Alna Center depot and freight house interior

[Paul Leow]

I've been working on scratchbuilding HO models of the flag depot and freight house based on drawings by Peter Barney in "structures of the Maine 2 footers vol. 1"  (page 31) and was wondering if there are any interior photos of either structure available that I can reference. I want to get both models evaluated for a merit award.

[Bruce Wilson]

Hi Paul,

While I can't help you with your request for interior photos (I know of none) I will tell you that the late Harry Percival wrote briefly of the interior of the Sheepscot station. I only remember his mention of a penny candy vending machine within that structure, not much else. Not having worked with the museums' archives since 2015, I'm not aware of any photos that may have since surfaced.

In my own collection of On2 models, I have the Sheepscot station and freight shed kits as produced by Sandy River Car Shops. I also recall seeing a model of the Headtide water tank that was built by a member from New Jersey and that kit was on display in the gift shop (at Sheepscot) several years ago.

Hopefully a reader can help you with your request, I'll just say "Welcome" and good luck on your project.

[James Patten]

While we may not have any photos of the interior of the Alna Center structure, the structure "survived" until we got there with ROW clearing.  The railroad sold it off to a local kid who dragged it a couple hundred feet into the woods to use for a hunting camp.  By the time we got there it was a pile of rotting wood, however enough was left to a) recover boards with people's names scratched into the wood, and b) measure the lumber used so that we could reconstruct it as it was.  Even the windows are the same style as the originals, as the company that built the originals was still in business.

[Dante Lakin]

What company even made the windows? Mathews Brothers?

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The windows were made by Brosco.