Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum
MNGX station (2022)
Overview
HeadquartersPortland
Reporting markMNGX
LocalePortland, Maine
Dates of operation1993–present
Technical
Track gauge2 ft (610 mm)
Length1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Other
Websitehttps://mainenarrowgauge.org/

The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum (reporting mark MNGX) is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway, located in Portland, Maine, United States.[1]

History

Operating out of the former Portland Company Marine Complex, the organization was founded in 1993 and continues to operate as of 2024. The collection consists of passenger and freight equipment, as well as artifacts from the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railways that ran in the state of Maine in the late 19th century and early 20th century.[1]

The organization operates a 1+1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) long railroad that runs along the waterfront of Casco Bay and parallels Portland's Eastern Promenade. Historic steam and diesel locomotives and a variety of restored coaches are used to run passenger services on the railroad.[1]

In 2014, the railroad planned to move their equipment and relocate to Gray, Maine with a brand new depot and engine house building planned to be built, however, the plan never came to fruition and the museum decided to remain in Portland.[2][3][4][5][6]

In 2021, several of their steam locomotives were on long-term loan at the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway.[7][8]

In mid-January 2025, the railroad was shut down for several months as tracks were ripped up for "Portland Foreside", a $660M luxury neighborhood development project, featuring a hotel, restaurant, condos, apartments, as well as an indoor market and public plazas.[9] MNGX originally expected the railroad to be down for two weeks while the tracks were removed and replaced following construction; Foreside claimed the construction was planned to minimize disruption.[10][11]

Equipment

Locomotives

Locomotive details[7]
Number Image Type Model Built Builder Status
1 Diesel 23-ton switcher 1949 General Electric Operational
3 Steam 0-4-4T 1912 Vulcan Iron Works Operational
4 Steam 0-4-4T 1918 Vulcan Iron Works Disassembled, awaiting overhaul
4 Railcar Railbus 1925 Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad Operational
7 Steam 2-4-4T 1913 Baldwin Locomotive Works Operational
8 Steam 2-4-4T 1924 Baldwin Locomotive Works Stored, awaiting restoration
11 Diesel DDT 10-ton switcher 1975 Plymouth Locomotive Works Operational
14 Diesel CL-2 4-ton switcher 1923 Plymouth Locomotive Works Out of service
16 Diesel CL-2 4-ton switcher Unknown Plymouth Locomotive Works Out of service

Visiting locomotives

Visiting locomotive details[7]
Number Image Type Model Builder Built Status Notes
5 Diesel 25DM42a 1950 Whitcomb Company Out of service On lease from the Edaville Railroad

Rolling stock

Rolling stock details[7]
Number Image Type Built Builder Status
9 Passenger car 1901 Jackson and Sharp Display
15 Passenger car 1882 Laconia Car Company Under restoration
16 Passenger car 1903 Jackson and Sharp Operational
19 Passenger car 1890 Billmeyer and Small Stored, awaiting restoration
22, 23, 24, 25 Passenger cars 1958-1987 Edaville Railroad Operational
14 Combine car 1890 Billmeyer and Small Operational
15 Combine car 1890 Billmeyer and Small Operational
12 Combine car 1958 Edaville Railroad Operational
102, 105 Open-air cars 1960s Edaville Railroad Operational
50, 52, 56, 57, 60, 62, 70 Boxcars 1889-1905 Portland Company Operational
Bridgton and Saco River Tank Tanker car 1903 Portland Company Stored
101 Caboose 1882 Laconia Car Company Display
553 Caboose 1904 Sandy River Railroad Operational
557 Caboose 1913 Maine Central Railroad Display
40 Flanger 1913 Maine Central Railroad Stored
2 Snow plow 1900 Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Stored, awaiting restoration
  • No. 4 hauling an excursion train.
  • Train operating along the Eastern Promenade.
  • Train parked at the platform.
  • Narrow gauge tracks re-gauged from standard gauge.
  • A double-track section of the railroad

References

  1. ^ a b c "Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum". Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum. 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Campaign". graymaine.org. December 15, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  3. ^ "Narrow Gauge decision a surprise to Gray". pressherald.org. September 19, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  4. ^ "Narrow Gauge Railroad's move to Gray on touchy track". pressherald.org. September 19, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  5. ^ "Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Relocating to Gray, ME". graymaine.org. August 8, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  6. ^ "All aboard: Narrow Gauge Railroad will stay in Portland". newscentermaine.com. August 8, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d "Collection & Roster | Portland, ME".
  8. ^ "Equipment Roster".
  9. ^ Wooten, Rya (July 16, 2025). "Wrapped train cars in Portland create further issues between developers, railroad". News Center Maine.
  10. ^ "Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad forced to close three months for construction". newscentermaine.com. January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025. "We came in to work last Monday and found excavators tearing down our buildings and removing our tracks." According to Foreside Development, the project is part of a land swap agreement that was negotiated seven years ago between their company, the City of Portland, and Maine Department of Transportation. In a statement, Foreside said that the project received input from Portland Trails and MNGRR.
  11. ^ WGME Staff (January 14, 2025). "Off-track: Narrow-gauge railroad in Portland closed until April due to development". WGME. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  • Meade, Edgar T. Jr. (1968). Busted and Still Running. The Stephen Greene Press.
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