Maine Narrow Gauge Museum Discussion

Who knows what could happen in a few years. It might be good or it might be bad. If you can do it in 2017, do it in 2017. It might be your last chance to ride a 2-footer within spitting distance of a busy Atlantic harbor!

I would also suggest you do it. Contact the SRRL folks and see what they have going on that weekend. The line is short, so it can be walked if you are able and they are not running.
Once MNGRR starts to move, things will be in disarray for a few years, until they get settled again.

Benjamin, keep in mind that the WW&F changes every year, so a one and done thing with them is simply not enough.

Well, our hotel is booked so Maine 2017 is set!

Sad news about a MNGRR colleague:

Portland Press Herald wrote:WATERVILLE — A Portland resident involved in a single-vehicle crash Thursday on Mayflower Hill Drive on the Colby College campus has died, according to police.

Donovan M. Gray, 68, of Portland was a well-known supporter of the arts, particularly in the Northwest, and was a volunteer conductor and engineer for the Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum in Portland.

Donnell Carroll, executive director of Narrow Gauge, said Friday that Gray was a dedicated volunteer for about 10 years but had to cut back on his work the last couple of years because of health problems. He loved to teach people about trains and was well-liked and respected, according to Carroll.

“He would routinely volunteer for at least a day or two, if not more, a week, to make sure the train was covered,” Carroll said. “He took some leadership roles in train operations and oversight and did a lot of training and education for new people on the board.”

Read the rest of the article at: http://www.pressherald.com/2017/04/14/p ... y-college/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dual gauging has been discussed...
http://forum.wwfry.org/index.php/topic, ... ml#msg4682

elecuyer wrote:Dual gauging has been discussed...
http://forum.wwfry.org/index.php/topic, ... ml#msg4682

I remember having this conversation 15+ years ago with several staff and volunteers at MNGRR. (It was a serious conversation, not an April Fools joke.) The idea was that the Back Cove swing bridge would eventually be rebuilt (or repaired just enough to make it safe for 2-footers to use it), and a third rail would be laid so that MNGRR could cross the bridge and run from Portland to Yarmouth Junction, giving MNGRR the ability to offer a longer excursion and an opportunity to let the steam locos stretch their legs at 10 or even 25 MPH. It became a slightly-less-crazy idea when SLR sold that line to the state of Maine, and even less crazy now that SLR no longer runs to Portland. Still very pie-in-the-sky, of course, but it was wonderful to daydream about it.

If the Back Cove bridge were to be converted for use as a pedestrian/bike path (with inlaid rails) it might not be so crazy at all.

As of 2024, who knows what the future will hold for the Maine Narrow Gauge ROW in Portland. It will be nice when they are able to relocate to Gray and actually own the museum building and own the ROW.

I dunno. We toured the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum this past weekend (guest engineered on one of the Plymouths) and I suspect it will lose something not running on an old ROW. Found the reason the museum moving is that they're condoizing the waterfront there (Come To Oil Tank Harbor Place!). Maybe spend the money kicking the yuppies out and rebuilding the GT bridge for longer narrow gauge travels.

They are relocating to Gray, on an old standard gauge trolley line. So they are transfering from one standard gauge line to another. Only two operations in Maine operate on original narrow gauge right of ways, the WW&F and the SR&RL. However an honorable mention is the Albion Historical Society that has some rebuilt narrow gauge track in front of an original two story station. And the Monson R.R. freight house in Monson with a few hundred feet of track in front of the original station.

A railfan friend told me a few months ago that he had heard the pending move to Gray was on hold because of opposition from, or problems with, the town. Can someone reliably confirm or deny that?

In the WW&F discussion things have transfered to Maine Narrow Gauge, so I have decided to post here to bring this topic closer to the top.

Not really knowing what the details are, I have heard the plan is still to move to Gray, its just a matter of raising the needed funds to relocate while trying to maintain the current museum. However like many groups, volunteer effort can be a challenge. The move to Gray will be a rather expensive one, especially with the desire to build everything with contractor help. Although things may be progressing slowly, with no public announcements on the move in over a year, I am pretty sure progress is still being made in one form or another.

Yes, that is still the plan.

I recently spoke with a friend who is actively involved in the day-to-day goings-on at MNGRR, and he told me that not everyone there agrees with the decision to move to Gray. He said there are many who feel it's a mistake.

I agree that Gray is a mistake.
John, the guy in the blue car with the wing on back