The Lion (locomotive) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Lion (locomotive)
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The Lion in the Maine State Museum, Augusta, Maine, July 2013
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Maine State Museum, Augusta, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1846 |
| Architect | Hinkley & Drury |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000118 |
| Added to NRHP | December 15, 1976 |
The Lion is a very old and special steam locomotive. You can find it at the Maine State Museum in Augusta, Maine, USA. This amazing train was built way back in 1846. It was made to work on a railroad that carried logs.
The Lion is the oldest known American-built train in New England. It's like a piece of history on wheels! Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
What The Lion Looks Like
The Lion is on display right near the entrance of the Maine State Museum. It's one of the first things you see! The main part of the train, called its frame, is about 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) long. It's also about 7 feet 4.5 inches (2.2 meters) wide. This strong frame is made from solid oak wood with iron straps.
On top of the frame is a big boiler. This boiler has five sections. Steam from the boiler goes into a steam chest. This steam then pushes pistons that make the train move. The boiler and other parts were covered with thin wood. This wood was then covered with a thin layer of iron to keep the heat in.
At the front of the train, there's a tall stack. This stack has a unique upside-down cone shape. This design helped to stop sparks and cinders from flying out.
How Big Was The Lion?
The Lion was a powerful machine for its time. It cost about $2,700 when it was new. The parts that pushed the train, called cylinders, were 9.5 inches (24 cm) wide and moved 17 inches (43 cm) with each push. The train has four wheels, and each one is about 42.5 inches (108 cm) across. The tracks it ran on were a standard width of 56.5 inches (144 cm). The train itself, without any cars, weighs 9 tons. That's like the weight of two elephants!
The Lion's Journey Through Time
The Lion was built by a company called Hinkley & Drury in 1846. It was made for the Machiasport Railroad in eastern Maine. This train worked hard, moving logs and other things, until 1890. That's over 40 years of work!
In 1897, a person named Thoman Towle bought The Lion. He lived in Portland, Maine. Soon after, the City of Portland bought the train. It was even part of the Fourth of July parade in 1898! Imagine seeing such an old train in a parade.
In 1905, The Lion was given to the University of Maine at Machias. It stayed there for many years. It was displayed and cared for by the university until 1985. Then, it was given to the Maine State Museum. That's where you can see it today!
The Lion is very special because it's the oldest American-built locomotive in all of New England. It reminds us of how trains used to look and work a long, long time ago.
