http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/15/travel/th ... index.html


So what am I supposed to think about this?

That is not the Edaville I once knew and loved, so I do not think I will be going back. Thank goodness the original narrow gauge equipment has left the property and returned to Maine.

-Philip Marshall

Is that a narrow gauge dummy Thomas being pushed by Diesel?

Not much, since it's not preservation.

I think Ellis Attwood would be pleased after all part of what he did in preserving the Maine 2 foot was to offer public rides to families and this is what Thomas does in numbers he could never dream of.

I too am glad the Maine 2 foot equipment still survives and operates elsewhere. I had some of my best times there running and firing. I worked on 3, 4 7 and 8. I liked 8 best. I remember Nelson Blount, Fred Richardson, Jose Guilbe who taught me fancy whistling like no other, Harry ? killed in auto accident (Nelson went from Steamtown to his funeral and thus ended his own life). I forget the M.M.'s name, Jack ? (manager) and others.

I am happy to hear that the 2 foot gauge equipment still survives and are going somewhere else. Lets get down to business Thomas the Tank Engine is the most famous fictional train in history so I guess building a theme park makes sense. I understand many rail fans prefer the 2 foot gauge locos and all than a fictional train in Edaville. Thomas has help to create Rail fans of the future it did with me. Building a Thomas theme park in Edaville is probably a location and more economical thing. I don't want to start anything because I don't know all the details.

Like Sesame Place here in PA, tons of people from all over the country and world flock to it to visit the only theme park in the country solely dedicated to the ever-popular show. I'd imagine that the same thing would go for Thomas Land - parents and kids will flock there (hopefully) and get kids even more excited about trains - and parents will want to take their kids on your local tourist line or visit your local museum.

Yes, I know this forum is all about preservation - and from a preservation standpoint - meh. But from the standpoint of growing interest and love of railroads to young and impressionable kids? I'm all for it if it means the future of our hobby and livelihoods will survive for the next generation and future generations to come...

The Thomas rolling stock was mostly manufactured in an independent rail car plant adjacent to, but not a part of, the WW&F Railway in Alna, ME.

I love the idea and would say I wish they'd had this when I was a kid, but growing up in Florida means I never would have gotten there.
Is it just me, or does it seem odd that they didn't make a self-propelled Thomas for this park?

Considering that if they lose the Thomas franchise, the "locomotive" would become unusable, why bother? I've never seen H.I.T. as being particularly friendly to preservation.

Does any of the historic Maine equipment still reside at South Carver, or has it all been rescued?

There is no remaining Maine two-foot equipment at Edaville. The last coach left about a year ago - I think to a private owner with ties to railroad heritage operations.

They have two operating 2' steam engines. #21 - a Hudswell-Clarke from Fiji (now somewhat americanized in appearance) and #11 a 30" saddle tank that has been re-gauged (and heavily modified into a tender engine, and using parts from at least one other locomotive.)

In short, the opening of Thomasland completes Edaville's transformation from a heritage railroad into a theme park.

I understand that SR&RL coach 21 was still at Edaville until a couple of years ago, but has since (thankfully) been moved to the Boothbay Railway Village. Rumor has it that the coach was traded in exchange for Boothbay's overhaul/rebuilding of Edaville's Porter No. 11, but I don't know this for a fact.

-Philip Marshall

Speaking of equipment that used to be at Edaville....

Who remembers this trolley?



It was outdoors at Edaville for 25 years, then it was acquired by the Trolley Museum of New York where its now stored inside.

Well, you can think whatever you'd like about it.

Personally, I think an amusement park devoted to trains is a wonderful idea. It's going to get kids out there to ride the trains and experience railroading. Granted, many of them will only consider it something fun, like riding a Pirate Ship or pretending to be an Astronaut. But a portion of them will go "Hey, this train stuff is cool! I want to do more!" Some of those will get interested in preservation, and thus further the hobby.

The days of kids getting interested in trains because Lionel Trains are the ultimate Christmas toy and something everyone has around the tree are long gone. MS Train Simulator just isn't the same, as the fact it's been discontinued will attest. So anything that helps promote interest in the hobby is great.

As with many of you, I miss the Edaville I once knew and loved. Cab rides during the Christmas runs will always be one of my fondest preservation memories. Running through the snow, and then in the dark, hauling full trains, somehow it felt more "real" than the typical tourist trains of that era. But that place is long gone, and nobody has managed to revive it, so this doesn't bother me much.

Looking at Google Maps, it appears that there is now a small oval of track and a long dead end spur along Atwood Resevoir. The oval looks pretty small for a 20 minute ride, but maybe. Does anyone know how the current operation works? Do they use the dead end track at all?

I recall hearing that the housing removed the hill on the line, but I had the impression they still had a loop. Then again, that was quite a few years ago, and things appear to have changed.