On August 8th and 9th, the Museum held its Annual Picnic. The special feature for the weekend was the running of a train pulled by Monson Railroad Engine #3, courtesy of the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum, in Portland. Thanks to coverage in local and state newspapers, the event drew over 600 people.
The event went quite smoothly, with either the train or
Railcar #2 leaving every 20 minutes, travelling to the end of track and
back. Train #3 (pulled by Engine #3) made frequent photo run-by's at
the Davis road crossing, just out of sight of the station.
| Monson RR #3 rests at the station early Saturday morning. |
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| Train 3, stopping at the Davis Crossing to let folks out for the photo runby |
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The Alna Fire Department provided the food and water for the engine. Coal was donated by Bob Longo of New York. Additionally, a display case was dedicated to the Family of Ruth Crosby Wiggins, noted author on the WW&F.
The following weekend was also a good one, although with less people. Both weekends went smoothly, with the weather and the engine cooperating.
This venerable engine was built in 1913 by the Vulcan Iron
Works, of Wilkes-Barre, PA, for the Monson Railroad, and became that
railroad's third engine. The engine ran until that railroad closed, in
1945, and was sold to a scrapper. She was bought later in the '40's by
the late Ellis D. Atwood, owner of the newly fledged Edaville Railroad,
in South Carver, MA. Engine 3, and her sisters #4 (also from the
Monson), #7, and #8 (from the Bridgton and Harrison RR), operated for
the Edaville Railroad, until 1991 when that operation shut down.
| This picture could easily have been taken in 1898 rather than 1998, as a freight train heads south toward Wiscasset. Photo by Marcel Levesque. |
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The MNGRR opened in 1993, buying the #3 and much of the Edaville equipment from the Atwood estate. Since then, #3 has run on many special events, including MNGRR's Festival of Lights at Christmas time, and was trucked up to Monson to help celebrate that town's 175th anniversary on 180 feet of track newly laid by WW&F and local volunteers.
This event marked the first time that a steam engine has
operated for a scheduled event since June 15, 1933, when WW&F #8
derailed in Whitefield, and the railroad ceased operations. Timetables
were drawn up for the event. Many thanks to the Maine Narrow Gauge RR,
which graciously agreed to allow us the use of this historic engine for
these two weekends.
| Riders enjoying a ride during a warm, sunny day. Photo by Marcel Levesque. |
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