Topics

1

Other Maine Narrow Gauge / Industrial tramway at Mechanic Falls, Maine

« on: October 17, 2025, 10:28:22 AM »

Looking for any reference material on the 2 foot gage industrial tramway that was once in Mechanic Falls, Maine. I know of only one photo (by Moody) showing a standard gage track with two foot rails running between a corner of a building and the standard gage. Clearances are very tight, indicating that the tramway must've used cars and motive power not much wider than the rails themselves. The photo does not show electric caternary, though I am under the impression that the operation was electrified. I have a lone print (purchased years ago from Bob Werner) showing a builders photo of an electric critter, with overhead pickups and wearing a Baldwin builders plate. I'd been under the impression that the critter was part of the Chicago Tunnel roster; but now I'm not sure. Anyone recall seeing any articles on the Mechanic Falls operation? Anyone have a collection of publications by the late O.R.Cummings that they'd be willing to search?

If you drive through Mechanic Falls in the winter months, you can plainly see the old Grand Trunk standard gage right of way that crossed over the main road through town and entered the plant. Although the rails are gone, the control box to manually activate crossing lights is still in place within heavy brush growth.

2

Museum Discussion / Archival updates

« on: August 22, 2025, 11:24:20 AM »

There has been much development within the Archives Department of late. A museum member in Oregon has provided a photo of Linwood Moody's father. This will help in determining the subject of some of the individual photos that came to us recently from a donor in South Portland, Maine.

Also within that Moody collection are a number of notes, sketches and correspondence signed by a gentleman as "R.F. Dole". I'm always curious as to who these guys were (or are) and was rewarded in part yesterday by encountering Mr. Dole's work (in compiling data and roster information on S.R. & R.L. R.R. locomotives) within the Ed Bond collection.

I was also told recently that Mr. Moody once hiked the entire George's Valley Railroad and took photographs along the way. One roll of exposed film within the Moody collection, has since been professionally printed and bears out the evidence of the hike.

While working on inventorying the Bond Collection, I have encountered numerous I.C.C. valuation reports on Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes locomotives and rolling stock. These reports are a wealth of detail and represent long hours in the field by dedicated agents with pencil, ruler and note pad. There are many valuations of spurs and sidings on the railroad and in one case so far, records of rail removal and re-installation elsewhere on the system.
The detail of these records is in a word, exhaustive. The significance of these documents, well how can you measure it? A complete listing of all materials, labor and even the species of wood tie and grade of gravel ballast.
I've never seen anything quite like these and feel honored to be able to work with them. It is wonderful that Mr. Bond gathered these up and kept them all these years. The dates are in the 1916 - 1918 period.

The I.C.C. reports are in very good condition, though have been folded by others in the past. It would be possible to have these available for inspection at Sheepscot with prior notice. I can offer an e-mail or text "sample" copy of one report, which I have saved on my phone. My e-mail is wilsonwaterford57@gmail.com

When Mike Torreson was in town for the 2025 Annual Picnic, he stole away one day by himself and took photos in Wiscasset (looking north from the former diamond crossing) and at Albion Station. He had perfect weather and his camera reflects that. Other photos he took, include the Brooks Depot (inside and out) on the Belfast & Moosehead Lake and the Civil War Monument in Union, Maine. I can share these also with anyone interested.

Did you visit the yard sale and model railroad equipment sale at the Annual Picnic? There were some real bargains to be had. Did you find a model or a book to take home from the sale? I found a copy of Richard Neal's 1950's "High Green and the Bark Pealers" (a book about the Boston & Maine RR and the pulp paper industry).
Been looking for a copy for years, but unwilling to buy on-line for the expensive offerings therein. Found one with a damaged dust jacket for $5. I'm having a new dust jacket made, by copying the old one. I regret not picking up a few other books I saw for sale, but there's always next year!

3

Bridgton & Saco River Railway / A 101 year old rubber band...

« on: July 03, 2025, 04:32:58 PM »

The remains of said rubber band encountered today during an archival set up of a dozen Bridgton & Saco River Railroad accounting statements. The two-part forms all typed up for the bosses at the Maine Central to worry over. Reductions in costs, increases in costs, by the month and showing for each aspect of the railroad, its numbers...good and not so good.

First, the remains of the ancient rubber band must be dealt with. Clean work surface, check. Good lighting, check. Gloves, check. Sharp pocket knife, check.

The knife used to carefully remove the individual broken remnants of that former elastic band. Holding knife at a near horizontal aspect, the sharp blade easily and almost completely removes those old pieces. Again, because the blade is as sharp as a razor, there is no damage to the paper. Maybe a modelers X-acto blade would work too, but I like the knife.

Next , remove the pins used all those years ago to join the two pages of each monthly report together. No glue...thank God.

Now, because those sheets are all larger than 8 1/2" x 11", I seek out a new Itoya art portfolio from my archival supplies for use in housing this (perhaps one of a kind) accounting record of a year over in Bridgton. A carbon copy may exist in another collectors care, but that is unknown.

Before placing each paper sheet into the safety of the new portfolio, the deep folds must be carefully massaged out of the paper. Each sheet, one by one.

I was very lucky to have found no staining from the pins, little trace from the elastic and no cracks or tears from the many folds.

If you are a collector looking for a storage system for your oversized documents or photos, what do you use for ease of reference and protection?

4

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Correspondence between Linwood Moody and Earl Keefe, 1959

« on: July 02, 2025, 03:32:50 PM »

Just prior to the publishing of his 1959 "The Maine Two-Footers", Linwood Moody exchanged letters with former Engineer, Earl Keefe. Linwood had many questions relative to the locations of switches, sidings and structures. One question in particular involves whether there was a switch up on "The Mountain" or not. Linwood didn't remember seeing one, Earl answered that indeed there was one and that the siding held 7 cars and was used when doubling the hill.

Earl asks Linwood (in the January 15th letter), if he ever sees Harold Smith (on the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad), where Linwood is working as the Station Agent at the Brooks depot. If so, say "hello" to him.

Moody responded on Jan'y 20th, that "Yes, Harold Smith is still here. He's doing spare running and is a very good man with a train. He's a fast man, but careful. Anyone who can hold one of those hard riding diesels (G.E. 70 ton) open and run 40 or 45 miles per hour over this rough track, has got good nerve. Harold and I gab about the narrow gauge often. He often speaks of you and how well he liked you, in fact, he suggested that I write to you about the W.W. & F. sidings, stations, etc. I didn't know you were still in Albion."

Linwood continues by saying, "someone told me the other day that old Frank Winter is still alive and going strong, over to Lewiston. He must be close to 90. This fellow told me that Winter owns a big restaurant there now."

From the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum Archives Dept.
Linwood W. Moody collection no. 25-06-29
Items no. 9-10-11-12

5

The Original W&Q and WW&F: 1894-1933 / Conductors Reports of Alfred Rancourt - August 1929

« on: July 02, 2025, 11:50:02 AM »

Among a collection of 22 reports of Alfred Rancourt from August, 1929, are the following showing delays and the reasons for same:

August 12, 1929
Headtide.                 Arrive: 1:13 PM.    Depart   1:40 PM.    "change brass on engine"
Weeks Mills.            Arrive  2:43 PM.    Depart.  3:11 PM.    "change brass on engine"

August 13, 1929
Weeks Mills.            Arrive. 2:30 PM.    Depart.  2:43 PM.    "repair brake on cream car"

August 16, 1929
Sheepscot.               Arrive  8:35 AM.   Depart.  8:45 AM.    "repair brake on coach"

August 21,  1929
No. Whitefield.         Arrive  1:48 PM.    Depart. 2:00 PM.     "motor car off iron"

The reports are newly acquired by the Archives Department and part if the new Linwood W. Moody collection no. 25-06-29

6

General Discussion / Around the Percival House dining room table...

« on: June 16, 2025, 01:22:10 PM »

During lunch this past Saturday, June 14th, one of the topics discussed was a negative within a box of recently donated materials from Linwood Moody's personal effects.

I asked Zack Wyllie if he knew of the Union Creamery (Union, Maine) in Linwood's home town.
Zack recalled his memories of going in the building while quite young. He remembered the oil fired boiler roaring away to make steam for the manufacturing of cottage cheese and for use in sterilizing buckets and milk jugs.

I told Zack of a track going alongside the building from the old Knox Railroad (George's Valley) and the presence of what looked like a sliding door in the long wall facing the tracks.

A quarry was an active rail customer in the area of the creamery though no other structure or business is shown in the old Moody negative.

Several other non-railroad negatives are among the collection that was in that box. One was scanned and printed as a test within the archives department, but yielded not much more than a white rectangle from the printer.

I am seeking some professional copies of the creamery negative and hopeful to have an image for exhibit at this Saturday's lunch. If a decent image can be pulled from the old film, we will have a few copies for Union-area historical societies and for our own growing Linwood Moody collection.

If you are around this Saturday, drop in the house during lunch. Later in the afternoon, you may visit the archives for a look.

As you may know, Mr. Moody grew up in Union, Maine and for a time worked for the railroad. Later in his career he worked at both Edaville Railroad (1947 to 1949) and the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad as agent at the Brooks depot.
 

7

Massachusetts' Two Footers / The last excursion at the "old Edaville" ?

« on: June 01, 2025, 01:50:21 PM »

Among the many interesting discussions at the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum yesterday (May 31, 2025) was one held at the dinner table within the Percival House.

A question came up about what might have been the last charter excursion to operate at Edaville Railroad during the management era of George Bartholomew and during his last year of operations, 1992.

To confirm here, the specifics are that a private charter was held on January 1, 1992 and consisted of multiple photo opportunities and two trips around the (then) 5 1/2 mile mainline. The excursion began that morning with an 11:00 AM departure, though many passengers arrived much earlier to witness the "firing up".

The organizer of the event was Middlesex Car & Locomotive Works.

I attended the event and rode the line, took many photographs as well.

For another member of the W.W. & F. Ry., I have taken photos of the ticket and ticket holder that was given to each rider that day. I have the images stored on my phone and will e-mail to any museum member interested in seeing them. My e-mail is wilsonwaterford57@gmail.com

8

Bridgton & Saco River Railway / B&SR RR slide show in Waterford, Maine on April 24, 2025

« on: April 26, 2025, 06:55:42 PM »

Adam Cook of the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum put on a slide presentation at the Wilkins House in Waterford, Maine, last Thursday evening. The church hall was comfortable for the good turnout of Waterford Historical Society members, town residents and friends.

Adam spoke for 90 minutes on both the railroads history and current efforts to begin construction at the museum's site on Home Run Drive in Bridgton.

One of the slides shown was of the Bridgton boxcar frame that was recently donated to the group. Board members have done some preliminary work to that frame towards the day (when constructed into a flatcar) it will then be used for track work. Adam explained that ultimately, the piece will be restored as a boxcar.

At the end of the talk, Adam conducted a question and answer session. We briefly recalled the loss of two former
Bridgton cars at Edaville in years past. Those being the former coach no. 17 (and known as "Elthea") when in service at Edaville and the former Bridgton boxcar (listed as no. 9 on an Edaville equipment roster dated July 7, 1948) and known at Edaville as "the grille car". I mentioned to Adam that both of those cars were reduced to their frames and shipped to Phillips, Maine during the 1999 management transition (at Edaville) from South Carver Rail to Cranrail Corp.

Adam stated that he was aware of that, and then mentioned how the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad Museum had acquired a former Sandy River coach body that needed a frame. He said that both of the Bridgton frames yielded parts and framing that were used in the coach project. I did not know that and was very.pleased to learn of that.

We also discussed the demise of former Bridgton combination car no. 25 and how it had served as the Mayfair Diner on Depot Street in Bridgton for many years. Edgar Mead wrote in his "Busted and Still Running" about the good breakfasts served each morning, beginning at 6:30 AM.

The modern day Bridgton crew will likely have some interesting posts on their Facebook page shortly, and I would encourage all to check it out.

9

General Discussion / Do you have a favorite saying or phrase that'll make you laugh?

« on: February 21, 2025, 03:35:25 PM »

In the February 2025 issue of Railpace Magazine, there is a photo of a short freight delivering three tank cars to B & G Foods in New Jersey. B & G produces B & M Baked Beans, etc.  at that location and I wondered if those tankers were hauling molasses. As I studied the photo, I recalled having a supper at a neighbors when I was a youngster. As we were all getting set to a nice family style meal, my friends father passed me a bowl with a serving spoon in it. He asked if I'd "have a bean"? Sure, I took a big spoon full, but that question has always cracked me up. What if I took him literally and spooned out just the one bean?

There's a photo of the Bridgton engine crew lounging on the Bridgton station platform on a hot afternoon. Apparently they'd just had their lunch and were "nooning" as the photo is so captioned. A pretty apt assessment.

Lastly, anytime I'd ask Harry Percival about something squeaking, needing paint or even a home remedy for a mechanical issue, he'd say with conviction..."put the linseed oil to it"! Always made me laugh.

I wonder if any readers have any linguistic experiences you'd like to share?

10

US Two Footers / Stumbled upon this on YouTube

« on: January 06, 2025, 07:25:33 PM »

A prompt came up on my screen for the YouTube channel "American Giants".
The story began under the title of "Finding a giant Santa statue under a collapsed barn".
Film footage showed a fiberglass Santa and a tender from what looked like Cog Railway locomotive No.8.
I wondered if a salvage job had been done where items from a New Hampshire transportation museum had been rescued.

As it was a short film, I decided to watch and in the process ruled out my suspicions. What the video showed, was a site in northern Vermont geared towards refurbishing enormous fiberglass Santa's, Paul Bunyans and the like. Additionally, there happens to be a small two foot gage railroad on the property. A steam locomotive is shown  (possibly a Henschel), some home built cars and a gas-mech'l Plymouth engine.

I had been watching a video about the initial restoration of a well thrashed '32 Ford  five window, when the prompt came in.

Maybe a forum reader can supply details of the Vermont two-footer?

11

Museum Discussion / Narrow gage depots with tower features

« on: October 29, 2024, 12:45:29 AM »

Three of the Maine two foot gage railroads had terminals or depots directly waterside. These buildings had towers with windows facing to the water. Marbles station on the Phillips & Rangeley had a two story tower with 3 windows per floor, as did the Randolph terminal on the Kennebec Central line.

Studying the Ed Bond photo of the Wiscasset Wharf depot, no windows are visible as the photographer was shooting the landward side of that building. I've not seen a drawing, but imagine a similar window arrangement might have  been incorporated into that structure as well.

So,  some questions for you. Were there windows in the tower of the Wiscasset Wharf depot and were the windows in the three buildings a Victorian design statement, or serving as an aid to navigation?

Also, my assumption is that the tower in Randolph may have been partially screened from view of a ship in the Kennebec, by the coal dock. Perhaps the tower was elevated slightly above the dock?

Did the towers in Wiscasset and Randolph ever display lights as a beacon for shipping?

12

Museum Discussion / How did you hear of the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum?

« on: September 25, 2024, 10:08:30 AM »

Earlier today, I was browsing an old thread in the forum, "Harry Percival dedicated event" which is now in the "Archives Section".

I wondered about how the museum's earliest members heard of what was beginning on the Crossroad at Sheepscot.

In a membership roll of Charter Members, Alice Ramsdell is listed as Charter Member no. 1. I imagine that membership was given in honorarium.

Charter Member no. 2 is Edgar Meade and I noticed that Peter Barney had the no. 5 spot among the Charter members.

My own membership came from attending the Two Foot Meet held in Whitman, Massachusetts in Nov. of 1992.
Ellis E. Walker represented the museum at that show and he signed me up and gave me a couple of the then Sheepscot Valley Railroaders newsletters.

Almost immediately, I began to correspond with Chan Morse and many years later found out from him, that he used to run small classified ads in railnews publications, promoting the museum.

Chan's own membership dates from April of 1990, when he began as a "member", later going on to a life member.

In those early days, was Harry running print ads? Now, I collect relevant magazine articles, advertisements, etc. I've never seen an ad from the 1988 - 1990 period, promoting the museum. How did the word get out?

Back in those days, there were many folks writing letters. Could word of the project at Sheepscot been passed from one fan to another...word of mouth? Did the officials of the reconstituted Wiscasset & Quebec Railroad Co. have a table or two at various rail shows, with their early newsletters?

I'm just curious how the memberships first came in and if you've read this far, how did your own membership take place?

13

Museum Discussion / Sheepscot Station platform shelter

« on: September 03, 2024, 06:20:45 PM »

After reading the September 1, 2024 Annual Fund Drive Appeal letter, I pondered some on the following words within the second paragraph. "Work on the station platform has been completed although some sort of shelter remains to be decided upon and funded."

Having always admired the W.W. & F. Ry. station in Wiscasset, I wondered if such a platform roofline would work for the Sheepscot platform. I admired the simplicity of the original design as shown in many photos within the "Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley" series of books.

While browsing those fine publications, an even simpler roofed platform design is shown on page 36 of Vol. 2. Such a small passenger shelter might work when weather is less than ideal, and be of a size as not to dominate the overall platform. If nothing else, fun to contemplate. If you do not have that book, the photo is of a structure that stood north of the Whitefield station and (according to the authors) "to serve the dairy farms located in the area."

14

General Discussion / Keith Pratt

« on: July 22, 2024, 09:20:10 PM »

From an old photocopy of a page within the May, 1938 Railroad Magazine.
An illustration of a church and bell tower in Bloomfield, Prince Edward Island. The caption of the illustration reads, "Engine bell from number 18 of the abandoned Sandy River line of Maine now hangs in Campellton United Church."

"It was presented by Keith Pratt, a railroad fan at Bloomfield Station, P.E.I."

15

General Discussion / Linwood W. Moody

« on: July 13, 2024, 02:17:10 PM »

It is worthy to note today as being the anniversary of the passing (in 1983) of Linwood W. Moody.