SANDY RIVER AND RANGELEY LAKES RAILROAD MAINE NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD MD52154
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2020
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This impressive silent movie shows the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad. This line was among the first of a number of 2 foot (610mm) narrow gauge railroads to be built within the state of Maine. Dating to 1879 the railroad connected the towns of Strong, Phillips and Farmington. It was a common carrier railroad that operated approximately 112 miles (180 km) of track in Franklin County, Maine. Although abandoned in the mid 1930s a piece of the railroad has been rebuilt within the town of Phillips, 128 Bridge Street, where a museum occupies the area with a short stretch of track restored. The film was photographed in the 1930s towards the end of its operation.
Highlights include:
00:25 Railbus at Phillips
01:24 Farmington meet with the standard gauge Maine Central
02:35 Snow scenes with steam engines
05:39 Mainline trains between Farmingting and Phillips, making a connection with the Kingfield Branch train
09:00 Scenes at Strong, dismantling of track
12:41 Phillips scenes
14:09 In May 1935 the remaining portions of the railroad were sold for scrap. On May 30 the last trains operated.
14:30 Numbers 18 and 23 coming out of engine house. #23 was a Baldwin 2-6-2 built in 1913. It was the largest 2 foot gauge engine in the United States. #18 was built by MEC in 1916 and also 2-6-2. Probably the last operating SR&RL engine.
18:49 junction at South Strong
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com
I'm old Boston guy that's been going to Maine for vacations often, these images are amazing, the snow, the rail bus, how cool is that, I would've loved riding on that.
So happy that someone had the foresight to film this railroad in action. A man by the name of Ellis D. Atwood was also sorry to see it go. He owned "cranberry bogs" near S. Carver, Mass., and built a 7 mile circular 2 foot gauge track in 1947 using some of the rolling stock from the S.R. & R.L. As far as I know, it's still there. It's where Ocean Spray cranberry sauce got it's start.
Thanks 👀✌️
Edaville yep still there
I am an old man now, 83. However, back in my 20's, 1968 or so, I ventured up to Rangeley Lake in Franklin County Maine to see where the Sandy River once ran. I had read Linwood Moody's wonderful book and was facinated by the concept of the Maine Two Footers. I was able to obtain some USGS topographic maps from the late 1920's. Between Moody' maps and the topos I had, it was fairly easy to find old roadbeds especially at road crossings. The little Marbles building was still there. My souvenier was finding a piece of broken rail ! This I had polished and engraved. I eventually donated it to the Edaville which was running back the,
Amazing film. Such an interesting and historic part of American Railroading. So sad that this line and it's buildings and equipment were abandoned and scrapped. We feel so fortunate here in Central PA that despite two close calls with the scrappers torch, twice now the amazing EBT (East Broad Top) narrow gauge railroad,it's shops. The roundhouse. Foundry,and line have been preserved and are finally again back in operation. The friends of the EBT and the new ownership and all the volunteers who are meticulously preserving the EBT should be praised. The EBT is now even working hard to clear trees, brush, and replace ties and rail heading towards Robertsdale and the Broad Top coal Mines, which will one day handle tourist trains in addition to the current excursion run North.
Thank God for Rail Fans back then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The "flying switch" move at 4:33 to 4:50 shows the moving engine uncoupled from a passenger car, and pulling ahead into a side track. The turnout is thrown just ahead of the oncoming car, redirecting the car into a station track powered only by inertia. The brakeman on the forward platform mans the brake wheel to bring the car full of passengers to a stop at the platform. This operation is almost impossible on cars fitted with air-brakes, standard on mainline trains since about 1900. So glad to see actual footage of this harrowing move.
you bleed the cars off. Did that move everyday for years.
A national treasure sold for scrap. The thirties were hard on everything. Thank goodness someone had the foresight to film this.
Charming railroad and a lovely glimpse of American history. Maine looks a beautiful place.
In my childhood I found that many bridges, roads, railway lines and tunnels were developed from two foot track, saw mills tracks layed to bring logs in. My father drove a wood burning 8x8 steam loco on 24 inch wooden switckback tracks as steep as all hell.
What wonderful trains were the 2 Footers! Sad knowing this era is gone other than some museum pieces.
Thanks for the look back at how....Things once were...!
Amazing to look back in time at the SRRLR. Fascinating to watch.👍
at 19:25 you can see Mt Abraham (Mt. Abram to locals) in the background.. i used to ride my snowmobile to school from Strong to Salem along this railroad bed in the mid 70's...Mt. Abram High School is at the base of this mountain.. 4096 ft to the summit, it was a great ride up to the top! "Two Foot Between the Rails" is a good book to purchase covering the SR&RL railroad with tons of picture and such.. i didn't know this video existed and i am very thankful to you for putting it here... it was a little emotional for me bringing back tons of memories from my childhood..thank you so much.. i think if i ever won the powerball i would try to rebuild at least part of that railroad.. i can dream can't i?
Jim, do you know if Strong station survived ? Google earth shows opposite to 29 River street a green roof building that looks likr it ?
@@danielfantino1714 a part of the freight office and warehouse is still there...there is a convenience store called the White Elephant in what used to be a warehouse across from where the Strong Hotel used to sit..Thorndike's logging garage is set up in part of what used to be the old station..the ticket office which would have set out closer to what is now rt 234 and 149 is gone..i will have to look at that google earth view myself bud..
Simultaneously sad and beautiful. Train travel is a unique and interesting mode of transportation especially the old narrow gage trains. But I have to admit that I love my truck and I love to drive.
Awesome film amazing narrow guage railway so sad it's gone im glad i watched this 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃👍
Thank you so much for posting this video. But, as a 'live steamer' it broke my old heart to see this part of history disappear.
That rail us is the cutest train ever ! Great movie. Old time USA. THANKS
I am born and raised here in this area and never had the chance to see the narrow gauge in action. Thank you priducing this video. My mom and Dad were around when the railroad was active and they road it from Strong to Farmington on a regular basis until it was dismantled two years after moving to Strong. Family history in that video. Again, many thanks!
David, do you know if Strong station survived ?
On Google earth, opposite to 29 River street there is a building, with green roof , in betwen 2 streets, with those straight truss betwen walls and roof. This arrangment is quite unusual, but with low budget...
So cool...thank goodness some remnants of these lines have been relaid and folks again get a chance to enjoy Maine’s two-footers.
Gone but not forgotten...with nice squelling wheels "sound"
Excellent! Thank you very much.
saddest thing i've seen all day. however, still great to see,
Thank you for posting this wonderful video. It’s so good to see what the line looked like and to see the equipment in revenue service.
My great Grandfather worked in the PNW in the logging camps making redwood ties with a large saw and a double bladed axe for 5 cents a tie. Also spent time mining at the Bullfrog mine in Rhyolite Nevada. Things sure have changed in America.....some good, some not so good. When I see these movies I'm glad someone went to the effort to save them on film for us to remind us of our history. I hope I get to see Maine once before I depart this Earth.
Get up there it's wonderful. Go see the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport... awesome
This film was on VHS tape. We took it out from the local library and found it haunting and felt sad that the railroad was dismantled during the depression. It was saved, at least on film before it went into history.
Fascinating footage.
I can't fathom how cold it was in the winter up there. And that is way up.
when i was a young teenager, i had a job pumping gas at a local gas station here in Strong.. my Dad told me one winter morning that it was too cold to ride my snowmobile to work.. i said "huh"? i looked at the thermometer and it read -51 degrees F... i walked to work, mainly because the batteries in both our vehicles were flat.....lol
Great video. Sad ending to a great time!!!!!!!!!
I believe that is Engineer Dana Aldrich at 8:11 - the last engineer ever to operate on the line.
Absolutely fantastic video 👌
the world and all future generations owe a debt to the people taking movies of these old steam trains. and anything to never be seen again. as the two footers are great.
Very good, thanks.
Amazing footage
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To learn the full story of these charming narrow gauge lines, a rare but informative book 'The Maine Two-Footers' by Moody, L. W. exists. Happy hunting. 📕
Maine had a very extensive public transportation system 100 years ago!!! The railroads, two foot railroads, and the trolley systems, now all gone , when we really could use them!!
I went to Edaville many times as a kid then took my kids many times up until Christmas time 1985.
Cute is not enough to describe things.
Wonderful and very interesting video. AAA +++ 🌱.•*°*•.🌱 Thank you to share it ! 🌱.•*°*•.🌱 +++ AAA
Should google to see how many of those engines ended up in eddaville and eventually Portland Maine narrow gauge railroad.
A good way of life vanished forever
Ah alas, to be able to go back in time with a few thousand dollars and save a couple more
Have you ever heard of the Sutro bath house railroad in San Francisco?
It's alive and well they have restored a portion of the tracks along with passenger cars and freight cars and steam engines it's awesome 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃👍😊
What is that horrible noise?
There’s a volume control. If you are displeased with the audio, just turn it off.
I hear it too. Sounds like DrEvil814 commenting again!