A small group (four) of us from SCRM are planning an Amtrak excursion to Maine. We'll be departing on the Crescent on Thursday Aug. 31, arriving in Portland late Friday. We're planning to base our operations in Wiscassett for one week before heading back south on August 9. I'm not sure which Acela and Downeaster departures we're taking, it depends on how late the Crescent is.

The plan is to hit the WW&F on Saturday so we can catch some steam. That's the only ironclad date. We also plan to do the Maine Eastern some time during the week. I'd like to go to Boothbay, and we'll probably do Portland at least one day. We may get as far as Kennebunkport (I'm hoping since I've never been to that trolley museum) but that's getting a bit far from base so it's only a hope at this point.

Any advice on what to see or do? Anything in the area like book stores, antique stores, etc. we should check out?

Read all the "Moosepath League" books before departing.

Conway is pretty close, and today's post implies a good chance of steam there too.

dave

You didnt mention the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum in Portland..
but I can only assume you know its there, since you know of Wiscasset.

Portland, Wiscasset and Boothbay are very worthy visits for 2-footer railfanning.

The only other 2-footer stop would be Phillips, but thats farther away.

And yes, I also highly recommend "The Moosepath League" books by Van Reid. In the first one, they ride on the WW&F! (or is it the second book?
not sure..)

the first book in the series is:
"Cordelia Underwood, or the marvelous beginnings of the Moosepath League"

necessary reading for anyone who loves Maine! :)

Scot

Note also, in Waterville is the derelict Maine Central Pacific #470; a sorry representation of park engine preservation. Guilford's shops are located immediatly at the site, but be aware that no welcome will exist at Guilford. From Brewer to Ellsworth are the tracks of the former Maine Central Calais branch, which is hopefully going to be rivived to som elevel of tourist service as the "Downeast Railroad". From Ellsworth to Machias are the remaining tracks which will be torn up soon to make a trail for some less appealing purposes. In Unity, there is the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad, whichagain, is only a shadow of a shortline. B&ML has fallen on difficult times, and while they maintain a restored Swedish steam locomotive,a former B&M Budd RDC, and at least one GE 70T Diesel, I have not heard of any operations , nor seen any advertising for some time. Still, it is a railroad edifice that deserves mention.

Portland waterfronts 2 footer museum may not be operating steam at the present, but there is an impressive indoor museum. WW&F is just plain sweet and perfect. Something to really savor, and deserving of all the praise it draws. Nearby Boothbay Railroad Village has a tiny artifiact museum and nice displays, plus they operate two Henschel 0-4-0T's in a large loop. I have not been over to Phiilips, to see the SR&RL's restoration.

Be advised, Maine is a big state; much bigger than many realize. Thiese are suggestions, but will require planning and time to cover adequately.

Enjoy.

SCRMCURATOR,

Guys do try to get to the Seashore Trolley Museum! They are not just any juice site, but the first operational museum of electric traction in the world.

They have a great ride and lots of cars to see,

Look for their time line display which goes from a horse car to a streamlined PCC street car.

The Budapest subway car is an original car from the first subway in Europe, only the London system is older.

Also a good railway bookstore.

Ted Miles

I've lived in this state my entire life and have only visited the Seashore Trolley Museum once, course I was young and don't remember - maybe before moving off to collage I should check it out.



The B&ML Preservation Society just began operations a few weeks ago and from what I've heard are using the 4-6-0 #1149 on weekends. Also in the steam category is the Conway Scenic and their former CN 0-6-0 #7470, which according to the New England Forum on Railroad.net was to be fired up for the first time today. Who knows if this is actually occurring now or if it will run, but if it is, I'd recommend going. It's a neat little locomotive and puts on a great show on its morning shake-down run up to the station. The SR&RL in Phillips has a nice museum and a varied roster of rolling stock, also has one of the only two-foot gauge roundhouse and turntable. They're not open every weekend so you'll want to check the site http://www.srrl-rr.org/

In Falmouth you'll find Maine Modelworks, a well stocked hobby store to pick up an HO souvenir of Maine railroading.



Not the change the direction of this thread, but the recent 470 Railroad Club newsletter (Not the group restoring the 470, but currently restoring MEC 501 - With the completion of work on the 7470, what dose the future hold for this engine?) reported that the '470 Days', held by the group working on the engine, made little or no money because of poor weather. So, almost two-years after the movement to cosmetically restore the locomotive began, little has been done even to stabilize its condition. At the least, they should get a tarp over it or something, but hopefully some progress will be made soon. Is the Maine Eastern looking for some new power?

-Justin Franz

Just a reminder, Maine Narrow Gauge RR at Portland has steam scheduled for labor day weekend at Portland and at Phillips, Maine. Please feel welcome at either location and make yourselves known. At Portland you can see the only two foot gauge parlour car in essentially original condition and two of the biggest existing two foot Maine engines.
Rick.

All of the above suggestions have been good. Let me throw in some suggestions of antique places I have found good railroad items:

The main street that connects Lewiston and Auburn has a couple of antique stores where I found some great paper items as well as some early Portland Terminal B&W photos. Take the back roads out of Auburn over to Mechanic Falls and then follow the old Grand Trunk line to South Paris. The are several antique shops along the way where I have had success. One was an old barn that backs up on the tracks. I don't remember the location, but I got some really good timetables as well as a pre-WWI New Haven menu.

I haven't been up that way in a few years but it was always nice as it is off the beaten path from where tourists go.

Is steam scheduled for any other days? I have a feeling it's going to be tough to hit both WW&F and Portalnd in the same day and do justice to either. WW&F is the priority, partly because of all the good things I've heard about them and partly because we already have some contacts there -- they're interested in some rail we'll be replacing soon.

Where's Phillips relative to Wiscassett? That's where we're going to be based for the week.

Here's a blurb I developed for people coming to visit the Maine two-footers from the Boston area (sorry for the length):

VISITING THE MAINE TWO-FOOTERS

The following directions assume that you have a car. If you do not, rental cars are available at the Portland Jetport, reachable by plane (obviously) or by city bus or taxi from the Portland Transportation Center, the arrival point of intercity busses and Amtrak’s Downeaster.

The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum

Take I-95 (Maine Turnpike) to exit 44 (formerly 6A), I-295. Once on I-295 through downtown Portland, take exit 7 (“Franklin Street Arterial”), which becomes Franklin Street. From the first traffic light, go straight on Franklin Street 8/10ths of a mile. Turn left on Fore Street. Go 1/10th of a mile to a four-way stop. Staying on Fore Street, go 2/10ths of a mile to 58 Fore Street; the railroad and museum are on the right. Drive through the complex of brick buildings, and park on the water side of the buildings.

The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum

Take I-95 (Maine Turnpike) to exit 44 (formerly 6A), I-295. [If you are at the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum, return to I-295 North.] Continue on I-295 through downtown Portland. Get off at exit 28 (formerly 22) for Route 1, Brunswick and Bath. Take Route 1 north through Brunswick and Bath to Wiscasset. At the Post Office (halfway down the hill from the Courthouse that is near Route 27) take a left onto Route 218. Once you are on 218, go north 4.7 miles from Route 1 to a four-way intersection. At the four-way intersection, go left onto the Cross Road. The museum is 1/10th mile from this intersection, at the bottom of a slight hill.

Boothbay Railway Village

Follow the above WW&F directions to reach Wiscasset. [If you are at the WW&F, return to downtown Wiscasset.] Continue on Route 1 North through Wiscasset and over a long bridge. About 1.5 miles from the beginning of this bridge, take a right onto Route 27. The Boothbay Railway Village is on Route 27 eight miles south of this intersection.

Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad

Directions from the Portland area:
Follow the Maine Turnpike North to Exit 75 (formerly 12) in Auburn. From this exit, take Rte. 4 North all the way to Phillips. Phillips is about 70 miles from the turnpike exit. You will pass through Auburn/Lewiston, Turner, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Jay, Wilton, Farmington, and the edge of Strong on your way. As you pass through Avon, watch for the grass runway of the Raymond Airport on your left. Take the next right turn onto Pleasant Street. If you take no further turns, you will cross the Sandy River on a concrete bridge and head up the hill on Bridge Street. After you come down the other side of the hill, the SR&RL Sanders Station is on your left. The driving time from Exit 75 to Phillips should be about 90 minutes staying within the speed limits.

If you are at the WW&F or Boothbay, return to downtown Wiscasset, go back south on Route 1 a few hundred feet to Route 27 North and take that to Augusta. From Augusta, take Route 27 North to Farmington, about 37 miles. At Farmington, take Route 4 North to Phillips, about 18 miles. As you pass through Avon, watch for the grass runway of the Raymond Airport on your left. Continue with directions above. Driving time from Augusta should be about 75 minutes.

-John

Phillips is 100 miles north of Portland,
up Route 4.
probably about a 2hour to 2.5 hour drive from Portland.



Scot