Running circles around 100 years of Maine history. Boothbay Railway Village's excursion train charges up the grade from Freeport Station to Thorndike Station as it makes its hourly circuit around the museum grounds. The village is designed to highlight technology and its influence on Maine life from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th century.
The little railroad that encircles Boothbay Railway Village is 2-foot gauge and roughly 3/4 mile in length. It features two original station buildings from Maine, one at the entrance to the museum, and one on the "back 40." In addition, there is a small engine house, water tower and trackage that leads to a restoration shop where equipment is built and serviced. While the museum collection does include some original, passenger and freight cars from Maine's historic 2-foot railroads, the excursion train itself is not historic Maine equipment. Three steam locomotives share the duties. Two are German-built Henschels, numbered 6 and 7. The 1934-vintage Number 6 is pictured here. In addition, the museum has recently completed restoration on a small, Baldwin-built industrial, saddle-tank locomotive, S.D. Warren Co. #2. The excursion consist, which includes one enclosed coach and one open excursion car were both built in the shops here at Boothbay.
