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Relive the Fascinating Maine Narrow Gauge Era

You can't live in the northeast for as long as I have and not hear something about the famed narrow-gauge railroads of Maine. Mostly abandoned and removed by the outbreak of World War II, these highly flexible common-carrier railways proved to be a great way to move freight and passengers to remote locations. These railroads had an appealing charm all their own with interesting equipment and a can-do attitude; these lines served Maine for over fifty years until improved highway access made them redundant.

In Arcadia Publishing's latest offering in its Images of Rail series, author Robert L. MacDonald's Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads gives a great overview of the lines that once served the state. There are hundreds of great black and white photos with wonderful captions full of detail and information. MacDonald is one of the leading experts on Maine narrow gauge, and it should be noted he has authored two other books on the subject. He was also present to see some of these lines in action almost sixty years ago.

Each of the major lines is covered: the Sandy River and Rangely Lakes (later taken over by the standard gauge Maine Central in 1911); the Bridgton & Saco Riverl; the Wicasset, Waterville & Farmington; the Kennebec Central; and the Monson (one of the last lines to survive into the 1940s). Each line is covered in great detail, from inception, to mergers and takeovers, to the eventual demise of these unique operations.

The earliest narrow gauge railroad in Maine was the Sandy River Railroad built in 1879. These lines found use from hauling slate and lumber, to moving tourists to seaside resorts and mountain lodges. Unfortunately, the slim gauge lines peaked early. The onset of the Great Depression along with the development of the automobile and improved highways spelled the end. The last line closed in 1943. However, it was Ellis D. Atwood (the "EDA" in "Edaville Railroad") who moved to purchase and save pieces of the Bridgton & Harrison, even as it was being scrapped in 1941. After the end of World War II, he began to move pieces from the B&H as well as other lines from around Maine to his cranberry plantation in South Carver, Massachusetts. The operation at Edaville remained until bankruptcy shut it down in 1991. In 1992, efforts mounted to bring the equipment back to Maine, under the auspices of the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum.

On the Waterville, Wicasset & Farmington, fire destroyed the Wicasset enginehouse in December 1931, leaving the two Baldwin locomotives charred and unserviceable.

What I really liked about this book was the last chapter. All of the preservation efforts, from the now-defunct Edaville Railroad to the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum in Portland are shown. The new museum in Portland is located at the old Portland Company industrial works, where many locomotives for Maine's slim gauge lines were constructed. Other museums and preservation operations are also discussed. Also shown are the early preservation efforts that kept much of this unique and historic equipment from the wartime scrap piles.

I think just about anyone with an interest in New England history, or narrow gauge lines will enjoy this book. The photos are sharp and well presented, and the captions are informative and full of good details. MacDonald demonstrates a great familiarity with the material and communicates his experiences so that just about anyone could relate. I recommend Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads for the casual fan or the hard-core narrow gauge enthusiast.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads By Robert L. MacDonald $19.99, plus shipping and handling Arcadia Publishing 224 State Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 http://www.arcadiapublishing.com (888) 313-2665