Steam and Sleighs on the Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway 2-17-19
In the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, Maine was once spanned by a web of steel rails, some being 4 feet, 8 and a half inches, the others being the 2 footers. Popularized at the turn of the century, the 2 foot narrow gauge railways were an exclusive breed, nowhere else in the country would you find an extensive 2 foot gauge system, but in Maine, they were almost as common as the standard gauge. With multiple railroads such as the Bridgton and Saco, Kennebec Central, Monson, Sandy Lakes and Rangeley, and Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington. The 2 footers brought rails where it wouldn't have been economical to run a standard gauge, and they served their communities and local industries well, running both extensive passenger and freight. Much of the railroads lasted into the Great Depression and even going into WWII before their right of ways were torn from the landscape, leaving only a selection of the equipment. Despite the rails being removed, nonprofit groups have taken on the task of restoring right of ways and even the facilities of old, the Sandy Lakes and Rangeley, and Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington are the two examples.
The Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington now operates as a museum, with original motive power and rolling stock, roaming the 4 miles of restored right of way from Sheepscot Station to Alna Center and to Top of the Mountain, volunteers keep the railroad in operation.
Seen here is one of their winter operations, their Steam and Sleighs event, with rides along the mainline to Alna Center, where horse drawn sleigh rides and hot chocolate is available, and to Top of the Mountain, where hiking trails are also available. To any rail enthusiast, this is a must visit destination, with railroad history just not present in the rest of the United States, enjoy the sights and sounds of the Maine 2 footers!
Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway
A short video of a two foot gauge railroad in Alna, Maine. For more information and photos, please go to:
trainphilos.com
Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington Railway turntable
WW&FRy no. 9 going for a spin on the turntable at Sheepscot.
Down the Mountain Oct 8 2018
October 8, 2018 - a work train traverses the Mountain Extension of the WW&F Railway Museum in Alna, Maine. All track shown was hand-laid in the prior 3 days by volunteers from all over the United States. Total track laid was 1430 feet.
The video starts just past Location 1 - which was the prior end of track, approximately 650 feet from the current end of public train service at the Top of the Mountain.
At 1:50, the train reaches The Slide, Location 4. The repair at this location required a significant amount of fill, where the former right-of-way washed away into the valley below.
At 2:30, Location 6, the Pinch Point is reached. This was the most significant repair needed along this stretch of track, where the line needed to be relocated and a retaining wall built, within 20 feet of Trout Brook, a protected waterway and in the midst of the conservation land of the Trout Brook Preserve. All repairs along the Mountain Extension were approved by federal, state, and local agencies.
The video ends as the new end of track is in sight. 900 feet further, the roadbed reaches the crossing of Trout Brook, where the relocated Moose Brook Bridge has been erected. Track will reach and cross the bridge in 2019, and public train service will begin down the mountain in 2021.
For your reference, there is a link to a map of the Mountain Extension in the comments below.
If you are interested in rebuilding Maine history, please join us. Visitors and new volunteers are always welcome. We'll see you on the narrow gauge!
HD: Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington 2ft. gauge
The line was operated as a for-profit company from 1895 until 1933 between the Maine towns of Wiscasset, Albion, and Winslow, but was abandoned in 1936. Today, about two miles of the track in the town of Alna has been rebuilt and is operated by the non-profit Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum as a heritage railroad offering passenger excursion trains and hauling occasional cargo.
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Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington #9 in the eve.
1891 Portland Forney #9 makes a spirited dash up the road in the gathering gloom of 10-12-19 with a 4 car train. Engineer Dana Deering exhibits fine form as he negotiates the rolling terrain.
A lot of wind noise, but I enjoyed it!
Firing up and running Two Foot Gauge Steam Locomotives - Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railroad
The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railroad was a two-foot narrow gauge common carrier railroad that operated from 1894 until 1933. The line ran from Wiscasset in the south, to Albion and Winslow in the north, never making it to either Waterville or Farmington. The Great Depression brought about the railroad’s scrapping in 1937.
The WW&F Railway Museum was founded in 1989 to restore and rebuild the original railroad. 2.5 miles of railroad have been rebuilt to date, plus original cars and a locomotive.
This video, shot in January of 2017 features beautiful winter railroading scenes of days gone by. Featuring WW&F locomotive #9 (former Sandy River and Rangley Lakes #5 and 6) and visiting locomotive #3 originally from the Monson Railroad. Both are 0-4-4 Forney type locomotives.
Highlights include the new turntable, double headers, a flying cut-off of a helper locomotive, yard switching, and more.
Maine 2 Foot Narrow Gauge Diesel Cab Ride
My Brother and I got to Ride on the Cab {Walkway} of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad 2 foot Gauge Diesel Locomotive #1 in Portland Maine
WW&F Railway Easter Photo Freight
On April 11, 2009, a special before foliage photo freight was run to open the year. This was the first steam up day of the year and after the Easter Express runs, the freight was run. This location was at Humason Brook Trestle. Please visit for more info on upcoming events, directions, gifts, donations, etc.
Maine 2 Footers In 2015
In late 2015, I visited the three remnants of the once vast Maine narrow gauge empire. I visited the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad in Philips, the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum in Portland, and the Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Railway in Alna.
It's now early 2016, and I am now a proud member of the WW&F. I've gone on many outings with the crew this winter, to cut trees for a building site.
So, sit back and enjoy narrow gauge railroads in the vast state of Maine.
WW&FRy 9: The Sheepscot Valley Forester
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Nestled away in the pine forests of Southern Maine, the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum is a volunteer-operated organization that channels its rich railroading history and brings the immersive experience of narrow gauge railroading unique to the state of Maine. The museum, since its inception in 1989, has worked to restore and recreate the right of way, facilities, and even rolling stock of the railway that once ran between the towns of Wiscasset, Albion and Winslow, but never reaching the namesake towns of Waterville or Farmington. Today, the railway maintains an active route of 2.6 miles based in Sheepscot, running north to Alna Center and Top of Mountain, with future extensions currently in progress. Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway #9, an 0-4-4 Forney, built by the Portland Company in 1891, is pulling a photography special organized by the museum today, giving a unique opportunity to experience the trains the engine may have pulled in its heyday. The engine, restored to service in December 2015, is the last surviving steam locomotive of the WW&F Railway and is beautifully maintained by her caretakers. Now, please enjoy this exciting video brought to you by Blue Comet Productions!
This video was filmed on April 14th, 2018.
Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington
Victorian Christmas Train on the WW&F Two Foot Gauge Railroad , Near Alna , Maine
WW&F Railway
Scenes from the WW^F Raiway Museum, Alna, Maine wwfry.org
WW&F Railway Victorian Christmas
The Wiscasset, Waterville, & Farmington Railway Museum has hosted FREE Christmas train rides for nearly 20 years. And due to an increasing demand, they are currently looking at ways to expand the experience. This is a unique event, and brings out the spirit of a Maine Christmas.
Hometown Maine - Alna
In this weekend's Hometown Maine, News 8's Norm Karkos takes us to Alna where one museum connects Maine's railroad past to our future. Subscribe to WMTW on YouTube now for more:
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WW&F Railway Fall Work Weekend, October 2014
Just a short amateur video taken with my HTC phone -
A talented group of volunteers is restoring the 2-foot gauge Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway, in Alna, Maine. The line was in operation from 1895-1933, between Wiscasset and Albion, Maine. This short video shows continued track construction (including a siding) northward, on the original right-of-way, during the weekend of October 10-13, 2014. This was my fifth work weekend laying rail at the WWF.
There were many other great projects during this weekend. This just covers the track extension.
Top of the Mountain, 1 and 1/4 mile south of Head Tide, Maine
The WW&F Railway Museum's Spring 2018 Photo Special
In mid April of 2018, The Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum sponsored their annual spring photographers' special. The star of the show was WW&F #9. On this trip, #9 performed many runbys over the 3.5 mile portage of the original WW&F from Sheepscot Station, the museum's base of operation & main boarding terminus to Top of Mountain. She ran two different consists for 2 sessions of the charter. In the morning, she ran a mixed freight with W&Q coach #3. Then in the afternoon, she ran a regular freight consist with caboose #320 on the rear. If you love narrow gauge steam especially New England steam, then this video will fill your need for a recreational narrow gauge steam railroad that represents a part of railroad history from the late 19th century to late 1920s & early 1930s when the Great Depression took its toll on America's businesses especially the railroads. Enjoy!
Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Ry guest, Monson #3
Monson #3 jogs back to Sheepscot after a lite engine move up the line on a pleasant Maine evening.
WW&F #9 at the Top of the Mountain
No. 9 picked up a coach downgrade that hauled WW&F volunteers to the end of track for clearing more right-of-way.
Bridgton & Saco River #7 (Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum)
Operated out of Portland, Maine is the Naime Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum. This operation uses original two-foot gauge equipment from various railroads of Maine's history.
Recently restored to service is Bridgton & Saco River 2-4-4T #7. This Forney type engine was used for the B&SR (later Bridgton & Harrison) from 1913 to 1933. It was used extensively at the Edaville Railroad in South Carver, MA from 1941 to the late 90s. It was brought back to Maine in the 2000s and went through a long restoration project. Number 7 finally returned to service in 2018.
Follow along with the regular trips along the waterway.
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