Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum facts for kids
Locomotive No.4 outside the museum
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Portland |
| Locale | Portland, Maine, U.S. |
| Dates of operation | 1993–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 2 ft (610 mm) |
| Length | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Other | |
| Website | https://mainenarrowgauge.org/ |
The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum is a special place in Portland, Maine, United States. It's a museum and a working railroad that uses very narrow tracks, called a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway. Here, you can learn all about the history of these unique trains in Maine and even ride on one!
About the Museum and Railroad
The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum started in 1993. It's located in an old building complex called the Portland Company Marine Complex. The museum collects and shows off old passenger cars, freight cars, and other cool items from the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railways that used to run in Maine a long time ago, in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The museum also operates a fun train ride that is about 1+1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) long. This train travels right along the beautiful waterfront of Casco Bay. It runs next to Portland's Eastern Promenade, which is a lovely park area. You can ride in restored coaches pulled by historic steam or diesel locomotives.
Since 2021, some of the museum's steam locomotives are on loan to the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway. This means they are being cared for and sometimes used at another railway for a while.
Our Locomotives
The museum has several interesting locomotives. These are the engines that pull the trains. Some are steam-powered, and some are diesel-powered. Here's a look at some of them:
| Number | Images | Builder | Type | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
General Electric | 23 Tonner | 1949 | Not currently running |
| 3 |  |
Vulcan Iron Works | 0-4-4T | 1912 | Ready to run! |
| 4 |  |
Vulcan Iron Works | 0-4-4T | 1918 | Waiting for repairs |
| 7 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-4-4T | 1913 | Ready to run! | |
| 8 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-4-4T | 1924 | Waiting to be fixed up | |
| 11 | Plymouth | 9 Tonner | 1975 | Ready to run! | |
| 14 | Plymouth | 4 Tonner | 1976 | Ready to run! |
Locomotives That Visit Us
Sometimes, other locomotives visit the museum! Here's one that has been here:
| Number | Images | Builder | Type | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Whitcomb Company | 1950 | Ready to run! |
Gallery
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No. 4 pulling a special train ride.
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A train running along the Eastern Promenade.
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A train parked at the station platform.
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The narrow gauge tracks, which were once wider.
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