Author Topic: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)  (Read 232679 times)

Tom Casper

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Re: Lawsuit against the FS&K in November 1898
« Reply #210 on: May 29, 2024, 07:47:53 AM »
Wow! I've seen the photo of the small trestle in black and white (I think it was in Two Feet to Tidewater), but I didn't think there would be a color version out there!
It looks colorized and not a color pic.

Tom C.
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Daniel Moreau

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #211 on: July 02, 2024, 11:43:26 PM »
I was reading through Two Feet to Tidewater and noticed this map of the proposed route of the FS&K. Interestingly it includes a route from New Sharon to Augusta and Gardiner, and another to Norridgewock. Out of curiosity I looked on Google Maps and noticed there seems to be a railroad grade in the form of Kimball road between New Sharon and Vienna, and a crossing on the Maine Central line in Readfield. Is it just a coincidence that the roads on Google Maps match up with this map, or was there a railroad built along this route (assuming standard gauge) that I've never heard of before?

https://i.postimg.cc/2j4qpDzw/PXL-20240703-042605309-NIGHT-2.jpg

James Patten

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #212 on: July 03, 2024, 06:06:36 AM »
Likely coincidence.  Grading for the FS&K never proceeded much beyond New Sharon.  You can semi-follow the grade between Farmington and New Sharon on Google Maps.

FYI in New Sharon there's some substantial stone bridge supports that you can still see from Rt 27.

Mike Fox

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #213 on: July 03, 2024, 06:41:32 AM »
There was some posting a while ago wbere someone had done a bunch of research and found the actual proposed route to Waterville. As James said, no earthwork was done byond New Sharon. The grade between New Sharon and Farmington can be followed, and someone recently documented that as well.
Mike
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Jeff Schumaker

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #214 on: July 03, 2024, 09:29:34 AM »
Back in 1881, due to the success of the Sandy River RR, there was talk of building a 2 foot gauge line from Phillips to the Kennebec river. The question arose as to which city on the Kennebec would be the destination. Both Augusta and Gardiner wanted to be that destination. There was a map in the Kennebec Journal which may be the one in the book. A couple railroads were chartered, the Franking & Kennebec and the Kennebec Central (not to be confused with the Kennebec Central that ran to Togus). Neither was built. There is quite a bit of info in the Phillips Phonograph Journal.

Jeff
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Bruce Wilson

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #215 on: July 03, 2024, 11:00:58 AM »
I was reading through Two Feet to Tidewater and noticed this map of the proposed route of the FS&K. Interestingly it includes a route from New Sharon to Augusta and Gardiner, and another to Norridgewock. Out of curiosity I looked on Google Maps and noticed there seems to be a railroad grade in the form of Kimball road between New Sharon and Vienna, and a crossing on the Maine Central line in Readfield. Is it just a coincidence that the roads on Google Maps match up with this map, or was there a railroad built along this route (assuming standard gauge) that I've never heard of before?

https://i.postimg.cc/2j4qpDzw/PXL-20240703-042605309-NIGHT-2.jpg

Hello Daniel,

You may wish to read a few relevant articles written by the late  W.W. & F. Ry. Museum member, Ellis E. Walker.
In his book "Musings, a collection of articles" that were a main-stay of early museum newsletter content,
look for musing no. 3 (Nov./Dec. 2002) and musing no. 5 (Mar/April. 2003).

Ellis wrote about projected narrow gage routes and even provided a map in Musing no. 3 of these hoped for intentions.

If in your interests to exploring these corridors, you begin to physically walk the Gardiner area, there is much still to see. I would encourage you to walk the rail trail to Augusta from where it begins in Gardiner. Also in Gardiner, walk south from the former Maine Central depot (opposite the Hannaford supermarket) and check out the waterfront and short trail that runs along the former yard area. There are still lengths of rail and grading from the once vast docks that Kennebec River sailing vessels tied up to for interchange with the railroad. There are still a few yard tracks present in the South Gardiner yard, along with a preserved former railroad freight shed.

There is also remaining trestle work the once led out and over the Cabosse Stream to a long gone mill. My spelling of that stream name may not be correct. Where this spur ran, is not far from a former producer of narrow gage freight equipment, the building (now gone) but last occupied by the T.W. Dick Co.

I'd enjoy hearing from anyone else who'd like to take a guess at just how a rail line (of any gage) could be brought on from westward points into Gardiner. The topography would make that quite a challenge. The Cabosee Stream trestle work is referenced again as a case in point.

In closing, I will say that a few years ago "Trigger" (the railroad dog) took a leisurely afternoon swim in the Kennebec after a day grabbing for snacks and bites of hot dogs at Sheepscot. He stubbed a paw on something when he came out of the river. That something ( which I still have) is a narrow gage stake pocket casting. Curiously, this casting was found on the west Bank of the Kennebec, opposite from the Kennebec Central terminal.

Happy exploring and I hope you journey up through Hallowell, where I saw remnants of a spur going into an old coal dealers facility. The property looked to be going under the early stages of cleaning up and such that the historical significance was recognized.

Wanted: Copies of correspondence and photographs from "first generation narrow gage railfans" such as Linwood Moody, Dick Andrews, Lawrence Brown, Ellis Atwood, H.T. Crittenden and others. Interested in all two foot (U.S.) rail operations, common carrier, industrial/mill and park/museum.

Bruce Wilson

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #216 on: July 03, 2024, 11:13:43 AM »
I must apologize for not getting the name of the stream correct. It is the Cobbosseecontee Stream, which I erroneously referred to as the Cabossee stream.

Also to add to the story, one of the Sandy River officials had an office in Gardiner and somewhere in my archives, I have a letterhead with the address on it. Can a reader provide that officials" name?
Wanted: Copies of correspondence and photographs from "first generation narrow gage railfans" such as Linwood Moody, Dick Andrews, Lawrence Brown, Ellis Atwood, H.T. Crittenden and others. Interested in all two foot (U.S.) rail operations, common carrier, industrial/mill and park/museum.

Dante Lakin

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #217 on: July 03, 2024, 01:35:59 PM »
Wouldn't it have been Josiah Maxcy (or is it Maxcey?). He was an official of both the KC and the SR&RL

Daniel Moreau

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #218 on: July 03, 2024, 02:25:36 PM »
There was some posting a while ago wbere someone had done a bunch of research and found the actual proposed route to Waterville. As James said, no earthwork was done byond New Sharon. The grade between New Sharon and Farmington can be followed, and someone recently documented that as well.

I'm familiar with the route to East to Waterville, but I've never seen the route southeast to Gardiner before.

Bill Reidy

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #219 on: July 03, 2024, 02:33:32 PM »
Also to add to the story, one of the Sandy River officials had an office in Gardiner and somewhere in my archives, I have a letterhead with the address on it. Can a reader provide that official's name?

It's interesting you mention the Sandy River's Gardiner office.  Jeff Schumaker's "Two Foot Gleanings" article that will appear in the next issue of the WW&F Newsletter (July/August) reviews the purchase of the Sandy River by the Maine Central in 1911.  His article concludes with a September 2nd, 1911 Gardiner Daily Reporter-Journal article, which stated (following the purchase), "The (Sandy River) annual meetings hereafter will be held in Portland instead of Gardiner."

I can't tell you the official's name, but names listed in Jeff's article are possible candidates:  Purchasing agent Richard Maxcy; president J. S. Maxcy; and treasurer G. A. Farrington.
   
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Allan Fisher

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #220 on: July 03, 2024, 03:00:32 PM »
Josiah Maxcy had his law office in Gardner.
Allan Fisher

Bruce Wilson

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #221 on: July 03, 2024, 03:26:03 PM »
Thank you to both Bill and Allan for the information you have provided.
Wanted: Copies of correspondence and photographs from "first generation narrow gage railfans" such as Linwood Moody, Dick Andrews, Lawrence Brown, Ellis Atwood, H.T. Crittenden and others. Interested in all two foot (U.S.) rail operations, common carrier, industrial/mill and park/museum.

Mike Fox

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #222 on: July 05, 2024, 05:55:06 PM »
This is the thread I was thinking about. 14 pages long. Happy Reading..

https://forum.wwfry.org/index.php/topic,16.0.html
Mike
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Ed Lecuyer

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Re: The Franklin, Somerset & Kennebec Railway (FS&K)
« Reply #223 on: July 05, 2024, 06:19:47 PM »
Topics now merged. Happy reading!
Ed Lecuyer
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