The U.S. state of Maine is the largest of the New England States, the states that make up the northeastern region of the lower 48 states. The state is famed for its wild open wilderness, its coastline, its lighthouses, and, for you seafood lovers, its lobster rolls. One thing that the state is not known for is its railroads of which there are many in the state. In the city of Portland, which is the most populated city in the state. It is here where you will find the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum.
What is the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum?
Some of you are saying, “Well, duh! It is a narrow gauge railroad company in the state of Maine that has a museum.”
Yes. It is a narrow gauge railroad company in Maine, but why would you want to visit this railroad?
Let us first ask what a narrow gauge railroad is. Yes, it is a railroad with a narrow gauge, but what do we mean by narrow gauge?
As you see trains today, they are what you called a standard gauge railroad. On a standard gauge railroad, the rails are four feet and eight and one-half inches apart. In the early days of railroading, there was what was called a narrow gauge railroad where the rails were three feet apart. Although the narrow gauge railroads were cheaper to fund and faster to build, they could not carry the weight that a standard railroad could carry. Today, narrow gauge railroads only exist as tourist railroads like the East Broad Top Railroad in Rockhill, Pennsylvania and the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad that runs between the U.S. states of New Mexico and Colorado.
The state of Maine had many narrow gauge railroads where the tracks were two feet apart. Like other narrow gauge railroads, they went into decline. While some of the railroad equipment was destroyed, some of the equipment was spared. Some of this equipment was bought by a man named Ellis D. Atwood. It is the equipment that was owned by Ellis D. Atwood that ended up at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company which began operation in 1992.
What is special about the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum?
Let us first begin with the route itself. The original route was a standard gauge built by the Saint Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad in 1846. In 1853, the Saint Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad leased the section going to the city of Portland, Maine to the Grand Trunk Railway. Even though the Grand Trunk Railway was nationalized into the Canadian National Railway, it was still referred to by the locals as the ‘Grand Trunk’ line. It is this very route that the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad follows today.
As you arrive at the train station, you find yourself within a short distance from the harbor. You enter the train station, which does not look like your average train station, but it houses a small museum and the gift shop, and it is here where you buy your ticket.
You did not come here to see the harbor or the gift shop. You came to ride the train.
Yes, you see a narrow gauge railroad line, but before it was the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, it was a standard gauge railroad. The train comes, and you get aboard. The train pulls away from the station. You have been on many railroads that follow rivers and pass by big lakes. With the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, its entire route, following a route originally laid out by the Canadian National Railroad, you get a view of Casco Bay. Yes, you see a large body of water along the entire route. The ride ends at a place where you can see an old turning drawbridge where the railroad crossed the bay. (Only the drawbridge remains as the rest of the bridge has been demolished.) It is a short ride, but it is definitely a ride that you will enjoy.
The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum is located 65 Thames Street in Portland, Maine. The train runs seasonally between May and October with Christmas trains in late November and December. The train is wheelchair accessible. Please note that they do not have their own parking. Parking is only available on the street or at nearby parking facilities. You can read more into the history of the railroad, get tickets and directions, and get more information at https://mainenarrowgauge.org/.
The state of Maine has natural beauty. It has lots of coastline and lighthouses. You can enjoy the lobster rolls. Most important of all, it has many railroads, and you will enjoy your ride on the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 