Steaming Together on the WWFRy - 3 Maine 2 Foot Railroads Reenacted: 7/31-8/1/2021

Program Itinerary: Rangeley Express - Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes: SR&RL No. 6 at Sheepscot Tank: 0:14 passing SR&RL Railbus 4 at Maine Locomotive & Machine Works 0:31 Station stop at Alna Center: 1:09 Passing the Mill Spur at Top of the Mountain: 1:56 Station stop at Top of the Mountain: 2:38 Monson Railroad Local: Monson No. 3 hauls a short cut of cars up the Top of the Mountain grade: 3:05 No. 3 passes the Rangeley Express at Top of the Mountain: 4:05 No. 3 with a ‘Monson consist’ crosses at Alna Center: 4:25 Passing Alna Center field: 4:57 Crossing at Alna Center with coach only: 5:18 The Rangeley Express passes Monson No. 3 at Alna Center: 5:36 Bridgton & Saco River local with B&SR No. 7: Albee’s Field 6:05 Crossing at Alna Center: 6:35 Trout Brook Bridge - north portal: 7:11 Trout Brook Bridge - south portal: 7:35 Charging up the Top of the Mountain grade: 8:26 Humason Brook Trestle: 9:18 Brook Crossing - reminiscent of the famed B&SR ‘Notch’: 10:06 Climbing ‘the ladder’ at Alna Center yard limits: 10:33 Passing the Mill Spur at Top of the Mountain: 10:57 Rosewood Crossing: 11:23 Albee’s Crossing: 12:14 Eastman Lake: 13:00 Offloading boxcar 67 at Alna Center: 13:49 Crossing at Alna Center: 16:51 Passing a section house in the North Yard at Sheepscot: 17:28 Sheepscot Tank: 17:53 Meeting B&SR No. 8 in Sheepscot Yard : 18:27 Final Scene: All surviving Maine 2 Foot Gauge locomotives lined up at Sheepscot Yard: 19:05 Running on rails that are just 2 feet apart rather than the standard 4 feet 8 and a half inches, Maine’s famed narrow gauge has been an integral chapter of the state’s transportation history. With operations ranging from the 1870 into as late as the Second World War, there was some 200 miles of narrow gauge railroads within Maine’s state limits, stemming from numerous rail lines, some roads consolidated, and 5 major companies would emerge. Of the 5, they were the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes, the Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington, the Bridgton & Saco, the Monson, and the Kennebec Central. Automotive traffic would ultimately undo any prosperity that was to be had by these roads, they’d shutter their operations one by one as a result. All except two; the Bridgton & Saco (reorganized as the Bridgton & Harrison by this point), and the Monson both survived up until WWII, while they had managed to evade the torch brought on by the advent of automobiles, the war effort would ultimately end Maine’s famed Narrow Gauge. Preservation groups saved what they could, much of what is left was brought together here in modern day, in two events spanning over two days, the operations of 3 railroads would be re-enacted on the Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum. The first day would see B&SR No. 7 with a mixed freight, followed by Monson No. 3 with a prototypical Monson-style mixed consist, accompanied by “SR&RL No. 6” (WWFRy No. 9 backdated) on the headpin of the Rangeley Express. The second day would see an expansion upon the Bridgton & Saco operations, while it was a shorter shoot, it still contained a vast amount of content. The final scene here shows all 5 surviving Maine Narrow Gauge locomotives, Bridgton & Saco River No. 8 and No. 7, Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes No. 6 (which also was Kennebec Central 4 and was and currently serves as Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington No. 9), and Monson No. 4 and No. 3. It was an incredible weekend of historical recreation and couldn’t be more thankful for the incredible effort put forth by the volunteers of the WWFRY, Maine Narrow Gauge, and Maine Locomotive & Machine Shop to make it all happen. Revealed at the end of Saturday’s festivities is that currently non-operational Monson No. 4 and B&SR No. 8 are planned to be restored to steam by the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum. If you’ve enjoyed what you see here, please consider donating to these incredible groups and allow them to continue their work of recreating history for those who could never have experienced it. With MNGM working towards restoring 2 locomotives and WWFRy working towards building a brand new 2-4-4 “Forney” locomotive and roundhouse, both organizations would greatly benefit from those who could afford to donate or even visit and ride the excursions. Thank you so much for watching, please enjoy the sounds of Maine’s famed 2 footers!