VISITING THE MAINE TWO-FOOTERS
(by John McNamara)
The following directions assume that you have a car. If you do not, rental cars are available at the Portland Jetport, reachable by plane (obviously) or by city bus or taxi from the Portland Transportation Center, the arrival point of intercity busses and Amtrak’s Downeaster.
The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum
Take I-95 (Maine Turnpike) to exit 44 (formerly 6A), I-295. Once on I-295 through downtown Portland, take exit 7 (“Franklin Street Arterial”), which becomes Franklin Street. Follow Franklin Street until it ends at a traffic light on Commercial Street. Turn left on Commercial Street. Go 1/10th of a mile to a four-way stop; pass through this intersection onto Thames Street. The railroad platform is on your left at 12 Ocean Gateway Pier, Portland. Both on and off-street parking is available.
The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum
Take I-95 (Maine Turnpike) to exit 44 (formerly 6A), I-295. [If you are at the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum, return to I-295 North.] Continue on I-295 through downtown Portland. Get off at exit 28 (formerly 22) for Route 1, Brunswick and Bath. Take Route 1 north through Brunswick and Bath to Wiscasset. At the Post Office (halfway down the hill from the Courthouse) take a left onto Route 218. Once you are on 218, go north 4.7 miles from Route 1 to a four-way intersection. At the four-way intersection, go left onto the Cross Road. The museum is 1/10th mile from this intersection, at the bottom of a slight hill: 97 Cross Road, Alna.
Boothbay Railway Village
Follow the above WW&F directions to reach Wiscasset. [If you are at the WW&F, return to downtown Wiscasset.] Continue on Route 1 North through Wiscasset and over a long bridge. About 1.5 miles from the beginning of this bridge, take a right onto Route 27. The Boothbay Railway Village is on Route 27 eight miles south of this intersection. 586 Wiscasset Rd, Boothbay
Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad
Directions from the Portland area:
Follow the Maine Turnpike North to Exit 75 (formerly 12) in Auburn. From this exit, take Rte. 4 North all the way to Phillips. Phillips is about 70 miles from the turnpike exit. You will pass through Auburn/Lewiston, Turner, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Jay, Wilton, Farmington, and the edge of Strong on your way. As you pass through Avon, watch for the grass runway of the Raymond Airport on your left. Take the next right turn onto Pleasant Street. If you take no further turns, you will cross the Sandy River on a concrete bridge and head up the hill on Bridge Street. After you come down the other side of the hill, the SR&RL Sanders Station is on your left: 128 Bridge St, Phillips. The driving time from Exit 75 to Phillips should be about 90 minutes staying within the speed limits.
If you are at the WW&F or Boothbay, return to downtown Wiscasset, go back south on Route 1 a few hundred feet to Route 27 North and take that to Augusta. From Augusta, take Route 27 North to Farmington, about 37 miles. At Farmington, take Route 4 North to Phillips, about 18 miles. As you pass through Avon, watch for the grass runway of the Raymond Airport on your left. Continue with directions above. Driving time from Augusta should be about 75 minutes.
