More Nice Publicity

[Steve Smith]

In the April issue of Trains magazine, on p 62 there's a fact-packed piece by Justin Franz headed "Maine's magnificent two-footers," with text and photo for our museum, Maine Narrow Gauge and Boothbay and a lot more. Congratulations and thanks, Justin! 

[john d Stone]

It was indeed a nice little blurb. The one thing I took exception to, was they incorrectly implied that #10 is in the process of being rebuilt. To me, that says W.W.&F. doesn't have any operating steam locomotives. #10 is very much alive!

[Wayne Laepple]

Nice indeed, but the railfan world already knows about us. What we really need is some publicity in Yankee, Down East, New England Travel, etc., etc.

[john d Stone]

Good point!

[Justin Franz]

Glad you guys enjoyed the story! Always great to get some good publicity to the WW&Fry and all of the two-footers!

It was indeed a nice little blurb. The one thing I took exception to, was they incorrectly implied that #10 is in the process of being rebuilt. To me, that says W.W.&F. doesn't have any operating steam locomotives. #10 is very much alive!

You are correct and that was the first thing that I noticed when I looked at the story in print. I know I didn't write that in the original story but perhaps some how things got switched around during the editing process and I didn't notice that while looking at the final proof. I apologize and will make sure there is a clarification in the next issue!

Justin Franz
Whitefish, Montana (but born and raised in Augusta, Maine)

[john d Stone]

I hope I didn't come across as too picky I loved the accompanying photo at Alna! #10 is just such a cool engine and I couldn't bear to see her slighted!
My father-in-law lives outside of Alder. I enjoyed seeing the Alder Gulch 30" 2-8-0 run, a few years back. Hope she gets to do that again, some day!

As an aside: I'm just a sidelines guy. The real experts are up there in Sheepscot, making the miracles happen.

[Justin Franz]

I hope I didn't come across as too picky I loved the accompanying photo at Alna! #10 is just such a cool engine and I couldn't bear to see her slighted!

Not picky at all! I slapped my forehead the moment I saw the mistake and wondered how the heck did that get past me in the final proof, but alas, it happens. My full-time job here in Montana is at a weekly newspaper and we strive to get rid of every mistake before we send the paper to the printer. But I'd say at least once a month we get the paper back, open it up and see one glaring error and think "How on earth did we miss that!?!" It's the nature of the animal sometimes.

I've never gotten to the Alder Gulch, but it's high on my list of places to go, especially if they get that steamer back up and running!

Justin Franz

[James Patten]

"Local boy makes good".  Justin's from the Augusta area, for anyone that didn't already know.  Justin, ran into your father at the Augusta train show the other day.

Someone asked me if the 2016 National Narrow Gauge Convention was mentioned in the article.  I don't think it was, but there's a year+ to correct that.  Next year's NNGC is in Augusta, a central location to all the narrow gauges.  The WW&F is really looking forward to it (we had our best year the last time they were around).

[Joe Fox]

And this time around should be twice as good. All those who stopped in last time and saw #9 in a million pieces are sure to be amazed, as well as hopefully being able to run two steam trains would also be a cool thing to see.

[Justin Franz]

I'm already thinking of a trip home to visit friends and family when the narrow gauge convention is in town. With No. 9 and No. 10 fired up in Alna and No. 7 in Portland it should be a fantastic show!

Heck, I might not have time for the friends and family part! ;-)

Justin Franz