed with the operating HO layout that portrays the railroad working in a New England industrial city in the transition era from steam to diesel. A selection of B&M Railroad memorabilia was on display as were several professionally produced panels outlining the railroad history of Lowell. The HO layout and exhibits filled the baggage end of the car while in the coach end were located the sales table, a pot belly stove, and authentic walkover seats.
The combine is attached to B&M steam locomotive No. 410, an 0-6-0 Class G-10 switcher. The 410 is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the combine by the National Park Service. The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society has assumed responsibility for both units.
Both locomotive and combine were in spotless shape, owing to the efforts of the Society's 410 Committee headed by Jim Nigzus. The combine will be open to visitors on Saturdays through August 25 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
