Current end of track?

[Ed Lecuyer]

It would be a great advantage to build south (in the future), for the following reasons:
1. Connect with the Rt. 1 summer traffic.
2. Connect with the Maine Eastern RR
3. Local connection with Wiscasset (historical).

All true. However, the ridership/revenue increase would never even come close to covering the cost of construction.

I do like the idea of going "just far enough" south of Sheepscot/Cross Rd. to give a NB train a place to come from

I think that is something that would be reasonable to do, but after we cross 218 to the north and start dealing with the FRA, etc.

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

It would be a great advantage to build south (in the future), for the following reasons:

1. Connect with the Rt. 1 summer traffic.
2. Connect with the Maine Eastern RR
3. Local connection with Wiscasset (historical).

There are probably more reasons but those listed will bring in money.

Well John, while those are good reasons, even I realize it'll be a VERRY long time if ever that those things happen as 1) the RR owns NO property inside Wiscassett town lines and 2) there are SEVERAL houses and a few minor and at least a major road to cross to get there.
Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to see it happen, but I think it much more realistic to envision going south "just enough" within the next 10-20 yrs or so.

[Ed Lecuyer]

Actually, it is my understanding that the RR owns one very small piece of land in Wiscasset.

[James Patten]

We own a half acre of right of way in Wiscasset, thanks to a generous land owner.

[Ed Lecuyer]

Duncan Mackiewicz sent me a set of 7 pictures to share with everyone. I have linked them here (rather than post them) since some of our forum participants still use dial-up connections.

From North (Sheepscot Station) to South (just before the beaver pond)
http://www.spongeawareness.com/maps/row_south_1.JPG
http://www.spongeawareness.com/maps/row_south_2.JPG
http://www.spongeawareness.com/maps/row_south_3.JPG
http://www.spongeawareness.com/maps/row_south_4.JPG
http://www.spongeawareness.com/maps/row_south_5.JPG
http://www.spongeawareness.com/maps/row_south_6.JPG
http://www.spongeawareness.com/maps/row_south_7.JPG

[John Kokas]

Thanks for the pics Duncan.....  Would love to see more.  I as well as everyone else realizes that going back to Wiscasset is a looonnnggg way off.  But being the eternal optimist, I will harken back to a baseball saying, " build it and they will come ".  We have our own Field of Dreams, it's just a wee bit narrower but a lot longer.....

[Duncan Mackiewicz]

John,
I thought actually seeing what the ROW looks like cleared at ground level all the way to the beaver pond would give everyone a better understanding.  Now those folks who have not yet visited or have visited but not taken the time to hike it can see see how far the pond really is and what the topography of the ROW is like. 
Duncan

[John Kokas]

Duncan,

Thanks again for the photos.  As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.  Does the museum own or have easements for this whole section?

[Ed Lecuyer]

Does the museum own or have easements for this whole section?

Yes.

I *think* we may even own all (or most) of the ROW to the Alna/Wiscasset town line.

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

I'm just curious where the "half acre" in Wiscassett actually is. Is it on the Wiscassett/Alna town line or is it "deep in the wilds" of Wiscasset?

[James Patten]

We (technically the Wiscasset & Quebec Railroad Company) own most of the right of way from Cross Road to the Wiscasset Town Line, minus about a 1000 feet south of the pond at the dam.

Our land in Wiscasset is about 200 feet north of the Middle school, the second of two properties north of the school's property.  Watch for the 100 foot high billboard coming soon....oh wait, we can't do that (Maine has an anti-billboard law).

[Mike Fox]

Watch for the 100 foot high billboard coming soon....oh wait, we can't do that (Maine has an anti-billboard law).

It hasn't stopped the Poland Spring Inn in Poland. A big 15' or so hogh by 25' or so wide billboard right next to a busy highway.

[Win Nowell]

Why is it that the right-of-way from Cross Road south to the dam is free of trees and stumps? Was it cleared to provide access to the dam? maybe when the dam was built?

The map on page 6 of the Tours by Bill Reidy book looks like the west side of the reservoir could be filled in to restore the roadbed. If there was a large construction project project in the area with excess spoil it might be something to keep in mind. Like maybe if the Wiscassett by pass project ever came to fruition?

Win Nowell

[James Patten]

We cleared the trees from the ROW about 10 years ago.

The dam south of Cross road was, I think I have heard, put in in the 50s.  Road access is a road direct from 218.  The water level should by rights be about 5 feet below the level it is now, but because of branches, stumps, and other junk in front of the outflow pipes there's very little water flowing through it.  Lower the water level and you probably find the roadbed again.

[Ed Lecuyer]

To expand on what James wrote...
The access road is labeled "Verney Mill Road" on most current maps.

The ROW closest to the museum is kept mowed for overflow parking and some limited camping. After that, it is maintained as a hiking trail for anyone who wants to see the reason(s) why we can't immediately build to the south.