The one hundred- year old Vulcan locomotive that rests in the heart of Rockport’s Marine Park serves as a reminder of the region’s industrial past. It is similar to the locomotives that once transported limestone from the local quarries to Rockport Harbor for processing in the lime kilns which stand behind it. At its peak, in the early 1890s, the Rockport Railroad had two locomotives. Each locomotive could haul 30 cars, and each car held more than 11,000 pounds of freshly cut limestone.
In 2022 Legacy Rockport completed a cosmetic restoration of the Vulcan locomotive which had been badly degraded by the weather. The project was done in collaboration with the Town of Rockport, Rockport Marine, and Rockport Steel. Rockport Marine did an excellent job replacing the wooden pilot beam in front of the engine and wooden running boards. Rust had badly compromised the cab and saddle tank so that they had to be completely rebuilt by Rockport Marine. The work was done so beautifully that the cab and saddle tank appear to be original and having been completely repainted the Vulcan locomotive now looks the way it looked in 1967 when it was purchased by Mary Cramer. She bought the Vulcan for the Historical Society and it was subsequently donated to the Town of Rockport for display in Marine Park.
Legacy Rockport is now seeking donations to build a shelter for the Vulcan. A shelter is needed to protect its surface from the elements. Designs for a roof over the Vulcan are being evaluated in terms of protection from the weather, aesthetics, and cost.