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Maine Narrow Gauge
The “restored freight house” in Monson is actually a combination depot and freight house, and the Monson Railroad’s other depot, the Bangor & Aroostook
The “restored freight house” in Monson is actually a combination depot and freight house, and the depot at Monson Jct. in Abbot, where the Monson Railroad interchanged with the Bangor & Aroostook, is still standing.
Would be nice if the Boothbay Railway would ‘Americanize’ their locomotives. Just some black paint would do wonders. The oval windows and arched cab entrance need to go. A couple of guys, a torch, and some Allen’s Brandy would fix them in a heartbeat.
I was always curious about the Maine Two Foot Empire but it wasn’t until about 2003 when my son moved his family to Portland that I fell totally in love with it. The Atwood ride at the Portland waterfront is on former standard gauge right of way and track with the rails set at 24 inches…but it is so easy to get to you cannot ignore. Soon it will be moving to Gary, ME onto its own property about 25 miles north and west. But it should whet your appetite enough to have to drive up to Elna to take in the most extensive exhibit, preservation, and ride of narrow gauge railroading in the East…so much preserved and presented you’ll have to stay and come back. The most unique and elusive is the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes operation in Phillips and so, so worth the trip into the near wilderness and near perfect replication of the original setting and reason for narrow gauge. This is for purists more than the other two if only because the details presented by the guide are, well, details beyond what normal tourist riders and non rail and forestry fans care to hear. But, the tour of the round house, the ride down the hill to the site from the station and parking lot, is fantastic. Riding back in the rain, for me, was the greatest because when boarding for the return leg of the trip it was announced that there was room for two more people in the cab for the half mile or so trip. It was “me and whoever else” and I was the only one to take them up on the offer. (My personal pride is having a cab ride in 1970 on Ross Rowland’s NKP 759 and this little Maine Two Footer some 35 years later; the big and the small of steam cab rides, but really both big rides.) I warn you, you don’t know what you’re missing if you don’t stop at at least one Maine two footer. And I guarantee you can’t stop at just one.
I should also add that Boothbay is well worth the stop, too. The displays and ride are family oriented and authentic. A steam locomotive is universal so there is no reason to ignore the German name and European look…all is part of the Maine Two Foot experience and Boothbay is minutes off Route 1 and a must ride experience, too.
Nothing wrong with those German 0-4-0’s. If you’re a student of the First World War they’re as close as you’ll ever get to one of the “Feldbahn” narrow gauge locomotives that supplied the troops in the trenches.
The Cripple Creek and Victor Railroad in Cripple Creek CO has one of those German 0-4-0’s. I’ve ridden behind it, it’s cool!
Appropriate for Europe, but in Maine??? What next? A 2’-0" gauge Wakayama Railway “Tama Densha” from Japan?
The Maine Narrow Gauge line is moving to Gray, not to Gary. I rode this short line this summer and the combination of narrow gauge and seacoast makes for a great excursion.
Well. if 24" gauge locomotives are in short supply, and they are, as the saying goes “You do what you gotta do!” That being the case a 60 cm German locomotive fills the bill quite nicely.
Now that’s not so bad, is it?
My wife and I rode MNG and WWF 3 years ago on our honeymoon. Drove by Boothbay, but we were on our way to the nearby gardens (also went to Seashore and Lowell on the trip). I hope to get back someday . . . after all, there’s plenty more WWF to ride already!