News

Spring 2010

The Downeast Scenic Railroad Project is currently signing up volunteers for the coming 2010 Spring/Summer/Fall work season. Projects for 2010 include rail rehabilitation, grade crossing rebuild, passenger car repairs, interior and exterior, as well as the day to day administrative functions needed to keep the project moving forward. WE NEED YOUR HELP, no experience necessary, just a desire to help preserve our Maine railroad heritage and a willingness to learn, it’s fun too!

If any of the these interest you and you would like to help this project send us and e-mail at info@downeastscenicrail.org.

Fall 2009

The Downeast Scenic Railroad volunteers have been very busy the past several months. We are in the final stretch to becoming operational in the summer of 2010.

Line ballasting is nearly complete and all crossings are now functional with the rebuild of the Ellsworth Davis Street crossing in late September.

Before the first snow volunteers completed the installation and set up of an 80 foot long portable building. This building has been placed over track 7 at Washington Junction and will allow for the final phases of the restoration of coach #155. We would like to thank Pat Jordan of R.F. Jordan Contractors and his crew for their help in getting this building ready to go.

Still to be completed on coach #155 is the siding and the installation of the new windows, as well as the bench seats. With all the other materials purchased and ready to be installed our last fundraising task to complete this coach is to raise the funds necessary to refinish the coach bench seats.

This final work will cost $11,000 to complete. We have 44 bench seats that need to be restored. This work consists of reupholstering and refinishing the bench seats and seat frames. We are acknowledging donors who give to this specific project by placing their name or the name they so designate on a plaque inside the car to commemorate donations towards the restoration of this vintage 1910 Maine Central coach.

Each bench seat donation is $250 and your donation will help us finish this restoration project and help preserve this beautiful car, putting it back in service on its home rails.

We are very close to having this car ready to carry passengers again. Please considering making a gift so that we may complete this great restoration effort.

In 2009 we took a great leap forward in completing the first phase of the Downeast Scenic Railroad project. Our volunteers have now logged over 17,000 hours in three years. This project would never have been possible without our dedicated volunteers and generous supporters.

Summer 2009

The Downeast Scenic Railroad has seen a flurry of activity this August, kicking off with the 2 mile run of a train from Washington Junction to Main Street in Ellsworth on August 1, 2009. An operation of this kind has not been seen on this line since 1985, thus marking this date in history!

Operating currently are locomotive #54, a flat car and a caboose. The use of this train is helping facilitate the remaining line work and moving us further West to Ellsworth Falls.

The work train proved invaluable in our recent rebuild of the crossing at Lincoln Street in Ellsworth, and will be used to move materials for our upcoming rebuild of Davis Street crossing. This will be the last crossing rebuild for this year and will then allow us to move the train the entire 4.5 miles we have reopened.

We are continuing to work on approval for transporting the public and know everyone is excited to climb aboard for a ride. Every effort is being made to carry our members, sponsors and donors on a maiden voyage once approval is granted. We will keep you posted.

In August we took delivery of a 1949 30 ton Davenport engine, donated by R&R Contracting, and refurbished by Independent Locomotive Services of Bethel, Minnesota. The #53 as it will be numbered spent a majority of it’s life working the ore docks in Duluth, Minnesota. This refurbishment was made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Pew III.

The preservation and restoration that has taken place to date would not have been possible without the generosity of so many people. While much has been accomplished this summer, despite the weather early on, we continue to need your help and support. With much still to do to have this project operational by the summer of 2010, your continued support is appreciated and key in seeing the Downeast Scenic Railroad become a reality.