Atrempt to explore the EL&WB turns tragic

Alan Walker · **Posted:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 6:28 pm

Mark Jordan wrote:

Anyone wanting to see preserved steam and environment/town, be out of reach of cell phone service, and find their way back in the backwoods away from civilization only needs to spend a weekend at Cass Scenic Railroad.

Or for those of us in the Southwest, Chama, New Mexico. Years ago, I spent a summer driving the tour buses for the railroad. One night as I was walking back to the hotel from Foster's, a car pulled up and the woman driver rolled down the window and asked me where the nearest 24 hour pharmacy was. I told her they might have one in Alamosa or Espanola (emphasis on the word "might"). She asked me how far Alamosa was and I told her it was about 100 miles up the highway and that Espanola was about the same distance in the other direction.

Gotta be careful venturing out into the hinterlands. There are dangers that we don't normally encounter and otherwise non-life threatening injuries can be fatal when you're far removed from anything other than basic medical care. Depending on where you are exploring, a firearm may also be an appropriate safeguard (consult your area laws).

Bob D. · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2014 1:38 pm

Update to this thread. The body of this man who was exploring the allagash row was recently recovered from a lake. Was on the local news but didn't catch any details.

Bob D.

David H. Hamley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:07 pm **Posts:** 705

One communication option I didn't see mentioned here is amateur radio. While it's not perfect either, a decent amateur band (144-148 or 430-459 Mhz) hand-held radio can do some amazing things when it comes to seeking help.

Dave Hamley, K3PRR

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1087

Here's a report in the Bangor Daily News: Body believed to be of missing Canadian man found in Umbazooksus Lake

GaryPBensman · **Joined:** Sun Oct 20, 2013 8:12 pm **Posts:** 18

No need to "forgive the reporter for calling it a tram system". It has been well known as the Eagle Lake Tramway - a continuous cable system of log carts to carry logs from one watershed to the watershed that served the mill at Millinocket.
This was the system in place before the railroad was built - but lacked the capacity the railroad operations offered. This equipment was still clearly visible as well as the rail equipment when I visited the site in 1977.

Terry Harper · **Joined:** Tue May 08, 2007 4:59 pm **Posts:** 148

And..... the Tramway in question....

The best way to describe it is as a 3000 foot long steam powered conveyor system with dollies that ran on rails. It was built in 1904 and abandoned in 1908.

Best regards,

Terry