New England Live Steamers
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History
- This track was owned by Lester Friend of the Friend Box Company, and it was located along the Porter River in the Danversport section of town, on the Friend Box Company's property.
- The track was also located directly behind "Yankee Shop", which was Lester Friend's machine shop. A "side business" of Yankee Shop, was Lester Friend's live steam casting business which later became known as FRIENDS MODELS.
- The early Brotherhood of Live Steamers meetings were held annually at Danvers, MA starting about 1937, as they had outgrown the ability of Mr. Charles "Carl" Purinton's home and track in Marblehead, MA, to host them.
- The N.E.L.S. track was located at the Danvers site from approximately 1936 to approximately the 1960s, give or take.
- The box company still exists, but is not owned by the Friend family. The "Yankee Shop" building still exists, but now houses a liquor store.
- But few traces of the N.E.L.S. track out back, exist today. The passage of time, the building of Massachusetts Rte. 128 on the edge of the property, and commercial/residential development, have erased virtually all traces of the huge live steam facility that used to exist there.
Danvers Track
The "William B Prestong" 4-4-0 American at Danvers
The Danvers steaming bay
Carl Purinton's "Granny" 0-4-0 switcher at Danvers.
Closeup of valve gear
Hudson No 1501
No 1501
Carl Purinton and Harry Sait inspecing Carl's "Granny" switcher
Carl Purinton and Harry Sait are the two gentlemen at the far right with their backs facing the camera.
View across the meadow at Danvers.
Bad Curve at Danvers
Passenger station
Stone burm
