W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
The Maine Narrow Gauges (Historic & Preserved) => Archives (Other Maine 2ft) => Topic started by: Ed Lecuyer on December 21, 2008, 06:57:04 PM
-
MODERATORS NOTE:
B&SR 1898 Excursion ticket has been converted from the pre-July 2008 WW&F Discussion Forum.
Some formatting may have been removed or modified from the original postings that appear quoted in this topic.
Information contained within this post may be superseded by more recent postings and conversations.
Stephen Hussar wrote:
From the Stewart Rhine collection.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/BSRExcursionTicket1898.jpg)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/342468/BSRExcursionTicket1898back.jpg)
_________________
* * * *
"Give me enough Swedes and whiskey and I'll build a railroad to Hell."
- James J. Hill
Dana Deering replied:
Wow! The Harrison Branch hadn't been open very long when that ticket was issued. I can't remember off the top of my head the month that the branch was completed but it was 1898, wasn't it?
Dana
Mike Fox replied:
August 1,1898, construction was completed to Harrison. Officially opened August 3rd. Great memory Dan. I had to cheat and go to the bible.(TFTTL)
Mike
John McNamara replied:
According to a picture caption on page 48 of Two Feet to the Lakes, construction of the Harrison extension began in April 1898. According to a picture caption on page 51, the line was completed on August 1, 1898 and opened two days later. So, indeed the Harrison Branch hadn't been open very long (about two months) when that ticket was issued!
Dana Deering replied:
Thanks, Mike and John,
I knew the year but not the month. Wouldn't it be a hoot if that ticket was for the excursion during which the cupola was ripped off the caboose by a low hanging wire? That did happen in Harrison during an excursion. MNG did a nice job restoring the cupola to 101 for those who haven't seen it.
Dana
Stewart Rhine replied:
The ticket is interesting in that it was for a cash fare sold on the train during an excursion. The conductor carried a pack of tickets to issue (and fill in) when passengers got on the train without purchasing tickets before hand. This is a regular excursion ticket that was stamped as an on-train cash fare. The practice was typical when large numbers of people showed up to ride a special excursion that was advertised on broad sides and in the local papers.
Regular B&SR tickets were used as cash fare tickets for flag stop passengers. I have some of those too.
Dana, I went through my B&SR tickets and when I saw the date I thought you'd like this one. It may be the trip when the caboose got damaged.
Bruce Wilson replied:
I enjoyed seeing your ticket Stewart. Luckily, many of the Bridgton tickets and other examples of railroad paperwork survived and were a part of the early Edaville collection.
I wonder if besides the equipment trucked to Edaville from Bridgton Junction, if any small structures, such as a crossing shanty may have been brought to South Carver.
For years, there was a small (red) structure with clapboard siding and a tin roof at Edaville. It sat unused by the chicken barbeque back in the late 60's and early 70's. At some point it was moved out to the reservoir and was situated just before the old Cranberry Lake Park (roughly at MP 1.65).
I remember seeing this little building in 2001 or 2002, and then it was removed and destroyed.
In the last week, I purchased a photo of this same building in service at Edaville as a flag stop at the old "Ball Park" site. In this 1947 photo, the structure looked restored and had a "Ball Park" station sign on it. I'm just wondering if it might have come down from the Bridgton line, but the many things at Edaville (even in 1947) came from many different places. It might've been from the New Haven even...
Duncan Mackiewicz replied:
Stewart,
I just remembered that I was gifted a special limited ticket for the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad numbered 3495 a few years back. It was for a trip from North Bridgton to Portland and Return. It is stamped JABennett and still has the 4 stubs on the bottom. In other words, never used. I'd attach a picture of it but I'm not that skilled at this site yet.
Duncan
Stewart Rhine replied:
Duncan, I'd like to see the ticket. Maybe you can bring it to the railroad in May.
Mike Fox replied:
Stewart,
I just purchased an unused ticket for the Bridgton & Saco River. #13241. It is a duplex ticket. It's coming from Scotland. Don't know how it got there. And am watching another. Just something else to add to my growing collection.
Mike
Stewart Rhine replied:
Mike, Sounds good. I'd like to see your tickets sometime. Do you have them in those clear plastic pages with the pockets? I got a batch of archival grade "pages" that are for baseball cards. They are the perfect size for railroad tickets. I have about a dozen B&SR tickets from the 1896-1904 era. I also have a brass baggage check tag somewhere.
Duncan Mackiewicz replied:
Stewart,
I see no reason why the ticket couldn't be brought to the museum for you to view. I plan to be there in April 27th - 29th for the work weekend as well as in May. If you plan to be there in April I'll bring it then. In the meantime, I'll see if my scanner will do a passable job of reproducing it and, if so, I'll send it on.