The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad’s core collection, which includes the only two-foot gauge parlor car ever built, has been displayed in a building near the city’s waterfront that was originally part of the Portland Co., a manufacturer of locomotives, ships, rail cars, and other machinery. That property has been sold for development and the building is scheduled for demolition.
With the demolition deadline approaching, the two museums negotiated an arrangement to move the four cars long displayed in the Portland Co. building, along with three other pieces, to the WW&F’s Sheepscot Station campus in Alna, about 50 miles northeast of Portland. The equipment, which will remain the property of Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum, will be housed in the WW&F’s car house and will be on display, along with other select artifacts from the two-foot gauge railways of Maine. It will also be used from time to time on the WW&F’s 2.6-mile line.
The crown jewel of the core collection, Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes parlor Car No. 9 Rangeley built by Jackson & Sharp of Wilmington, Del. in 1901, is the only two-foot gauge car of its type ever built. It is scheduled to be the first car moved to Sheepscot in May. Two additional passenger cars and a caboose date back to 1882 complete the core collection. In addition, Bridgton & Saco River Railroad No. 8, a 1924 Baldwin 2-4-4RT, a tank car and a snowplow will move to Sheepscot.
It’s great to see how organizations come together for a common cause. Now if the two major political parties in the United States will learn to do the same….
Robert McGuire wrote: “Eventually they should merge and become a bigger and stronger organization as one museum”
The WW&F and Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co & Museum (MNG) have no plans to merge. The exhibition of the core elements of the MNG collection is an opportunity to showcase their equipment in a different setting while the museum and storage site of MNG is redeveloped. The mission of each organization is different, but they do compliment and overlap each other.
The reality is that the operation in Portland is ideal for a tourist railway; and MNG owns a long-term lease of the state-owned right-of-way. The WW&F is a little farther from the population and tourist centers. Trains rides will continue in Portland, while (while the exhibition is occurring) the core collection of MNG will remain safe and under cover.
This is a fabulous development. There is no real need for these two museums to exist as separate entities. Eventually they should merge and become a bigger and stronger organization as one museum operating on over 2 1/2 miles of original ROW. Visitors will now be able to enjoy several more pieces of original equipment. W. W. & F. is a very active group with several activities throughout the year and now they will have additional equipment to operate. I hope egos don’t get in the way of this.
The museum in Alna is one of the best . Almost like C & TS in miniature. This summer do yourself a favor and come to Maine to visit this great museum and enjoy the smell of coal smoke in the Maine woods.