MNG RR Museum - Moving to Gray Maine

[Cliff Olson]

Ed Lecuyer says in the recent pilot/cowcatcher discussion that MNG "may be moving".  I have heard from another source that Phin Sprague's Portland Co. property is about to be sold.  Does anyone have further information on this?

[Ed Lecuyer]

This has been discussed repeatedly.
For examples, please see:
http://forum.wwfry.org/index.php?topic=1220.0
http://forum.wwfry.org/index.php?topic=1368.0

[Cliff Olson]

Sorry, Ed.  I thought you were referring to new information on the possible "done deal".

[Dale Reynolds]

some of the yahoo sites are reporting the mng board has approved gray as the new site. and mng has a consultant to begin raising money, some 5 million, for the move. this is per a newspaper called the 'forecaster' i believe. too bad monson lost out. dale

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

Even more "too bad" that Bridgton lost out.

[Joe Fox]

Especially since that is where 80% of the equipment originally came from.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

I think a good many of us were hoping for Bridgton, I was.  Well I hope things go well for MNG whatever happens.

Stewart

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

It's a shame that all this time, money, effort and sweat were put into the move from Edaville to Portland, only to have it all come to this.  Think of all the years that essentially have been wasted. Now they have to start over from back at square one.  I have no idea what the Gray location is like, so I won't comment on it. At least it will be on a former railroad right of way.  But it could have been so much more. 

[Mike Fox]

The Gray location has the potential for a longer ride, but the scenery is not quite as spectacular as it can be by the bay. They are estimating 5 million for the move. I would suspect this would include the track and other infrastructure items as well as the move.

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

Where on earth, and how, will they ever accumulate 5 million dollars?  Haven't they always lived a sort of "hand to mouth" existence?  I don't think there are enough grants, donors, or other funds available, especially in these times, to raise anywhere near that kind of money. It will be interesting to see how they do.  Is there a time deadline for moving?

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

Here's another question:  Who owns the P&L right of way that the MNG would build on at Gray?  If they don't own the land, they could be forced to vacate again somewhere down the road. Just like the present situation at Portland.

I think they would be foolish to move again to property they don't own and can't control, in perpetuity.

RIchard

[James Patten]

I think the President's message implied that it's owned by Central Maine Power, and that CMP was going to give the ROW to MNG.

FYI here's a website on the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, and it also has a map with Right of way mapped out.  http://sites.google.com/site/markmillerdesign/home2

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

The CMP "giving" the R.O.W. to MNG?  Only with a legal deed in hand, would I move to that spot.  Otherwise, the same thing could happen again that's happening now.  I remember that years ago, Seashore Trolley Museum was trying to lay track on the old ASL roadbed. CMP had power poles on the right of way and they had to be moved in order to expand the trolley museum's running track. That operation took years, because Seashore had to fund the moving of the poles.

It will be interesting to see where this ends up.

I'm familiar with the Portland-Lewiston Interurban, as that was one of the late Laurence Breed Walker's favorite lines, and pictures of it in his Walker Transportation Collection archives at Beverly Historical Society portray its rolling stock and structures quite completely.

[Matthew Gustafson]

So is MNGM planing on moving to a new site this year or is this a future plan to move out of Portland. I read the president's message and I do look forward to the new site alittle bit because it has the room to build protective roofs or sheds over the equipment to keep it out of the elements.

Plus how long if anyone knows the ROW will be at this new location.

[Hansel Fardon]

i herd 1 1/2 miles