Our Mission: The Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust was established out of a respect for the past and a vision for the future.

The mission of the Trust is to celebrate and preserve the railroad history of Downeast Maine. Our immediate and primary goal is to develop the Downeast Scenic Railroad for the education, enlightenment and enjoyment of future generations.

“There are very few heritage railroad projects—new or existing—which have the strengths and potential that the Downeast Scenic Railroad has.” John Hankey, Former Curator, B & O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, Maryland

Analysis of the DRHPT's potential by Stone Consulting, Inc. shows that upon start of full operations from Ellsworth to Green Lake, the Downeast Scenic Railroad is projected to:

* Generate $5M per year for the local economy
* Create approximately 200 combined direct and indirect jobs
* Become self-sustaining after the second year of full operations
* Have ridership totals of approximately 72,000 people per year