Dear Maine Narrow Gauge Community,
As we emerge from a long and eventful winter, I want to thank you for being part of the passionate community that keeps Maine’s narrow gauge story alive. Your support – and that of people like you – continues to preserve a remarkable legacy of ingenuity, industry, and small-town railroading that once tied our state together.
This season brought more than cold weather. Due to a major waterfront development project, we were required to temporarily shut down operations, remove sections of our track, and relocate our equipment. While these disruptions were not easy, they also served as a reminder of what we are here to protect – and why it matters more than ever.
Despite the challenge, our shop crew remained focused on the future, advancing critical restoration work that your donations directly support.
This winter, we concentrated our efforts on two projects:
Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Box Car #62 – One of only two original boxcars from the Bridgton & Saco River known to survive, #62 was built in the 1880s and rebuilt by the railroad in 1906.
Over the years it fell into disrepair, but thanks to donor-funded materials and volunteer support, we’ve replaced both end beams and made it structurally sound for the next phase of restoration. Once complete, this boxcar will be one of the few surviving examples of two-foot freight equipment in the country.
Coach #23 – Built in 1958 for the Edaville Railroad and acquired by Maine Narrow Gauge in 1992, this coach has become a reliable part of our fleet for generations of passengers. This winter, we took it out of service to repair weathered woodwork and prepare it for safe, continued use on our operating railroad.
These are just the beginning. With your help, we plan to accomplish even more in the coming months.
This year, your donations will help us:
âś… Construct a permanent engine house to protect Locomotive #7 from the elements.
âś… Fund the full rebuild of Bridgton & Saco River Box Car #57 in collaboration with the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum.
âś… Purchase materials for another passenger coach restoration next winter.
Each of these projects supports our core mission: to preserve and operate historic Maine narrow gauge railroad equipment so future generations can see, hear, and ride behind these living pieces of history.
And here’s something important I want you to know:
Your donation doesn’t pay for labor—our train ride revenue does.
Your donation buys steel, wood, paint, bolts, and glass.
Your donation turns raw materials into restoration.
When you give to Maine Narrow Gauge, your gift results in something tangible. You’ll be able to point to a finished railcar and know: “I helped rebuild that.”
That’s why we’ve set an ambitious but achievable goal: to raise $100,000 in donations this year for materials and supplies to complete these major projects.
Will you help us reach that goal?
A gift of $50 might buy the hardware for an entire brake system. $250 can cover lumber for new car siding. $1,000 can fund steel and fasteners for a complete end beam replacement. Every gift brings us closer to seeing these historic pieces restored and ready for display or operation.
Your generosity fuels our momentum—and ensures that our trains and stories keep rolling for years to come.
Thank you for standing with us at this pivotal moment. Together, we can keep Maine’s two-foot railroad history on track.
With deepest appreciation,
Paul Forbes
President
Maine Narrow Gauge
Railroad Co. & Museum
Griffin Bourassa
Executive Director & CEO
Maine Narrow Gauge
Railroad Co. & Museum
