The rhythmic chugging sounds of internal combustion engines provided the background music for the Antique Engine and Tractor Meet at the Railway Village on July 6.

The day’s event was one of about 35 Maine Antique Power Association (MAPA) shows planned for this summer in Maine. The MAPA was formed in 1973 to preserve Maine’s historical industrial and farm equipment and its members collect, restore and maintain engines.

As the engines chugged along, groups of men converged around them and proud owners explained their idiosyncrasies.

James Curit, an MAPA member from Sabattus, said he particularly enjoys the camaraderie of the meets. “You can always learn something from someone else,” Curit said.

Richard Verney of Alna brought his Sheepscot Digger along to the show on Saturday. The Digger is a regular feature of the Wiscasset and Round Pond Fourth of July parades. Verney said the engine that now powers the Digger originally was used to water the Boothbay golf course.

“When I got it, it was in pieces in three boxes,” Verney said, “I got it together and running that same night.”

In addition to the antique collectors, three past presidents of the The New England Model Engineering Society, Ron Ginger, Dick Boucher and Norm Jones, were presiding over some of their handiwork at the Village on Saturday.

Ginger founded the model engineering society 17 years ago. The Boothbay man told this reporter, “You are among some of the more serious nuts now.”

The model engineers don’t collect, restore and maintain existing engines, they fabricate them in their workshops, with precision and diligence.