2 Steamers, abandoned in the Maine Woods

[3rdrail]

3rdrail, not to thread-jack this topic, but what's the story with the black bear? i thought they normally try to avoid people, and will only turn aggressive if they feel trapped or threatened. I have been spending time in New Hampshire for years now, and have yet to come across a bear, thankfully.

B&Mguy- I'm hoping that your luck continues.
Paul.

http://www.maineguides.org/referendum/b ... acks.shtml

[B&Mguy]

Yikes, after reading that link and those stories, I hope my luck continues too. I was afraid that there would be a story about you Land Rover trip in that article.

I'm going to make another thread about this so we can stay on the steamer topic here, but I'm curious now if rail-fans running in to wildlife especially in northern New England has ever been an issue. Stories like the ones you posted show that it's vital to always be aware of what's going on around you, and to know what the dangers of the area you're in are.

[3rdrail]

I was afraid that there would be a story about you Land Rover trip in that article.

No. Thanks for your concern however. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that it's open season on humans in the wilderness, but however bear attacks do happen with enough regularity to be aware and prepare for the event that it does happen. I'll be honest with you when I tell you that I'm usually more attentive to potential human predators when we are in the woods, and take necessary precautions.

[RussNelson]

Here's the location of the 2 Steamers, in a more useful website: http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=46.32059,-69.37617&z=15&t=T

[RussNelson]

Holy freaking crap! Those bear attacks are from ALL OVER North America, and they cover multiple years. You're taking a MUCH greater risk driving to the woods than you are from any wildlife in the woods.

/me buys somebody a pair of 'em.

[atsf sp]

Oh so thats where they are. I'm not going to see them. Guess I'll just go to the other eagle lake like usual and watch MMA.

[3rdrail]

This location is northern Maine, close to the Canadian border. A helicopter would be ideal to get there if you don't have a vehicle and driving experience capable of Level 3 off-road. There's an airport in Caribou, roughly 77 miles away. I'm not sure that there aren't roads to the site. A lot of the "roads" in the area are logging trails- either active or from the past. The trip that the guys in the article took was in the winter time, so they may not have had all roads available. The thing with active logging roads is that you have to be careful in that you are in a remote area, where logging trucks literally tear along at high speeds. They don't expect to come accross a 4 x 4 at that next turn. When we go out on logging trails that are active, we always try to announce our presence beforehand by alerting truckers on their CB radios of where we intend to be. Also, know that these roads may have rain filled ruts in them that will swallow your average car and sharp angled rocks which will puncture regular tires. My advice- buy the video !

[3rdrail]

If you get stuck 3rd rail you can just call AAA!

Yup, we'll just be sitting inside the Dunkin Donuts with a hot coffee waiting for the truck !

[3rdrail]

If I may make a suggestion, for those persons wishing to have an adventurous, but perhaps less desolate trip, I recommend the "Train Station Inn" up in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. We went up there a few years ago with the Rover and had a blast. The inn has a selection of cabooses and you pick the caboose that you wish to stay in. All the cabooses have been refurbished inside and are very comfortable- one or two even have a roaring fireplace ! The cabooses sit next to the refurbished Tatamagouche Station of the Intercolonial Railway, which ceased operation to Tatamagouche in 1960. We drove up to Portland from Boston, jumped on the ferry with the "Iron Monster", and drove off heading northward in Nova Scotia the next day. It was a great time. The people are extremely hospitable and if you are into seeking old abandoned rights of way with some off-roading thrown in, there's that up there too. We stopped into a RCMP Station and received directions and maps into some great trails that led to some old logging railway routes (Level 3). The beauty of this trip is that generally speaking, you're not in a place where it's going to take weeks to find you if you get stranded unless you want to be, and you can take the off-road thing as far as your equipment and expertise allows. I would love to do it all again. If anyone wants to see a few shots, let me know and I''ll post them.

[Mattydred]

I wouldn't mind seeing those slides. Sounds like a good time.

[3rdrail]

Here's a few shots:
We took this trip in 2004. Now, my son is bigger and smarter than me. (I'm tougher, though !)
Here's our usual departure shot from our back yard (the one that will appear on the milk carton if we get lost). Moments later, the Iron Monster would be heading north.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa26 ... l/tat1.jpg

Here we are in the hold of the ferry from Portland, Maine to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. We always make a lot of new friends, attracted by the Rover. This time was no exception.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa26 ... l/tat7.jpg

Here, we've arrived two days later at Tatamagouche Station, a restored station used up until 1960 by Canadian National. The line was originally the Intercolonial Railway's from 1872-1918, when it was bought out by Canadian National. A caboose is having it's bed sheets aired out in the clean Nova Scotia air.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa26 ... l/tat2.jpg

The Train Station Inn staff couldn't have been more friendly and relaxed when they told us to take our time, relax, explore, and find the caboose that we wanted to stay in. This is a shot of the Canadian National cabooses lined up, each with a different style of interior appointment. This wooden one, I believe, is the oldest one there.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa26 ... l/tat3.jpg

This is the one that we finally picked- #77021.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa26 ... TatCab.jpg

Here we are inside. We liked the simplicity and "railroad feel" to #77021. My son is standing at the ladders to the caboose's cupola mid-train. The cars are surprisingly roomy, with in this case, two twin beds and a large queen size visible to the rear of my son. A kitchenette and even a cupola for relaxing in comes fully supplied !
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa26 ... l/tat4.jpg

Here is a shot of part of the abandoned right of way for the Intercolonial Railway not far from the Inn, which now serves as a footbridge. Although enjoyable, this groomed site was to tame for our taste, so we headed for the mud, courtesy of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa26 ... l/tat5.jpg

I just thought that I would throw this shot in to give those who have never gone off-road to get an idea of what "roads" can turn into very quickly. This was an abandoned right of way for a logging operation, mid-continent on this trip, and had it not been for our sand ladders and my trusty navigator pictured, our Iron Monster would be currently living underground, as it was sinking fast !
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa26 ... l/tat6.jpg

Hope you enjoyed my pics !

[RussNelson]

Photos of an actual polar bear attacking a person. Don't click unless you can take it!

[NHN503]

Photos of an actual polar bear attacking a person. Don't click unless you can take it!

LOL

OK OK back on topic

[Mattydred]

Excellent pics Paul.

The depot looks more like it belongs in western Europe somewhere. Very charming. Nothing says "down home" like an inn drying their linens on the line. What time of year was it when you made the trip? Looks like early spring, which in that part of Canada means July. Heh.

[3rdrail]

Excellent pics Paul.

The depot looks more like it belongs in western Europe somewhere. Very charming. Nothing says "down home" like an inn drying their linens on the line. What time of year was it when you made the trip? Looks like early spring, which in that part of Canada means July. Heh.

You mean they don't do that at the Four Seasons in Boston ? In all seriousness, I can't speak more highly of the management, a family run business. Nova Scotians, in general, have a well-deserved reputation for frendliness. The trip was during the third week of April. It was nippy up there still, with ice flows coming down through the Northumberland Strait. We located rights of way for the Wentworth Gypsum Company and the Sable River Railway Company. The first couple of off-road pictures that I have earlier in this thread are on the W G Co. The last one (mud) is on the S R R Co.There were a multitude of coal and timber hauling railways throughout the forests up there many years ago.