Bedford & Billerica Narrow Gauge Railroad

Tom Gears · **Posted:** Sat Oct 04, 2003 9:50 am

It looks like 1,200 feet of narrow gauge track are going to be laid down in Bedford, MA. See article below.

Friends granted license to retrace historic track

Bob Yarger · **Posted:** Sat Oct 04, 2003 11:47 am

Interesting that a small part of every Maine two footer has been relaid except one, the Bridgton & Saco River. The B&SR/B&H has the most equipment remaining and its long gone structures were simple
frame affairs, yet I've never really heard of any serious plans to relay a part of it on the original roadbed.

> It looks like 1,200 feet of narrow gauge
> track are going to be laid down in Bedford,
> MA. See article below.

http://www.megalink.net/~bhs/nginv.html
ryarger@rypn.org

Bob Yarger · **Posted:** Sat Oct 04, 2003 11:53 am

Lonbg ago. I'm told that a school playground has flowed onto part of this site, but have never physically been there myself.

http://www.megalink.net/~bhs/rr4.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

Glenn Christensen · **Posted:** Sat Oct 04, 2003 6:23 pm

Hi Bob,

Not just a playground. In 1949, the railroad structures were razed and Bridgton High School was built on the site of the old yard. Even so, a few ties from one of the sidings south of the engine house (maybe even the old Burnham & Morrill siding mentioned below) remained in situ as recently as the 1970s.

OK, now for some theory ... (it's GOT to be theory, even if I had the $$$, I don't know if the community would be interested.)

There are several places in the immediate vicinity of the former Bridgton yard that are large enough to recreate an almost foot-by-foot duplicate of the original. These include the old wye location and the site of the old Mayfair diner - just north across Stevens Brook from the original yard. The latter could be accessed by relaying the old Burnham & Morrill siding (which hugged the brook along the western edge of the yard) and then bridging Stevens Brook due west of the Depot Street Bridge.

The main problem with both these sites is that a number of buildings now occupy the the final mile of mainline south of town. I suppose you *could* build a new ROW closer to the Brook - *IF* you could get title to the property and satisfy any environmental concerns. Construction along this stretch would not be difficult, if you could afford it.

Perhaps the best location, from the standpoint of accessibility and visibiliy, would be on the large property that borders the east side of the mainline grade, a mile south of Bridgton town, and runs to the NW corner of the junction of routes 117 and 302. Route 302 is a pretty well-traveled corridor running between the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Maine coast. It connects several highly visited portions of the Sebago Lake Region. The area not only hosts many summer camps and resorts, but also Pleasant Mountain ski area - providing the possibility of year 'round ridership.

Sure would like to see it.

Best Regards,
Glenn

christensenge@yahoo.com

Glenn Christensen · **Posted:** Sat Oct 04, 2003 6:28 pm

See the attached link.

http://www.BedfordDepot.org
christensenge@yahoo.com

James C Patten · **Posted:** Mon Oct 06, 2003 8:58 am

The Kennebec Central is another two-footer without any track anywhere (although the WW&F does have some old KC rail laid in the WW&F yard...).

However, that may change. There's great interest in the town of Randolph (The KC's western terminus) on preserving the ROW, and making it into a trail. Actual track on a small portion could be a reality. Friends of the Kennebec Central have been formed, and a 5-member committee has been formed to look at this.

> Interesting that a small part of every Maine
> two footer has been relaid except one, the
> Bridgton & Saco River.

WW&F Railway Museum

Ted Miles · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2003 5:53 pm

That is great news. I hope that they do more than just the trail.

And it is amazing that the B&SR is the tw0-foot Maine line that most excursions were run on. Back in the pre-WWII days a rail fan could get there by train from Boston and ride the trains. And lots of kids rode to camp right up to the last summer of operation.

The Maine Narrow Gauge might be said to be preserving the B&SR because they have the rolling stock by way of Edaville.

But I wish they would move it or at least some of the collection to home rails.

Maybe I am being picky, but there is a lot of the B&SR right of way still available to put steel back down and operate over.

There is a nice new booklet called Images of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads by Robert MacDonald.Covers all of the lines and a bargin at
$19.99. Go for it!

Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov