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Narrow Gauge Railroad Might Make Tracks for Bridgton

June 03, 2008 - BRIDGTON -- After more than 60 years, Bridgton might have a narrow gauge railroad again.

A coalition of local organizations recently met with the Portland-based Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum and hashed out a rough plan of action to bring a narrow gauge railroad back to Bridgton, where the trains stopped running for good in 1941.

Narrow gauge railways, which measure 2 feet between rails, as opposed to about 4 feet, 8 inches for standard railroads, were once common in Maine.

The idea to bring the trains to Bridgton grew out of speculation that the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum would have to vacate its current location on the Portland waterfront.

Bill Shelley, a local resident, wrote an editorial in the Bridgton News about bringing the railroad to Bridgton, said Mike McClellan, executive director of the Maine Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce.

This led to a loose collaboration with the railroad museum, the Chamber of Commerce, the Lakes Environmental Association and the Bridgton Historical Society.

Although Susan Davis, executive director of the Trust for the Preservation of Maine Industrial History and Technology, which runs the Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, is optimistic that her organization won't have to leave Portland, she is still eager to work with Bridgton.

"We made a point that we can't invest any of our volunteer resources," Davis said, "But we do have lots of rolling stock" -- coaches, box cars and engines -- "that we can share."

Davis finds it fitting that some of the narrow gauge cars now in Portland were once in Bridgton.

The first phase is to bring a narrow gauge coach and place it in front of the chamber of commerce, McClellan said.

"The idea is to almost use it as an advertisement," said McClellan.

Next, McClellan said, the group hopes to lay down a short length of track behind the chamber and ultimately connect a line to Denmark.

"I have no idea how long it would be to have a train running," McClellan said.

But McClellan sees many benefits to having a train in town.

"People would come specifically to visit the train," he said. "The chamber is really excited."

McClellan expects that the coach will be placed in front of the chamber in the next two weeks.

"It's an awesome location," he said. "(A narrow gauge railroad) is such a unique thing. The old-timers tell me that when Bridgton got rid of the trains, they immediately regretted it. I think some of these people are saying: 'We have a second chance, and let's not lose this."'

By ISAAC KESTENBAUM, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, May 29, 2008


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