Big Plans at Edaville

[Mark Edry]

From some photos they posted on Facebook it looks like there are some big plans afoot to expand Edaville. Looks to me kind of like the idea is Clarks Trading Post -bears +bogs. Unfortunately not much shown in the way of new railroad infrastructure but at least it will be a going concern.

Pictures here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151657523449837&set=a.10151657523219837.1073741825.32252819836&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151657523779837&set=a.10151657523219837.1073741825.32252819836&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151657524079837&set=a.10151657523219837.1073741825.32252819836&type=1&theater

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

I've been given to understand that the relaying of any of the removed trackage will now be subject to environmental regulations.  Before it was lifted, it was all "grandfathered", but now that no longer applies. So good luck with that aspect of "improving" the park.

Virtually everything they are talking about doing, they already had at one time.

Once Humpty-Dumpty fell off the wall and broke, it was impossible to put him together again.  That is the real problem down there. 

[Dave Buczkowski]

Today's Boston Globe had an article about Edaville's plans for expansion. There will be a roller coaster and water ride along with cosmetic changes to the entranceway. The neighbors are concerned about traffic, drainage and noise as can be expected. Apparently a "rebuilt rail system with 2 miles of track, and a new balloon ride" will also be a part of it. Replica stores (Main Street USA) and a dark ride that carries visitors by carriage into a house with a pirate theme are also planned. According Jon Delli Priscoli the new concept as "a whole retrospective rolling back the hands of time". The "narrow-gauge railroad" will still be at its core.
Good luck to them. Steve Z might like the pirate ride though.
B

[James Patten]

Sort of has that Pleasure Island look to me.

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

And we all know what became of Pleasure Island.  It's now a huge office park.

The Edaville Railroad we all knew and loved is never coming back.  The mini-theme park they have tried to create in its place is never going to have the appeal that the railroad had.

Once a fine china plate is broken, it never can be put back together. 

Richard

[James Patten]

True the Edaville Railroad of old is no more - but Edaville did its job in preserving the equipment that 4 Maine museums now enjoy today.  Its closure allowed most (all?) of the Maine equipment to return to Maine.  The old Edaville is now its own museum piece.

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

Some of the former Maine 2 foot equipment that returned to Maine is in more jeopardy now than it would have been had the old Edaville not gone away.

Much of what took place after 1991 was not for the best. In many instances, only dumb luck kept the equipment in New England.  Circumstances since then have also been hit or miss and only time will tell how much survives.  We hope for the best, but the situation is very fluid.

Edaville, as its founder Ellis D. Atwood, is history.  We who remember it and filmed it back in the day will always fondly recall it as it was then.  A new generation will remember the New Edaville Park in their own way.  As we remember Pleasure Island.

Richard