Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum

Mention "narrow-gauge steam railroading" to this Louisiana-boy and immediately I'm thinking of sugar plantations and backwoods lumber mills. But a Southerner like me can sure grow fond of Maine narrow-gauge operations, and thank the heavens there is still plenty of it to sample--in operation, no less! I fell in love with the Portland museum the moment I ventured out on their line and noticed the former standard-gauge trackage all reworked for new rails, with the full-length ties still in place! Now that's using what you have, and using it well. Indeed, there's almost room for double-track running! Steam was not in operation during the season of our visit, but the unusually thin switcher made nice work of the trek along the Portland shoreline. The caboose-combine and swayback coach were real treats, and the volunteer crew took time to demonstrate the finer points of uncoupling and coupling a gurgling GE industrial goat. A good day was had by all in the warm summer sun.