New Hampshire’s Clark’s Bears Finishes Steam Engine Repair

Clark’s Bears in Lincoln, New Hampshire announced today that its rare steam engine has been repaired and will be back in service during the 2024 season.

The amusement park formerly known as Clark’s Trading Post posted to Facebook that its 50-ton Climax locomotive is back together and ready to go.

The steam locomotive was built in 1920 but had to be taken out of service last season because it needed a new drive shaft and the gears rebuilt on the front truck.

“One of only four remaining in operation in the world, she’s ready for the next 100 years,” Clark’s posted.

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The standard-gauge Climax is part of what is known as the White Mountain Central Railroad, which takes visitors to Clark’s Bears along a 1.25-mile track around the park.

The 30-minute trek includes crossing the Pemigewasset River over a 1904 Howe-Truss covered bridge, the only one left standing in the world. It was dismantled and moved to Clark’s from East Montpelier, Vermont and reassembled for use on the WMCRR.

It’s also the territory of the legendary “Wolfman” who lives in the woods and chases away the train in his homemade vehicle because he’s afraid the people on the train are trying to steal his secret stash of Unobtanium from his mine.

Last season, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley even took a turn portraying the Wolfman.

The Climax locomotive will be operating all of July 2024 and most of August on “basically the yellow color-coded days on our schedule,” Clark’s wrote. Otherwise, it will be Clark’s 65-ton General Electric diesel locomotive, built in 1948, pulling the train.