Good Morning, all.

While designing a non-railroad related exhibit for the Watkinson Library at Trinity College, I ran across this rather interesting picture of the Flying Yankee in Bates College's digital archive. The date and location are unknown but I figured someone here might be able to identify it. Even more interesting, I am almost certain the gentleman on the left looking directly at the camera is Ed Muskie (Bates class of 1936, which would make sense relative to the date the Yankee Flyer operated, vice-presidential and presidential candidate. Resident of Rumford, Maine) Any information members could provide would be greatly appreciated.

http://digilib.bates.edu/cgi-bin/librar ... 2d37b8ea50

I am a Mainer, and we are soaked in Ed Muskie lore, for good or bad. I do not see Ed Muskie in that photo. Muskie had a longer, leaner, hang-dog face.
It happens to be a great photo of the "Flying Yankee", as it's rare to see the tail end of the train in any pictures.
I'll bet a train of that length and consistency could make money hauling passengers along a lot of forgotten rural stretches of track. Maine could benefit from such a service.

Brent:

There is a milepost marker under the bridge appears to have "V" & 217 giving the station location. I'm assuming it is where Bates is located because of the Bates sticker on the nearest student's luggage.

I'm not a fasionista, but the women's garb suggests mid-late 1940s. Also, saddle-shoes were popular into the 1950s.

You also may check with some track guys (H F Malone comes to mind) since the rail has a 4-bolt pattern with the nuts on one side - a la NYNH&H 78 lb rail. If the track was upgraded after the photo was taken, you may be able to affix a latest date. Well, knowing the station, the FY dates would be available in most timetables anyway.

The stepbox behind the young woman with the white shoes is lettered "MOUNTAINEER". Wasn't that name carried by this train set at one point in its career on the B&M/MEC?

Howard P.

Brent

The location is definitely Lewiston Me. The station was located on the outside of a curve and just to the east is the Bridge St. bridge which crossed over the mainline and the Lewiston freight yard that can be seen in the background. The Bridge St truss bridge lasted in to the 80's when it was replaced by a steel and concrete structure.

The Bates campus is located only a few short blocks away.


Zog
MP30 Hudson Division