For years I neglected this little railroad due to the location, the tourist aura it fronts, but after the shops rebuilt WW&F #9's boiler, I decided to give them another look. My visit yesterday really opened my eyes. When you hear of railroad oriented museums which never seem to get ahead and seem to fall into further neglect each year, you have to be amazed by these people. The volunteers appear regularly to living quarters that provide beds, hot showers, and flush toilets. This is what is happening this year alone.


Former Maine Central crossing shack of octagonal design is being rebuilt by two volunteer carpenters. The staff is also rebuilding a full-size Maine Central caboose at this time.


Monson two footer is being rebuilt for the Sandy River and Rangely Lakes restoration. Boothbay shops are re-tubing and building a new smokebox, plus additional sheet metal work. This locomotive still says "Edaville" on the side.


Stored under a long weather shed, along with three n/g boxcars, this combine is going to be rebuilt this winter. Boothbay volunteers are raising a two-track car shop at the moment.


This Baldwin two-footer is in what might be the worst display shape I've ever seen, but only to the un-educated eye. Her boiler and tank look like swiss cheese, yet the drivers, cylinders, and running gear are in very good condition. Boothbay shops are going to replace the bad with new material of their own fabrication. The Baldwin is to be re-born! when the Monson loco is done.


The frame of #7, a German Henschell tank loco is ready to receive the recently rebuilt boiler. This work is to be finished this next week.


#7's boiler, just back from a parade, with a thank you to Boothbay volunteers painted on the side.


Boothbay Railway Village's bread and butter. A 1913 German Henschell pulls two cars of happy tourists around the loop. The volunteer Conductor and Engineer do a capital job of greeting the passenger, children in particular, and keeping guests informed.

The Railway Village comprises historic buildings moved from the original locations to the museum, a shed of historic automobiles, a beautiful model railroad which reprises Maine's glory days of railroading, and other railroad exhibits. I think it shows other small railroad museums that when people want to get things done, they get done. Nobody is twisting the arms of these volunteers (women and men). The Museum provided lodging on site, and welcomes most any mind, muscle, and sweat. It trains the operating staff, including railroad crews. The other factors involved are location, location, location. Still, I doubt there aren't lessons here for every operation that can't seem to move off center. If you are coming to Maine to see the WW&F, Boothbay Railway Village is only a short drive away.

Great post, Richard. BRV doesn't get enough press in my opinion. These folks have quietly built a solid reputation for being able to do anything, and do it first rate. In addition to the projects you mentioned, they've restored SR&RL caboose No 551 for the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum in Portland. These same individuals are working on repairs to Bridgton 7's firebox, also for the MNG. And their efforts have not been limited to narrow gauge. Over the past few years they've been contracted to perform firebox/boiler repairs on Conway Scenic's No. 7470, and completely re-built her tender tank.

BRV has been a very significant player in the preservation of northern New England's rail history.

I was up there a few years ago and came to the conclusion it was the "Rodney Dangerfield" of excursion railroads; no respect at all. What I quickly found out was the quality of the work as seen here, and the rather remarkable small-screen show the little Henschels could put out. The fun part was that you could ride in front of the car and darn near be in the cab, and watch it be fired with a one-handed coal shovel. But the noise and bark was entirely out of proportion to the size, and it had to actually WORK to be on that loop, it's not flat at all - working right up to full slip. Great fun. If you're anywhere near it, don't bypass it, that's for sure.

richard,

Those two paper mill locomotives that the boothbay folks have were down in New Jersey at an amusement part and were converted to gasoline operation; there is nothing inside the boilers.

It could be put back with a lot of work and dollars.

The Boothbay Village was a profit making tourist attraction for many years and bow the town owns it. They moved the Town Hall to the grounds and still use it for special meetings such as their annual New England town meeting.

I hope that they do some lettering on their equipment . The last time I visited not a single railroad item has any lettering on it! The model train layout is well done though.

Those German Industrial locomotives do have a strange motion, perhaps it is better now that they have worked on their track.

Ted Miles

Thanks for sharing. I would have never known and now I would love to make a visit.

I'm glad the post has raised the operation to other eyes. When you visit, you are not going to see a strict "railroad museum". What you are going to see is a popular attraction that just get things done in an efficient manner. I think the greatest lesson for the rest of us is in observing and seeing what appeals to the public and how these folks have pulled together some of the best ideas in rail preservation and restoration. They are not afraid to tackle hard (and simple) tasks and simply do them.
Remember, the WW&F is, like, 7 miles away, so you can see two first class operations in as many days. Best to do these on a summer weekend. WW&F is more the operation of a serious railroad, while BHRV is a family discovery of old New England.