Archiving narrow gage magazine articles

[Bruce Wilson]

Recently purchased the November, 1931 issue of Railroad Man's Magazine from a dealer on eBay. I wanted the story by Freeman Hubbard, "Sandy River Blues". After receiving the old pulp paper treasure today, I sent the gentleman an e- mail thanking him for his fast service, etc. and after talking a bit, we discovered we are both life members of the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum! How's that for a small world...?

[Ivanov Marin]

That's absolutely incredible! The serendipity of finding a fellow life member of the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum through a simple eBay purchase is truly remarkable. It's a testament to the unique connections and shared interests that can be uncovered in unexpected places. Small world, indeed! 

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

You must remember that there is only 6º of separation to the
whole world.

4º in a state or of a group of people with the same interest.

I have met people in Minnesota (at model train shows) that
lived within the sound of the whistles at Sheepscot.

When I was much younger I read books where the author would
have people interact that unknowingly had mutual acquaintances.
I thought "Right! - like that is going to happen" well it happens quite
often - it is like the "Force" is trying to get us together.

Recently: A long convoluted story - where things had to happen precisely,
so that I met an ex-co-workers wife to find he had passed away.

My son says there are more misses than hits, which is probably true -
but the number of hits is astounding.

PS - I met Alice and stood on the deck of #9 back in 1964 with all that cannotes.
 

[Bruce Wilson]

Carl,
Any memories of that visit and meeting Alice, that you would care to share?

[Jeff Schumaker]

Carl,

Your recollections of meeting Alice would make an interesting article for the newsletter.

Jeff

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

I am thinking what to reply here - mostly 6º separation and coincidence.
But it would take 16pt type to make a column inch. maybe 20pt.

[Bruce Wilson]

Six degrees of separation theory aside, I've always been curious if Alice Ramsdell knew of the wild paint schemes that some of the Edaville locomotives were once subjected to. Had she sold Portland Company locomotive no. 622 to Edaville, might it have suffered a similar though "temporary" treatment? Given that the colorful paint work was done in the 1950's, it seems likely she knew.

[Bruce Wilson]

A fellow museum member recently mailed me a few copies of "The Stranger" magazine. No, not a 1960's Cold War spy publication, but a compilation of North Bridgton, Maine societal happenings in the late 1800's. Initially printed in Bridgton and later in nearby Fryeburg, the pages are largely devoted to events in the community and the Bridgton Academy.

Of interest to me was that each of the four issues I received, had schedules for both the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad and the S.C. Davis Stage contractor. Also were a number of advertisements from local businesses.

Due to the "aroma" (light mold) that these publications are producing, I've had copies of the covers, schedules and advertisers made. I will shortly be passing along the funky smelling originals to a new home and will be keeping the copies for future reference.

As I have a few Bridgton & Saco River Railroad freight registers, I thought it might be interesting to cross-reference the names in those log books to the ads in The Stranger. The ads will tell me a little more of what the customers of the Bridgton line were all about.

Any ephemeral collectors out there?

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

Bruce

Take unused coffee grounds and put them with the Magazines.

In a bag or box - they remove the musty smell. You may not want to

put grounds in direct contact with pages for any length of time

(If they are dry probably no problem - but..).

We used to store books with coffee packets that were made for percolators.

Put between pages & change from time to time.

You might try OdorEater foot powder.

We used to sell a odor grabber that was excellent (the name escapes me now)

It killed dead mouse in the wall & the mens store in town eliminated the smell of

cleaning fluid from the print shop next door.

[Bruce Wilson]

Thank you Carl, for your suggestion. I do appreciate your insight.
I do have a zero tolerance for mold and wouldn't want those airborne spores to feel in competition with the cat hair in this house...(kidding).

Seriously, all I'm looking for is to save what information is held on those magazine pages. It is not important for me to keep the originals. I've had copies made on 100lb. paper and arranged the copies in archival sleeves. These copies can themselves be copied if the need arises.

There are two organizations interested in taking the originals and they understand the tenuous nature of doing so.

I am curious how others would handle such a collection and learning of any solutions for treating original items.

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

Found the name of the odor eliminator.

It is a superior product, not just for musty smell.

It is "Air Sponge"  I know you were going to let

others deal with the magazines but if you have other

situations it will work.

[Bruce Wilson]

Thanks Carl. I looked up that product and found much information on it. An odor absorber, based on a soap gel and activated charcoal. I'll look for it at the hardware store in town for more information.

My local library is interested in having the moldy "Stranger" magazines, perhaps just to copy as I have done. It was said the originals will go on to the historical society. I intend to also pass along two hardcover novels by the late Maine author/humorist John Gould. These books were given to me back in the early days of the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum by a member living in New York. The ladies name who mailed a box of Gould's work to the Museum, is or was Betty Radtke. She donated at least six, maybe eight books of his for us to sell in the Museum 's then fledgling gift shop. I bought my two and have had them all these years.

I've been working to thin my book collection down and the library has expressed interest in having these as well.

On the subject of books, I wonder if there are any readers of Maine author and retired, from the Maine Warden Service, Randall Probert? His many novels have historical context of logging, hunting and woodslore. One of the best is "A Forgotten Legacy" (The Matagamon Region) . This book deals in depth with the Umbazooksus-Eagle Lake rail line, the Chamberlain Lake Tramway and the people who lived and worked in this remote region of Maine.

In other of his books, Mr. Probert ( as a resident of Strong, Maine ) has included stories of the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad. I've noticed that his books can be found online if anyone is interested.

.

[Bruce Wilson]

If you might be interested in Randall Probert's books, they are available also at Bridgton Books in Bridgton, Maine and I have found them at a convenience store in Strong, Maine. The store in Strong is located within the footprint of the former railroad yard and junction of the S.R. & R.L. Railroad. I have found a few at western Maine area thrift shops and used book emporiums.

[Bruce Wilson]

A friend picked up an issue of the old Railroad Magazine at a yard sale this past weekend. The date is October, 1942. Among the interesting content is an article titled "Downeast Interurban", an electrified line of some 28 miles.

I'm not sure if much or any of the old trackage exists today, but I do plan to compare the interesting track map provided by the authors, to a modern day railroad map (of the Woodland, Maine area) just to see if anything survived.

The issue does not appear at first glance, to have any narrow gage content. However, as I was browsing the musty smelling and fragile pages, I decided I'd make a copy of this Aroostook Valley Railroad article for Linda in the museum's archives department.

What caused me pause however, is a photo of their electric 40 ton Loco which coincidentally happens to be numbered 53.

This beast is (or was) fitted with snow plows on both pilots and the article states that it "is assigned the task of clearing the line" of 10' drifts in the winter.

I couldn't help but notice the similarity in design to that of the W W. & F. Ry. Museum engine 53 and the Aroostock unit.

Tomorrow, I'll get some copies made for showing around at Sheepscot.