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Special Note

Ticket sales for this special event will go directly to support the operational restoration of Monson locomotive 4, currently in the care of Maine Locomotive and Machine Works. Because ML&M is privately held, tickets or donations for this event are not tax-deductible, but will be used exclusively for the restoration of this unique surviving locomotive from Maine’s storied “2×6” railroad.

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Maine Steam Weekend

The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum of Portland has announced a shared celebration of Maine’s historic narrow gauge steam locomotives. The celebration will take place the weekend of May 9 and 10, 2026, with steam engine-powered train events taking place in Portland and Alna, Maine. The collaborative event is part of Maine’s contribution to National Train Day, set for May 9.

In Portland, Maine Narrow Gauge will be offering train rides on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, powered by the museum’s operating steam locomotive: Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Engine #7. 40-minute train rides behind engine #7 will depart from the station at 65 Thames Street at 10:00am, 11:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, and 5:00pm both days. Tickets begin at $13. Tickets can be purchased in advance from MaineNarrowGauge.org or purchased at the station in-person on operating days.

Engine #7 was constructed in 1913 for the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad in Bridgton, Maine. It was built to haul passengers, mail, food, and freight on a 16-mile-long railroad line between Bridgton and the town of Hiram, where the narrow gauge Bridgton & Saco River Railroad connected with the standard gauge Maine Central Railroad. After the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad (later renamed the Bridgton & Harrison Railway) went out of business in 1941, #7 was sold to a cranberry farm in South Carver, Massachusetts. The farm owner transformed his farm into the “Edaville Railroad,” which became a major tourist destination in New England over the next five decades. The Edaville Railroad closed in 1992 due to rising costs of business.

The non-profit Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum was formed after Edaville’s closure to acquire its collection of narrow gauge locomotives and train cars – most of which were originally from Maine – and return them to Maine from Massachusetts. The Museum exists to educate and entertain the public about the critical role of narrow gauge railroading in Maine’s 19th and 20th century history.

Engine #7 was a crown jewel of the ex-Edaville collection. The engine was completely restored on-site in Portland between 2008 and 2018 by Maine Narrow Gauge volunteers with a passion for steam history. Today, the engine is operated by Maine Narrow Gauge for special events as a historic demonstration of steam power.

The Museum is currently fundraising to construct a new permanent storage facility for #7, where it can be protected from the elements. The Museum’s previous historic storage facility was demolished by waterfront developers in Maine Narrow Gauge is seeking $100,000 to complete the storage facility project. Until a new facility is funded and constructed, Engine #7 can only operate on a very limited basis. Learn more about the need for the storage facility and donate in support of it at MaineNarrowGauge.org.

In Alna, the Wiscasset, Waterville, & Farmington Railway Museum of Alna and Maine Locomotive & Machine Works (of Alna) will co-produce a steam-powered Photographer’s Special train. This special charter will depart on Saturday, May 9 at 3:00p.m. from the grounds of the Wiscasset, Waterville, & Farmington Railway Museum at 97 Cross Road in Alna. This event is expected to sell out in advance.

The Photographer’s Special train will be led by Monson Railroad #3, a steam locomotive built in 1913 for the Monson Railroad of Monson, Maine. The engine was built to haul passengers, slate, and freight in the vicinity of Monson, Maine from 1913 until the Monson railroad closed in 1943. This locomotive was also part of the Edaville Railroad from 1947 until it was purchased by Maine Narrow Gauge along the rest of the Museum’s inaugural collection which returned to Maine from Massachusetts.

Monson #3 is owned by Maine Narrow Gauge and is operated on lease to Maine Locomotive & Machine Works. Maine Locomotive & Machine Works will be operating the locomotive on WW&F’s tracks on May 9.

The WW&F’s own steam locomotive, WW&F #9, will be in steam as well providing additional capacity for the event. #9 was built by the Portland Company in 1891 for the Sandy River Railroad. It operated on the Sandy River until it was sold to the Kennebec Central Railroad in 1924. It was then purchased by the original WW&F line in 1933. After the WW&F closed in 1937, #9 was transported to a private barn in Connecticut, where it remained in storage until 1995. It was acquired by the revived WW&F and returned to service in 2015.

Proceeds raised by the events in Portland and Alna will help fund the restoration of Monson Railroad #4 and Bridgton & Saco River Railroad #8 – companions to Monson Railroad #3 and Bridgton & Saco River Railroad #7, respectively. Monson #4 was built in 1918 for the Monson Railroad. Like #3, it served the slate quarries in Monson before being purchased by the Edaville Railroad. Bridgton & Saco River Railroad #8 was built in 1924 for the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad. The two Bridgton locomotives, #7 and #8, joined the ex-Monson Railroad engines at Edaville until the early 1990s. All four engines were transported back to Maine following Edaville’s closure and took duties powering steam trains in Maine Narrow Gauge’s early days. Engines #4 and #8 have been withdrawn from service, awaiting rebuilds which are mandated by federal law of all steam locomotives every fifteen years or after 1,472 days in service. Steam engines #4 and #8 are expected to be rebuilt and returned to steam by the early 2030s.

“We are thrilled to produce a shared event that puts steam power in the spotlight,” said Griffin Bourassa, Maine Narrow Gauge’s Executive Director. “By showcasing real working steam locomotives that used to operate in Maine, we are bringing our state’s past to life while also demonstrating the ingenuity of turn-of-the-century steam powered technology. It is a rare treat to have engines #3 and #7, and WW&F’s #9 in steam, in Maine, on the same day. We are grateful to our friends at Maine Locomotive & Machine Works and the WW&F for helping make this event possible.”

“The WW&F Railway is ecstatic to support the efforts of Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Maine Locomotive and Machine Works to restore historic Monson Railroad #4 and Bridgton & Saco River Railroad No 8,” said Jason Lamontagne, Superintendent of the WW&F Railway. “The opportunity to showcase the gem which is Monson No 3 on our restored railroad in Alna is always a pleasure. We wish Maine Narrow Gauge swift success in their efforts to construct a storage building in Portland. All in all, please join us in Maine on May 9 and 10 for a weekend of Maine ‘two-footer’ celebration and preservation!”

“Steam is here to stay in Maine,” said Brian Fanslau, owner of Maine Locomotive & Machine Co. “There are currently four operational steam engines in Portland and Alna, all built for two-foot narrow gauge tracks. As we speak, four other narrow gauge steam locomotives – all from Maine’s past– are in various stages of restoration/construction in Maine. The future is exciting for historic narrow gauge steam power in this state. This event is one way we can share our enthusiasm with the public.”