Messages

1

Museum Discussion / Re: Archival updates

« on: November 18, 2025, 07:44:17 PM »

Within the Moody/Baricelli collection that the Museum acquired earlier this year, was an assortment of metal artifacts. Some, such as two spikes, were tagged as being from certain locations on a Colorado three foot gage railroad. One item was not tagged, but recognizable as being a handwheel from a steam locomotive injector or one of the tri-cox valves. The handwheel was wrapped with wire, to allow a locomotive crew member to open or close the valve without wearing gloves. I made an assumption that the item was also from Colorado, pending any other information.

Well, now six months later, there may be a bit of information as to where that handwheel came from. Linwood Moody had taken photographs of one of the Knox Railroad locomotives, both inside the cab and on the ground. One of the photos shows a wire wrapped handwheel on a locomotive backhead. Still, I was.not moved by this to determine the origin of that component.

This psst Saturday, at Sheepscot, Zack loaned me his copy of the 1997 Warren, Maine Historical Society  hardcover book, "Old Warren, Maine". Earlier today, I read into the railroad history section and took note of a few things.

Engine no. 5 (Built by Rhode Island in 1885) was cut up for scrap in 1939. Engine no. 6 hauled the wrecking train and finished up in May of 1939. It was sold for scrap, but then resold to the U.S. Government.( Presumably at the end of World War Two) it was resold to the Smithfield Ham Company. It was finally cut up in 1960.

Based on information in the book, I'm now thinking that handwheel was liberated from engine no. 5. Maybe Linwood wanted a little souvenir of his hometown (Union, Maine) railroad.

If I see his photos to be of the Knox engine no. 5, I'm going to be about 99 percent certain that this is the case. I will mark the handwheel as such, but with "assumed to be from no. 5".

What do you think of this conclusion/assumption? If this item is ever to be displayed  publicly, do you think such documentation to be helpful?

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Massachusetts' Two Footers / Re: Whitin Machine Works

« on: November 16, 2025, 04:16:35 PM »

Allan, I can recall seeing the wreck of the 3rd unit at Edaville. Unfortunately I can't recall what year that was, but it was down where the new Edaville engine shop is, out back. That move from Portland back to Edaville may be when MNG started to move surplus equipment from their site.

I have two photos of Sonny Fairbanks handcar line that were just given to me by Allan Socea. I had estimated the track distance at 300', so that dovetails in with what you found when you worked there. The Socea collection photos are from 1936 and '37 and in one, Sonny is looking like he's having a lot of fun. The second shot shows his dog on the handcar looking like he'd rather be doing dog things.

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Massachusetts' Two Footers / Re: Whitin Machine Works

« on: November 16, 2025, 11:02:21 AM »

Thanks for posting that information Allan and great story! I wonder if you knew of the two foot rail that Sonny Fairbanks laid on his property in Avon in the 1930's? He had a small handcar railroad as it has been described. Equipment consisted of a velocipede and a four wheel handcar.

Another question...were all three of the G.E. 23 ton diesel- electrics at the Whitin Machine Works? I've not been able to figure if one unit went to the Koppers tie plant in Nashua, New Hampshire either directly from G.E. or sold from the machine works.

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Massachusetts' Two Footers / Re: Whitin Machine Works

« on: November 14, 2025, 07:00:44 PM »

The photo Mike has posted, from the Jul - Aug 1938 issue of the National Railway Historical Society, Inc. " Quarterly" magazine. The magazine, one of many in the H. Lincoln Harrison collection recently donated to the W. W. & F. Ry. Museum by Kenton T. Harrison of Massachusetts.

The electric locomotive was built in 1891 and after the General Electric Company of Lynn installed the overhead wires, service with this side rod equipped motor, began in the Spring of 1892.  The builder, the Old Thomson - Huston Electric Co. of Lynn designed the motor to power the rear axle and by use of siderods to connect with the front axle.

On January 1, 1900, a trolley began operating on the route and continued to provide service for 35 years. The Linwood Street Railway could be traversed in ten minutes with a fare of 5 cents.

"The line was always owned by the Machine Works, certain of whose officers and employees attended to the operation of the railway, and in recent years cars ran only at hours when workers were going to or from the plant, with trips as far as Cross Street on Sunday mornings for church-goers. Cars continued to meet the two remaining Providence - Worcester trains until trolley service was discontinued  on February 28, 1935. The six passenger cars were then burned, but two electric locomotives continue to handle freight over the line for the Machine Works, as they have for nearly half a century."

The photo used in the article is credited to the Whitin Review, which I surmise to be an employee publication of the period. This piece gives a nice account of the standard gage route from Whitins station to the mill, while stories and photos of the two foot gage remain scarce.

5

Massachusetts' Two Footers / Edaville odds & ends

« on: November 12, 2025, 03:11:21 PM »

Many times over the last few years, I have been asked questions relating to Edaville operations and equipment. One question asked is if Edaville ever ran a quadruple header. Yes, on June 10th, 1950, Edaville's four steam locomotives hauled a long freight that posed for photographers at Mount Urann. Although I have never seen a photo of that entire train, I believe Mr. Atwood ordered out everything that could be run, including a few open cars for the photographers. The steam engines were coupled up in order...Monson 3 & 4, followed by Bridgton 7 & 8.

Another question asked, was whether the two Socony tank cars ever were lettered up for Amoco, and the answer is yes.

On Edaville boxcar lettering schemes, I have an undated print (likely from the late 1940's) showing 8 former Bridgton boxcars on the siding which (in the 1970's) was next to the "Agway Building". Six cars are lettered, two are not. Of the six that are lettered, one has a unique scheme which spells out "Route of the Cranberryland Limited" while the other five have "Another car of Ocean Spray fresh Cranberries" and the Linwood Moody designed Cranberry Belt circular logo.

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Bridgton & Saco River Railway / Re: RETURN of the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad!

« on: November 08, 2025, 06:21:09 PM »

A brush cutting work party took place today at the site of the B & SR RR Museum. It was said that in the spring of 2026, the 5 acre lot will be leveled out. A copy of the site plan showing structures and yard track was on display and the plans are very impressive. The weather cooperated for much to get accomplished.

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Museum Discussion / Re: Sources for period clothing?

« on: November 06, 2025, 04:27:16 PM »

In years past, I did my shopping at Ames True Value on Route 1 in Wiscasset. Jeff had a line of blue denim Carhart winter coats and blue denim covers (hats). The cover has several small burn holes from Sheepscot brush pile fires and I had a piece of slag go down the inside of one coat when I was cutting old track bolts. Still in usable shape though. The Carharts that Dan had provided the link for are made in the U S. (of imported material and some domestic content) so that I think is a good thing too.

8

Museum Discussion / Re: Archival updates

« on: November 01, 2025, 06:16:28 PM »

Today, November 1st, Adam Cook of the Bridgton & Saco River RR Museum paid us a visit in the archives department. He was able to browse our collection of blue prints and plans and select four that his organization would like copies of. From the Moody/Baricelli and Ed Bond collections, he asked for copies of the Bridgton station floor plan, two interior arrangement drawings of the former Bridgton combination no. 25 and lastly a measured drawing by a Maine Central draftsman of a two foot gage no. 9 turnout.

Because of Linda's recent clean out of the basement of the Percival house and creation of a drawing/print area, we were able to comfortably display the various plans. Linda has also begun enclosing the drawings in archival protective covers.

I will have the copies made this week and deliver them (hopefully) to the future home of the B. & S.R. RR next Saturday. To the best of my knowledge, this marks the first time since the archives committee has been reactivated, that we have been able to assist another museum. Along with our recent donation of ephemera to the East Broad Top Railroad archives, we are following an important part of our mission.

Adam appeared quite happy with what he selected and went out with the track crew during the afternoon for work up at MP-7.

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Work and Events / Re: WW&F No. 51 (The Brookville) - Official Work Thread

« on: October 29, 2025, 11:19:04 AM »

Hello Daniel,

The issue of Short and Narrow Rails that you want, is no. 21 from circa 1987. A photo of a 1 1/2 ton " Cranberry Special" is on page 25. This is a Brookville builders photo and the only one showing the model you are interested in building.

Bruce

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General Discussion / Re: Streetcars in Brunswick

« on: October 29, 2025, 06:43:37 AM »

James, could that stub track have been a freight spur? Maybe a coal delivery track to the Capitol boiler house?

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

« on: October 23, 2025, 03:07:30 AM »

Thanks Andrew. I had thought about all of the businesses that had worked from the mill site and your explanation is very helpful. I had wondered if the cardboard recycling business might have involved trucking the bales of cardboard over to a transload site in Auburn? This question still remains,  unless it was cheaper just to haul directly to a mill nearby.

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Bridgton & Saco River Railway / Re: RETURN of the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad!

« on: October 23, 2025, 02:57:26 AM »

Hello Pete,

From your post on rail bikes on the Silver Lake, can you provide any information about future plans at that location?

As you, I've been over to Home Run Road trying to find out about the Bridgton operation. In the fall of 2022, I knocked on doors of businesses trying to locate the volunteer headquarters. I had some fun discussions, but even the neighbors knew nothing. I went to the historical society, thinking that might be where the group was headquartered, but that was not the case. It may be so in the future as the historical society is moving from the old fire house to the former Methodist Church across the street. I worked as a volunteer at Bridgton Historical  Society for about 18 months and inventoried their railroad collection in such detail as to allow the inventory to be used for a preservation grant. I have been told that the railroad group will install a transportation museum in the former fire house, when the historical society is out.

As to the route back into town, they have a plan for that corridor. I am not sure about the former school building however.  That structure is being used by the Recreation Department currently. As has been said elsewhere in this forum, there are good observations of the old grade still visible and the location of the wye to Harrison still evident. When the leaves are off the trees, is the best time for exploring.

I've said this before also, but if you stand where the old Bridgton station used to be and look to town, you can see the fire department (hose drying tower) and the steeple of the Methodist Church. This will help orient one to the surroundings.

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Bridgton & Saco River Railway / Re: RETURN of the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad!

« on: October 22, 2025, 06:58:52 AM »

Hello Pete,

Only because I was at the Waterford Historical Society presentation this past April, am I aware of their plan to build back towards Bridgton. It was explained that a new routing will be used to do so, not quite on the old grade, but as close as possible.

Their gas-mechanical critter, which they have numbered as B.& S.R. Railroad no. 9, was once offered for sale to the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum. Along with a two foot gage Whitcomb. No. 9, the Plymouth is not two foot gage and the Bridgton guys are having to re-gage it. The Portland Press Herald reporter said that the Plymouth had been used on the cranberry bogs, that is not the case. After the owners of the two machines sold them to Jack Flagg, a contractor in Marshfield, Massachusetts, he painted them at his shop and had both displayed in his yard at the shop he ran. When Jack and his partners signed a contract with the Atwood Corporation (in 1999) the locomotives were moved to Edaville, and the Whitcomb repowered with a Cummins 250 diesel and a truck transmission.

The Plymouth was lettered up for the Cranrail Corp. which was the operating entity at that time. Following a surplus equipment auction, the Plymouth departed Edaville and may have gone to the Silver Lake Railroad in Madison, New Hampshire at that time. I believe that when the Silver Lake operation closed their doors, the Bridgton Railroad became the new owners.

Hopefully the Bridgton guys will jump in and add to what I have said and correct any inaccuracies I have made.

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Other Maine Narrow Gauge / Re: Bangor Industrial Narrow Gauge - American Thread Plant at Milo, Maine.

« on: October 21, 2025, 07:21:03 PM »

Also from the Kenton Harrison collection.

15

General Discussion / Re: MEC Outside Frame Boxcar 35039

« on: October 21, 2025, 07:19:46 PM »

Thanks, Mike. The photo of the MEC boxcar is from a magazine (Trains) from 1965. That magazine from a large collection donated by Kenton Harrison of Massachusetts.