Topics

1

Boothbay Railway Village / Free Press article on S.D. Warren engine restoration

« on: August 30, 2018, 08:53:53 PM »

Nice story with color photos on Pg 12 in today's Free Press (Rockland ME) about BRV's restoration of the S. D. Warren 0-4-0 saddle tank engine.

The link is https://freepressonline.com/ftp/Frontpage/freepress/currentissue.pdf

With my provider, Spectrum's roadrunner, the download was kind of slow. Maybe the Free Press has a slow server? Eventually I got Page 1 and then could scroll down to Pg. 12 quickly.

2

General Discussion / 60-Picture Presentation on the Georges Valley RR

« on: August 30, 2018, 08:36:35 PM »

On September 5 at 7:30 PM Jeff Nims of the The Union Historical Society in Union ME will give a Power Point presentation of 60 photos and images on the Georges Valley Railroad, later the Knox Railroad. The photos and images were scanned from the scrapbook created by Holman Robbins and his daughter Faye of Union. Robbins began working at age 13 as a spare fireman and was the engineer when passenger service was stopped in 1932.

Presentation will be at the Old Town House on Town House Road in Union. Here is the link to the full article, with a photo:

 https://freepressonline.com/Content/Articles/Community-Events/Article/Historical-Society-Recalls-Georges-Valley-and-Knox-Railroads-/130/787/60652

3

General Discussion / The Old Veazie Railroad

« on: October 18, 2017, 11:05:55 AM »

Saw this in today's Bangor Daily News on line:

http://bangordailynews.com/2017/10/18/news/bangor/the-story-behind-the-bangor-areas-forgotten-commuter-railroad/

4

General Discussion / John Poor--Founder of the Portland Company

« on: July 17, 2017, 10:42:30 PM »

Interesting article here about Poor’s founding of the Portland and Atlantic Railway as well as the Portland Company. He also bought a railroad magazine for his brother Henry, which got into publishing ratings on railroad bonds. That appears to have been the origin of todays’ Stadard and Poor’s 500 Index of stock prices.

http://portland.bangordailynews.com/2017/07/17/history/this-frostbitten-man-brought-canadian-railroad-wealth-to-portland/

5

Museum Discussion / Old Yarn Mill

« on: March 29, 2017, 04:48:59 PM »

I wish this old yarn mill, featured in yesterday's Bangor Daily News, could be alongside our line in Alna:

http://bangordailynews.com/2017/03/21/homestead/yarn-of-a-different-century-traditional-spinning-takes-center-stage-at-maine-mill/?ref=distro

6

Maine Narrow Gauge RR Co. & Museum / Bangor Daily News Remembrance of a MNGM Volunteer

« on: August 01, 2016, 02:42:52 PM »

http://bangordailynews.com/2016/08/01/news/portland/will-jodries-last-train-ride/?ref=latest

7

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Drought Solution Gone Awry

« on: July 04, 2016, 05:06:14 PM »

As a deaf ol' geezah I really related to this one. Wanted to share.

8

General Discussion / Looooooong Tunnels

« on: June 04, 2016, 05:40:44 PM »

Tomorrow the world’s longest rail tunnel, the twin-track Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, will be turned over to the Swiss Federal Railways, about twenty years after tunnel construction began.

The tunnel was inaugurated in ceremonies on June 1. It is about 35.5 miles long and comprises two tubes. Regular operation of trains is scheduled to begin in December.

Wiki article with particulars at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthard_Base_Tunnel#Construction

Construction is underway on another long rail tunnel under the Brenner Pass between Austria and Italy.

9

Work and Events / No. 10 Boiler Balancing Act

« on: March 23, 2016, 10:06:09 PM »

Recently while at the museum to inspect journal boxes I've seen No. 10's old boiler perched most interestingly on a truck. How was it elevated to this position? I think it would be too heavy for Ichabod Crane.

10

General Discussion / Another happy rail event at Christmas season

« on: December 21, 2015, 11:21:12 PM »

Link to a Berkshire Eagle article about the Christmas season event at Berkshire Scenic in Adams and North Adams MA. The track is a new home for Berkshire Scenic. It was banished from its original route between Lenox MA and Stockbridge MA by the Housatonic RR.

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/ci_29289030/all-aboard-berkshire-scenic-railways-christmas-express

11

General Discussion / Maine lands $20m grant for rail upgrades

« on: October 26, 2015, 06:55:17 PM »

http://bangordailynews.com/2015/10/26/business/maine-lands-20-million-federal-grant-to-support-rail-upgrades/

12

General Discussion / How to "fah" a steam locomotive

« on: August 21, 2015, 02:42:33 PM »

Veddy, veddy British instruction film on how to “fah” (translation: fire) a steam locomotive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHo860Q66Gw

13

Museum Discussion / Two-Foot Musings

« on: June 03, 2015, 09:32:51 PM »

Seventy eight installments of Two-Foot Musings over a span of 25 years—only about eight years shorter than the operating life of the railroad. That’s some accomplishment, Ellis Walker! Many, many thanks for all the reading pleasure you provided us, and best wishes for a happy retirement.

14

Museum Discussion / Sales Tax on Tickets?

« on: April 17, 2015, 11:33:20 AM »

This week’s edition of The Free Press (Rockland ME) has an article on p 6 under the heading “Eye on Augusta” about the debate over the tax plans of Governor LePage and the Democrats in the legislature.

Under the topic “List of New Sales Taxes that LePage and the Democratic Party agree on” is the category “Recreation and amusement services,” Including: “Scenic and sight-seeing excursions including aircraft, helicopter, balloon, blimp, watercraft, railroad, bus, trolley and wagon rides, whitewater rafting and guided recreation.”

The article does mention that the bipartisan Taxation Committee unanimously voted to continue exempting, among other things, museum tickets. Even if that exemption survives, I doubt that our museum could escape having to collect sales tax on train ride tickets, since that is the only thing at the museum for which a visitor has to buy a ticket.

Here is the link to the complete article:

http://www.freepressonline.com/main.asp?ArticleID=38196&SectionID=96&SubSectionID=541

15

Museum Discussion / More Nice Publicity

« on: February 28, 2015, 06:55:52 PM »

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!