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 numberNotes1Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-012/951647ex#27 rebuilt 1915 to 4-4-0 #2152Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-012/951648ex#28 rebuilt 1915 to 4-4-0 #2163Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-01/961649ex#29 rebuilt 1921 sold to Woodstock Railroad #44Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-01/961650ex#30 rebuilt 1915 to 4-4-0 #21410Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-05/941620ex#17 rebuilt 1922 scrapped 8/192911Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-05/941621ex#18 rebuilt 1921 scrapped 8/192912Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-06/941622ex#19 rebuilt 1924 scrapped 12/193013Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-06/941623ex#20 rebuilt 1923 scrapped 8/192920Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-06/991699ex#35 scrapped 12/193621Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-06/991700ex#36 scrapped 12/193630Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-08/991709ex#38 sold 191631Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-08/991710ex#39 sold 191732Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-010/991717ex#40 sold 191633Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-04/991697sold 191734Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-04/991698sold 191335Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-010/991718ex#41 sold 191736Manchester Locomotive Works2-6-011/991719ex#42 sold 191750Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011788sold 8/1928 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #1751Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011789scrapped 193452Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011790sold 8/1928 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #1853Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011791scrapped 193554Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-07/011782ex#44 sold 1/1940 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #1955ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226022scrapped 6/5056ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226023scrapped 193357ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226024scrapped 8/192958ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226025scrapped 2/194859ALCO Manchester4-6-03/0226026scrapped 193960Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-07/011783ex#45 sold 11/1939 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #2061Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011784ex#46 sold 4/1945 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #6162Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011785ex#47 scrapped 193863Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011786ex#48 scrapped 12/193064Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-08/011787ex#49 scrapped 4/192765ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0531137scrapped 6/195066ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0531138scrapped 12/195167ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0531139scrapped 5/195168ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0531140scrapped 5/195269ALCO Manchester4-6-07/0537518scrapped 193770ALCO Manchester4-6-05/0537519scrapped 193571ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0741434ex#78 scrapped 6/195072ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538813scrapped 192973ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538814scrapped 193574ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538815scrapped 192975ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538816scrapped 5/195176ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0538817scrapped 192977ALCO Manchester4-6-012/0641433scrapped 193182ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743362scrapped 193583ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743363scrapped 193684ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743364scrapped 193685ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743365scrapped 5/195186ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743366scrapped 193587ALCO Manchester4-6-09/0743367scrapped 194190ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150547superheated 1926 scrapped 8/195191ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150548superheated 1926 scrapped 12/195192ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150549superheated 1927 rebuilt 1935 scrapped 5/195293ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150550superheated 1917 rebuilt 1939 scrapped 6/195194ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150551superheated 1928 scrapped 12/195195ALCO Manchester4-6-011/1150552superheated 1918 scrapped 5/1951100ALCO Schenectady4-8-211/2968218scrapped 1/53101ALCO Schenectady4-8-211/2968219scrapped 6/50102ALCO Schenectady4-8-211/2968220scrapped 6/50103ALCO Schenectady4-8-211/2968221scrapped 1/53104ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3068525scrapped 6/50105ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3068526scrapped 6/50106ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3068527scrapped 1/53107ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3568705scrapped 6/50108ALCO Schenectady4-8-210/3568706scrapped 1/53109ALCO Schenectady4-8-22/4573055scrapped 1/53120ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967987ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #452 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 6/1949121ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967989ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #454 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 6/1949122ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967994ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #459 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 6/1949123ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967995ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #460 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 6/1949124ALCO Schenectady4-8-27/2967990ex- New York, Ontario and Western Railway #455 purchased 6/1945 scrapped 2/1948140ALCO Rhode Island4-6-010/0641519superheated 1916 scrapped 3/1947141ALCO Rhode Island4-6-010/0641520superheated 1915 scrapped 6/1950142ALCO Rhode Island4-6-010/0641521superheated 1915 scrapped 5/1951170ALCO Rhode Island2-8-03/0741522scrapped 5/51171ALCO Rhode Island2-8-03/0741523scrapped 6/49172ALCO Rhode Island2-8-03/0741524scrapped 5/51180ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454944wrecked 3/45181ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454945scrapped 8/51182ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454946scrapped 8/51183ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454947scrapped 8/51184ALCO Schenectady2-8-010/1454948scrapped 8/51185ALCO Schenectady2-8-09/1656742scrapped 8/51186ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162626scrapped 5/51187ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162627scrapped 3/47188ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162628scrapped 6/50189ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162629scrapped 5/51190ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162630scrapped 5/51191ALCO Schenectady2-8-01/2162631scrapped 5/51192ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/2465970scrapped 6/50193ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/2465971scrapped 8/51194ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/2465972scrapped 8/51195ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/2465973scrapped 5/51196Baldwin Locomotive Works2-8-03/1339409ex-Boston and Maine Railroad #2684 purchased 8/1946 scrapped 6/50197ALCO Schenectady2-8-03/1353253ex-Boston and Maine Railroad #2692 purchased 8/1946 scrapped 12/47200Grant Locomotive Works4-4-01876ex-Patten and Sherman Railroad #1 acquired 1901 scrapped 1908201Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-05/841195ex-Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad #5 sold 1913202Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-01/881368ex-Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad #8 scrapped 1911203Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-09/931596ex#13 rebuilt 1921 scrapped 11/1930204Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-09/931597ex#14 rebuilt 1919 scrapped 2/1941205Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-010/931598ex#15 scrapped 1914206Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-011/931617ex#16 rebuilt 1920 sold 1940207Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-09/941624ex#21 rebuilt 1920 sold 1941208Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-010/941625ex#22 scrapped 7/1923209Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-01/841172ex-Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad #7 scrapped 1914210Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-06/931592ex#9 rebuilt 1919 sold 1936211Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-07/931593ex#10 rebuilt 1919 sold 11/1927 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad #16212Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-08/931594ex#11 scrapped 1937213Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-08/931595ex#12 sold 9/1936 Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad 2nd #16214Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-01/961650rebuilt from 2-6-0 #4 1915 scrapped 1923215Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-012/951647rebuilt from 2-6-0 #1 1915 scrapped 1924216Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-012/951648rebuilt from 2-6-0 #2 1915 scrapped 1924220Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-010/951645ex#31 scrapped 1923221Manchester Locomotive Works4-4-010/951646ex#32 scrapped 6/1924230Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-02/951629ex#23 scrapped 7/33231Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-03/951630ex#24 scrapped 8/25232Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-05/951635ex#25 scrapped 7/24233Manchester Locomotive Works4-6-05/951636ex#26 scrapped 7/23234ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0743369scrapped 1926235ALCO Manchester4-6-010/0743370scrapped 1926240ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0226742ex#60 scrapped 1928241ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0226743ex#61 scrapped 1930242ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0226744ex#62 rebuilt 1935 scrapped 11/50243ALCO Manchester4-6-01/0741435ex#79 rebuilt 1935 scrapped 8/51250ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767422scrapped 5/53251ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767423scrapped 1953252ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767424scrapped 3/45253ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767425scrapped 12/53254ALCO Schenectady4-6-28/2767426scrapped 12/53300Manchester Locomotive Works0-4-02/971656ex#37 sold 1917310Manchester Locomotive Works0-6-01/001726ex#43 sold 1917311Manchester Locomotive Works0-6-07/011766ex#54 sold 1916320ALCO Manchester0-6-03/0531135ex#63 scrapped 1935321ALCO Manchester0-6-03/0531136ex#64 scrapped 1935322ALCO Manchester0-6-07/0537520ex#71 scrapped 1937323ALCO Manchester0-6-01/0741431ex#80 scrapped 1935324ALCO Manchester0-6-01/0741432ex#81 scrapped 1936325ALCO Manchester0-6-06/0843368scrapped 1937330ALCO Schenectady0-8-011/2867669scrapped 8/1951335ALCO Schenectady0-8-09/2263439ex- Boston and Maine Railroad #614 purchased 2/1946 scrapped 6/1950336ALCO Schenectady0-8-09/2263448ex- Boston and Maine Railroad #623 purchased 2/1946 scrapped 6/1949337ALCO Schenectady0-8-09/2263454ex- Boston and Maine Railroad #629 purchased 2/1946 scrapped 6/1950338ALCO Schenectady0-8-09/2263436ex- Boston and Maine Railroad #611 purchased 2/1946 scrapped 6/1950340ALCO Schenectady0-8-011/3168599scrapped 5/53341ALCO Schenectady0-8-011/3168600scrapped 5/53400ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769022scrapped 7/56401ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769023scrapped 12/53402ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769024scrapped 8/51403ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769025scrapped 7/56404ALCO Schenectady2-8-011/3769026scrapped 12/53405ALCO 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.