Downeast Scenic Railroad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Downeast Scenic Railroad |
|
|---|---|
| Locale | Maine |
| Terminus | Calais |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Calais Branch |
| Built by | Maine Central Railroad |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Owned by | Track owned by Maine DOT |
| Operated by | Downeast Rail Heritage Trust |
| Reporting mark | DSRX |
| Length | 4 miles (6.4 km) (2010) 13 miles (21 km) (2019) |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1898 |
| Closed to passengers | 1957 |
| Closed | (?) |
| Preservation history | |
| 2005 | Downeast Rail Heritage Trust founded |
| 2010 | Open |
| Headquarters | Ellsworth |
| Website | |
| http://www.downeastscenicrail.org/ | |
The Downeast Scenic Railroad is a special train line in Ellsworth, Maine. It's like a museum on wheels! It's run by a group called the Downeast Rail Heritage Trust. This group is a non-profit organization that started in 2005. They help keep old trains running for people to enjoy.
The railroad uses a historic track called the Calais Branch. This track was once part of the Maine Central Railroad. The trains start from Washington Junction and travel west towards Brewer. The very first public train ride happened on July 24, 2010. At first, about 4 miles (6.4 km) of track were ready. Now, the railroad has expanded to about 13 miles (21 km) of track. They hope to run even more trains in the future, possibly all the way to Green Lake.
Trains and Equipment
The Downeast Scenic Railroad has several interesting trains. These include different types of locomotives and passenger cars. They also have other special rail vehicles.
Locomotives: The Engines That Pull
Locomotives are the powerful engines that pull the trains. The Downeast Scenic Railroad has a few different ones. Each has its own history and job.
| Number | Builder | Type | Built | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1055 | Alco | S-4 | 1950 | Operational | This engine came from the Conway Scenic Railroad in 2010. It's the main engine used to pull the fun excursion trains. |
| 54 | General Electric | 70-ton switcher | 1948 | Operational | This was the very first engine for the Downeast Scenic Railroad. It came from the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad. This engine had the honor of pulling the first train ride in 2010. It's now used as a backup engine. |
| 53 | Davenport Locomotive Works | 30-ton switcher | 1949 | Operational | This smaller engine was given to the railroad by R&R Contracting. It was fixed up in Minnesota. It used to work at ore docks in Minnesota. Now, it helps move cars around the Washington Junction railyard. |
| 470 | Alco | 4-6-2 | 1924 | Under restoration | This is a very special steam engine! It's owned by the New England Steam Corporation. Engine 470 was the last steam engine to run for the Maine Central Railroad back in 1954. It arrived at Washington Junction in 2016 to be restored. The goal is to have it running again for its 100th birthday in 2024. |
Rolling Stock: The Cars and More
Rolling stock refers to all the other vehicles that run on the tracks. This includes passenger cars, snow plows, and freight cars.
| Number | Builder | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Russell Snow Plow Company | Snow Plow | 1952 |
| 155 | Laconia Car Company | Passenger Car | 1910 |
| 102 | Delaware and Hudson Railroad | Combination Passenger / Baggage Car | 1904 |
| 124 | Magor Car Corporation | Open Air Car | 1964 |
| 26 | Magor Car Corporation | Flatcar | 1964 |
| 214 | Bethlehem Car Works | Flatcar | 1944 |
| 46 | American Car and Foundry | Hopper Car | 1944 |
| 2608 | Reading Company | Caboose | 1926 |
