January 10, 2025
Dear friends of Maine Narrow Gauge,
I hope this message finds you and your loved ones well following the holiday season. As many of you know, during the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day, we at Maine Narrow Gauge received a letter that has significantly impacted plans for the coming months.
The letter informed us that work on a new condo and hotel development in Portland will require dismantling critical railroad infrastructure, forcing us to temporarily close until April. This communication comes at a time when our Board of Trustees had only agreed to a two-week closure period.
As I have said before, the Polar Express season is a cornerstone of what makes this railroad special. It’s a chance to create lifelong memories and share the magic of Maine’s rich history with families near and far. It is profoundly disheartening to think that this legacy was overshadowed by these last-minute challenges.Â
All of us at Maine Narrow Gauge understand and support the importance of Portland’s economic growth. However, we had sincerely hoped for an outcome that better balanced this progress with the preservation of Maine Narrow Gauge’s operations and allowed us to resume service as planned next month.
To that end, we have met with the developers this week and are sincerely determined to an ongoing dialogue that seeks a better outcome for all parties. While we are disappointed at the challenges we have faced to date, we remain committed to a spirit of collaboration that leads to a shortened closure period — one that provides our riders, supporters, and volunteers with the least disruptions and better respects our financial setbacks caused by a closure.
Thank you to all those who have reached out to us with messages of support, love, and appreciation for our place in the City of Portland. We know that with strong resolve and the support of the community, Maine Narrow Gauge can overcome this setback and thrive into the future.
Sincerely,
Griffin Bourassa
Executive Director
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum
