W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
The Maine Narrow Gauges (Historic & Preserved) => The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 => Topic started by: John Scott on October 01, 2019, 03:42:49 AM
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Head Tide continues to be my favourite wayside station. It is my ambition to ride a steam train there, one of these days.
The accompanying image shows the idyllic location of Head Tide. The business-like nature of the station and its positional relationship with the historic and famous Head Tide Church can be seen.
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More on the Head Tide Church building here:
https://www.alna.maine.gov/head-tide-church
The page linked above is part of a group of pages about historic features in the Alna area. Note that one of the other pages is about the Trout Brook Preserve Trail, and that page mentions the WWF Railway, and even includes a 1951 photo of the remains of the bridge.
See the links on the left side of the page above, or here is a direct link to that Trout Brook Preserve Trail page:
https://www.alna.maine.gov/trout-brook-preserve-trail
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Very interesting, thanks Graham.
The community effort to preserve the church is admirable. The cultural importance of it cannot be overstated.
I note, from the Midcoast Conservancy map, that its Blue Trail and the WWF Right of Way partly coincide. I imagine that will eventually necessitate some compromise. The existence of the Trout Brook Preserve is a great thing.
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It is planned to relocate the Midcoast Conservancy's trail to the west side of the ROW as part of our preparations to begin train service in Spring 2021.
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I take it that we have agreed to do the relocation for the Conservacy?
Jeff S.
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The photo makes it appear that the station was on the property of the Red Cottage?
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Jeff - I believe there is a tentative agreement for this. The details are still being worked out.
Dave - No.
Hide Tide Road - which is where the Red Cape abuts - is on the embankment in the mid-upper right side of the photo.
The Red Cape (which pre-dates the Railroad) is out of sight behind the barn and out of the frame.
I like this photo a lot as it answers some questions about the Head Tide station site, specifically how it was accessed and that it was a fair distance away from the actual village.
I wonder what that small shed adjacent to the tracks is. I've never noticed that before.
Also note the flatcars on the siding. The freight door of the station is open. Is that a person standing on the platform?
The photo has "37" imprinted on it. Might be 1937? If so, where are the cars from the Whitefield wreck? (Weren't they re-railed and pushed to Head Tide to languish?)
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That shed is a section house.
The '33 wreck cars were rolled to Head Tide, but there's a siding to the left (RR north) out of sight where the cars came to rest.
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The number 37 is just an identifier for the photo, as one of a series. I have seen others in the series but I do not own them so should not post. This photo, and probably the others that I have seen, is an unused postcard and it was taken from an album because there are some glue marks on the back.
The small shed adjacent to the tracks is the Section Crew hut. It is thus identified in photo No. 38 of the series on a used postcard dated 09 July 1908. The section crew and their hand car are shown.
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Another view of the station.
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This view shows the tracks (zoom in), south of the church, just as they are about to enter the cutting. Taken from Rte 218 when still an unmade road. This is No. 12 in the series.
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In the first picture it looks like a person on the platform to the left of the station.
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Fascinating pix (and a bit of history)!
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The picture postcards are from the Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Co., which was located in Belfast, Maine.
Jeff S.
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The first two images can be found reproduced in the book "Two Feet to Tidewater" but the post card images provide rather better resolution. The book has additional related Head Tide images. Studying all of the available images, together, allows a good understanding of the way this wonderful location appeared 120 years ago, when the trains were running strong to serve a thriving community.
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Is there dimensional drawings of the station building in our Archives or the Township's?
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folks,
The original negs from Eastern Illustrating Post Card Company are to be found at the Penobscot Bay Marine Museum at Searsport, Maine. Very likely there are good details in that series of 3.5" X 5" photographic negatives.
Ted Miles, WW&F Member
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I was happy to find this image of a train near Head Tide. I am not certain as to the precise location and I would be interested to know.
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There seem to be two islands in the river. My guess is roughly 1000 ft north of the Head Tide Dam. Hopefully this map link works: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1CADkRMDCf9yHz9x8rhuLtGZb8aI&ll=44.11821325877251%2C-69.62958129518984&z=18
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Graham, I believe you have nailed it. Thank you for the trouble that you have taken to produce such a clear map representation.
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I want to clarify that it was not me that generated that Maps overlay. I came across that link "somewhere" and saved it in 2021, but I can't say where/who generated it.
I did move the map focus point to the area of the two islands, :)
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I noted a question about drawings of the Head Tide station in this thread. I have been a fan and museum member for years. I have collected most of the books on the WW&F for my model railroading hobby. I documented in a spreadsheet the locations of published drawings of railroad structures along the right of way. I attached a copy of my file for your reference.
Pete Leach
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I think the photo of the northbound train may have been taken from the east side of the river south of the Head Tide cut. I have seen a similar postcard image taken from the west side that also shows that pasture area with what appears to be elm trees on the river flood plain.