Eagle Steam Engine

At the Firemen's Muster in Gorham, New Hampshire, September 8, 2007.

According to a story written by Barbara Rimkunas on the Essex Historical Society's website, the Eagle was purchased by the town of Exeter in 1873 for $4,400. It is an Amoskeag Steamer, manufactured at the Manchester Locomotive Works in New Hampshire. It was capable of throwing 700 gallons per minute. Similar models were shipped to the fire departments of New York, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New Orleans.

In 1890 the Eagle Steamer Company officially purchased its own team of horses, after using them from a livery across the street. The fire horses were named Dick and Prince. When Dick, who was beloved by the town and known by the name Pet, died in 1900, his obituary was 39 words longer than that of the Fire Chief.

The Eagle was what was called a front line attack piece until 1928. It remained in service until the early 1940s. Some of the fires that the Exeter Fire Department credits it with fighting include the Exeter Manufacturing Company in 1887 and 1893, Phillips Exeter Academy in 1914, and the South Newmarket fire in 1894. The Eagle was refurbished in 1991 at a cost of $40,000. It is pumped annually for the public in Exeter at the Swasey Parkway on the second Sunday in June.

Thanks to the websites of the Exeter Historical Society and the Exeter Fire Department.

For more information:
http://www.exeterhistory.org

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[ferdinando2110]

Hi eks,please can give me an address where  to purchase one of these antique steam fighting pumps?Best regards,Ferdinando from Italy.

[J800613]

by far the best running fire pumper i've seen on here. no knocks, running evenly on both ends of the cylinder, no leaks. great piece of history!!!!!!

[allen362002]

it's good we have those engines,you never know if they have to use them again.

[Aiya5705]

Damn fine piece of machinery. we dont know how blessed we are with the engines we have today.