Two of Maine's Two-Foot Gauge Railroad Museums Announce an Unprecedented Collaboration

The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum of Alna, Maine, in collaboration with the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum of Portland, would like to announce an unprecedented exhibition: the Narrow Gauge Railway Collection.

The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Core Collection, highlighted by the only historic two-foot gauge parlor car ever built in the United States, the Rangeley, will be displayed at an enhanced exhibition facility on the Sheepscot campus of the WW&F Railway Museum. The exhibit will also include other select artifacts from Maine’s unique two-foot gauge railroad systems. These special pieces will be arriving at Sheepscot Station throughout 2019 for public viewing and operation on the WW&F Railway.

Further information can be seen on each museum’s webpage: www.mainenarrowgauge.org and wwfry.org.

Supplementary Information:
● The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad "Core Collection" is defined as: Parlor Car Rangeley, and combination car 14 both from the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes RR and coach 16 Mt Pleasant, and caboose 32, both from the Bridgton & Saco River RR.
● "Other select artifacts" include Locomotive 8, plow 2, & tank car 14, all from the B&SR RR.
● The "enhanced exhibition facility on the Sheepscot Campus" includes enhancements to existing structures to provide additional exhibition and display space and better visitor facilities.
● Displays will be prepared and presented to the public within the exhibition space.
● Maine Locomotive & Machine Works of Alna has been an active supporter and partner in this venture; they will provide storage for some other pieces of the MNG collection, assist with transportation services, and play a part in maintenance and restoration of certain pieces.
● Look forward to jointly-produced events which highlight the partnership and utilize this equipment for unique operational opportunities on the WW&F.

So if I understand this correctly, these other select artifacts will be on display as well? Seems to be a good way to get some MNGRR stuff into safe storage and display while the move to Grey gets rolling...

Yes, with the need for Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co & Museum (MNG) to vacate their covered display and maintenance facilities within a timely fashion, the opportunity arose for collaborative effort to house and display select pieces of the MNG core collection at the Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington (WW&F). Look for more details on the exhibition space to be announced once they have been determined. The exhibition period is open-ended, so to allow the equipment to move elsewhere, should the opportunity arise.

The recently donated pavilion from the Maine Maritime Museum might make a good shelter for the MNG equipment.

There's an idea... Assuming that someone didn't already put the two and two together months ago when they first got it. We don't know how long these talks have been going on, but it's mighty helpful to already have a good sized structure ready to go.

Yes, the use of the Pavilion was considered to house the Narrow Gauge Collection. However, it is really too large to orientate properly anywhere on the main museum campus at Sheepscot Station. Consideration was given to placing it on the railroad for a "dual use" facility, but that really just made things more complicated. In the end, the pavilion will be used for event space, and we're putting the final touches on what an "enhanced exhibit space" will look like at Sheepscot.

We purposefully timed this announcement to coincide with the Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show, happening this weekend in Springfield, Ma. Representatives from both organizations will be on-hand to answer any questions. The WW&F may even have another surprise announcement...

Of course they will, because that is what the WW&F does best. Raise the bar!

I know Rick, you want to bring 58 up there and join the party.............

brian b ;)

Jason said no way, 58 would break their track!

Although we could pull the entire fleet without breaking a sweat...

I feel like something has been sorely missed here. Has the Maine Narrow Gauge museum in Portland been asked to vacate part of their property..? If so, what is the current plan for the museum?

The building that their static exhibits are in is being ... "redeveloped", and they cannot remain in that building.

To get a current, realistic understanding of the situation takes a bit of doing from published articles, but here is a start:
http://www.mainebiz.biz/article/2017082 ... anent-home
https://www.wiscassetnewspaper.com/arti ... ead/113159

While the operating part of the MNGR may continue, clearly the facilities/displays in the current Portland building can not stay there.

The latter is really a nice article even featuring brief summaries of the Two-Footers at the end.