The Downeast Scenic Railroad volunteers have been very busy the past several months. We are in the final stretch to becoming operational in the summer of 2010.

Line ballasting is nearly complete and all crossings are now functional with the rebuild of the Ellsworth Davis Street crossing in late September.

Before the first snow volunteers completed the installation and set up of an 80 foot long portable building. This building has been placed over track 7 at Washington Junction and will allow for the final phases of the restoration of coach #155. We would like to thank Pat Jordan of R.F. Jordan Contractors and his crew for their help in getting this building ready to go.

Still to be completed on coach #155 is the siding and the installation of the new windows, as well as the bench seats. With all the other materials purchased and ready to be installed our last fundraising task to complete this coach is to raise the funds necessary to refinish the coach bench seats.

This final work will cost $11,000 to complete. We have 44 bench seats that need to be restored. This work consists of reupholstering and refinishing the bench seats and seat frames. We are acknowledging donors who give to this specific project by placing their name or the name they so designate on a plaque inside the car to commemorate donations towards the restoration of this vintage 1910 Maine Central coach.

Each bench seat donation is $250 and your donation will help us finish this restoration project and help preserve this beautiful car, putting it back in service on its home rails.

We are very close to having this car ready to carry passengers again. Please considering making a gift so that we may complete this great restoration effort.

In 2009 we took a great leap forward in completing the first phase of the Downeast Scenic Railroad project. Our volunteers have now logged over 17,000 hours in three years. This project would never have been possible without our dedicated volunteers and generous supporters.