Existing Lombard Steam Log Haulers
Alvin Lombard built 83 steam log haulers at his Waterville, Maine factory between 1900 and 1917. Most were used in Maine and New Hampshire, but several were shipped to western states and Canada. Lombard licensed his patented track design to the Phoenix Company in Eau Claire, Wisconsin which produced additional Phoenix log haulers. Many Lombard steam log haulers were recycled for scrap iron during World War II, and only 6 of the original 83 machines are known to still exist. Only 3 in of these are in running condition.
1. Lombard No. 74 restored to working condition by Harry C. Crooker. Machine originally worked out of Fish Pond in northern Maine near the Canadian border. Machine is occasionally operated at public events in Maine. This machine has 2 Lombard logging sleds moving logs in the following video:
Lombard Steam Log Hauler #74 Winter Run
This Lombard is currently on display at the Maine Forest and Logging Museum, generously loaned by the Crooker family as a guide for University of Maine students restoring Lombard No. 38.
2. Lombard No. 70, located in Lincoln, New Hampshire and restored to pristine working condition by Dave Clark. Machine originally worked in northern Maine near Ross Lake. This log hauler occasionally operates at public events.
3. Lombard No. 38 owned by the Maine Forest and Logging Museum and just restored to working condition for public display. The 30 year restoration project is documented on this website. This log hauler originally worked in northern Maine near Ross Lake.
4. Lombard No. 82 owned by the Patten Lumbermen’s Museum at Patten, Maine. This machine was donated by the Sherman Lumber Company in Sherman, Maine. This well preserved but inoperable log hauler was designated a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1982 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. They published an excellent historical brochure on this occasion.
5. Lombard No. 39 owned by the Ashland Logging Museum. This is one of the last Lombards made with a lap seam boiler. It is missing the steam piping, controls and the back of the cab but is in fair unrestored condition. Ed LaCroix used this Lombard until 1936. This inoperable log hauler is on public display. There is also a Gas Lombard at this site.
Ashland Logging Museum Lombard Steam Log Hauler
6. Lombard No. ? owned by the State of Maine and located on a remote section of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. This Lombard has a newer butt seam boiler but is in rough condition, missing many parts including the steam engines, drive train, cab, controls, and all steam piping. There also are remains of a gas Lombard at this site. These Lombards can be reached by driving on woods roads to Ramsay Ledges on the Allagash River, then canoeing across the river to Cunliffe Depot.
Cunliffe Depot Lombard Log Haulers Trip
Lombard licensed his design to the Phoenix Company in Eau Clair, Wisconsin which produced over 60 Phoenix steam log haulers. Several Phoenix steam log haulers are on display in Wisconsin, Iowa, Saskatchewan, and Finland.
After 1917, Lombard continued to produce gasoline powered log haulers which were considerably simpler and easier to operate. Several still survive in working condition. One excellent example is on display at the Maine State Museum in Augusta, Maine. 