Library of Congress – Vintage Aerial views

The US Library of Congress has an internet accessible gallery of vintage aerial views of towns, primarily from across the USA. The gallery can be searched by a number of different terms, but perhaps the most useful is by state or location at ;- https://www.loc.gov/collections/panoramic-maps/index/location/

Click here to go to the Library of Congress page for this view in another browser window.

Be aware that a number of download styles are available, including full size versions exceeding 100MB as downloads.

 

As an aid to the Maine Two Foot enthusiast to determine whether they wish to visit the LOC site to download their own copies, we show the following reduced copy views. Clicking on these pictures will show a larger version in your browser.

Bridgton, Maine, 1888.

This view shows the original Bridgton & Saco River railroad entering the town just below the ponds at the middle left. Note that the inset picture at the lower left is a coloured rendition of the black & white photograph published in many standard texts about the B&SR, including Jones’ Two Feet to the Lakes on page 36.

The pictorial view is notable for showing many of the Mills of Bridgton. Inspection of the full sized copy on the LOC site (at https://www.loc.gov/item/83694327/ ) allows the feint numbering of the mills to be read.

Click here to go to the Library of Congress page for this view in another browser window.

Monson, Maine, 1889.  

This view is noteworthy for showing the tracks of the Monson railroad entering town, and then going to the individual slate mines beyond the station area.

The full size copy is available from https://www.loc.gov/item/73694689/

Click here to go to the Library of Congress page for this view in another browser window.

Kingfield, Maine, 1895.

This view shows the original Franklin & Megantic railroad entering Kingfield as a spur while the mainline bypasses the town in the background.

The full size copy is available from https://www.loc.gov/item/2002621454/

Click here to go to the Library of Congress page for this view in another browser window.

Wiscasset, Maine, 1878. 

This view predates the building of the Wiscasset & Quebec two foot line, but does show the standard gauge line, town and wharves.

The full size copy is available from https://www.loc.gov/item/2002621455/

Click here to go to the Library of Congress page for this view in another browser window.

Gardiner, Maine, 1878.

This view predates the building of the Kennebec Central two foot line, but does show the standard gauge line on the opposite bank, the town and wharves. It also shows just how neatly the Kennebec Central was threaded through the existing landscape.

The full size copy is available from https://www.loc.gov/item/2002621455/

Click here to go to the Library of Congress page for this view in another browser window.

Laconia, New Hampshire, 1883.

Although not served by a two foot line, the interest in this view is the Laconia Car Company shown in the middle of town. This company built a number of items of rolling stock for the Maine Two Footers either directly or in a previous incarnation as The Ranlet Car Company.

The full size copy is available from https://www.loc.gov/item/2002621455/

Click here to go to the Library of Congress page for this view in another browser window.

 

Track Schematics – the Monson

This series of track schematics were produced by Trevor Marshall in 2007 as part of his mid-term re-design for his On2 Somerset & Piscataquis Counties RR layout, and were originally published on the groups Fotopic site. Trevor drew them up to enhance his understanding of the operations of the smaller Maine Two Footers and to demonstrate the relative simplicity of their facilities. They are not to scale and where the track work changed over time, they generally represent the largest variant. Note that the original intent of these track schematics was as model railroad LDE’s (Layout Design Elements) rather than as historically or prototypically correct representations.

Click here to view Trevor Marshall’s On2 Somerset & Piscataquis Counties RR layouts on another page.

 

The Monson was a pretty simple line running the six miles from Monson Village (below) and the slate quarries beyond to Monson Junction (above) where it interchanged with the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad.

Prototype Information: the Monson locomotives

The former Monson locomotive #3 saw some 30 years service with the Monson line in Maine before some 40+ years at Edaville in Massachussetts, and is pictured here at the Narrow Gauge Museum at Portland, Maine sometime in the late 1990’s.

The following notes on individual locomotives were originally collated and published by Chuck Collins, and are re-published here with his permission. The introduction, updates and formatting for this blog by Terry Smith. Updated 03-03-2015.

The Monson line

The Monson line was in many ways the simplest and longest lasting of the Maine Two Footers. Chartered in 1881 as the Monson & Athens Railroad, it started building in the Spring of 1883 and the first train arrived at Monson Station on September 4^th.

The line ran from Monson Junction on the standard gauge Bangor & Aroostook to Monson village some six miles north. Although incorporated as a common carrier, the main function of the line was to transport finished slate products from the various slate mines north of the village to the standard gauge connection and then onto the rest of the world.

In 1885 the name of the railroad was changed to the Monson Railroad. In 1908 the Monson Maine Slate Company gained control of the railroad, and it continued to operate until it was abandoned in 1943 and scrapped in 1944.

The line continued to use link and pin couplers, hand brakes and stub switches to the end.

The two Vulcan locomotives (Monson #3 & #4) survived the scrapping operation and were later bought by railfan Ellis D Atwood for his Edaville Railroad in Massachusetts. The smaller Monson engines soon became the preferred engines for their fuel economy and reduced track maintenance requirements. Currently at the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum in Portland.

 

Monson #1

Hinkley #1621 built 7/1883 as Monson #1 G.S.Cushing.

14 ton inside frame 0-4-4RT
32″ diameter 130psi boiler
9″x12″ cylinders
30″ drivers
Rear tank carried 600 gallons water & 3/4 ton wood.

This locomotive served as Monson #1 (1883 – 1912).

This locomotive modified the design of Bridgton & Saco River #1-2 to allow the use of wood fuel. Became Monson’s regular engine until worn out and converted to a snowplow in 1912. Rebuilt to burn coal about 1908.

Monson #2

Hinkley #1661 built 3/1884 as Monson #2 H.A.Whiting.

14 ton inside frame 0-4-4RT
32″ diameter 130psi boiler
9″x12″ cylinders
30″ drivers
Rear tank held 600 gallons water & 3/4 ton wood.

This locomotive served as Monson #2 (1884 – 1918).

This locomotive was a repeat order of the Monson #1 design. Used as Monson’s standby engine until Monson #4 delivered in 1918. Rebuilt to burn coal about 1908 and scrapped about 1918.

Monson #3

Vulcan #2093 built 2/1913 as Monson #3.

17 ton inside frame 0-4-4RT
38″ diameter 165psi boiler
10″x14″ cylinders
33″ drivers
Rear tank carried 9/10 ton coal.

This locomotive served as Monson #3 (1913 – 1943)

Edaville #3 (1946-1993)

Currently at the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum in Portland

Vulcan updated the Portland design set by Phillips & Rangeley #1. This engine validated the original Portland design by providing decades of economical service with minimal track maintenance for both Monson and Edaville. Similar engines might have extended the life of the Bridgton & Saco River railroad just as old Portland engines kept trains running over the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington. For Monson’s purposes, however, the design was modified by specifying a slightly lighter engine on their next order from Vulcan. Became the regular engine until Monson #4 was delivered in May, 1918. Then used as the standby engine until Monson #4 wore out in 1936. Was then Monson’s only operable engine until service was discontinued in 1943. Salvaged and rebuilt for Edaville in 1946. Became Edaville’s preferred engine until train operations were terminated. Moved to Portland Museum in 1993 and became their preferred engine.

Monson #4

Vulcan #2780 built 2/1918 as Monson #4.

16 ton inside frame 0-4-4RT
36″ diameter 165psi boiler
10″x14″ cylinders
30″ drivers
Rear tank carried 9/10 ton coal.

This locomotive served as Monson #4 (1918 – 1943)

Edaville #4 (1946-1993)

Currently at the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum in Portland

Vulcan’s design for Monson #3 was modified to produce a slightly lighter engine — perhaps because #3 was too heavy for the Monson turntables. The inability to turn locomotives was never an adequate justification to rebuild the turntables, however for the Monson. Used as Monson’s regular engine until worn out in 1936. Salvaged and rebuilt for Edaville in 1946. Used as a standby engine until Edaville train operations were terminated. Moved to Portland Museum in 1993.

 

Passenger car models availability by prototype roadnames;- Monson

Monson Passenger car          Rev 0                                      18-12-2013

RR	#	Type	Model Builder	Notes	Current Status	Builder	Date
Monson	1	Combine	PLW			Laconia	1883

Grateful Thanks to Darryl Sleszynski of PLW for supplying the photographs of their Monson Combine kit built and photographed by Bob Bennett. Bob’s review of this kit will be published in a forthcoming Railroad Model Craftsman.

Use sidebar link on the right to get to the PLW website.

Locomotive models available by prototype roadname; Monson

Former Monson loco #3 pictured at the Portland Museum in the late 1990’s.

Railroad	Loco #	Locomotive	Manufacturer		min radius	Notes
Monson		roster info Carter
Monson	1	Forney 0-4-4T Hinkley				purchased 1883, scrapped 1912
Monson	2	Forney 0-4-4T Hinkley				purchased 1883, scrapped 1918
Monson	3	Forney 0-4-4T Vulcan				purchased 1912, sold to Ellis Atwood 1945 Edaville, now at MNGRR
Monson	4	Forney 0-4-4T Vulcan				purchased 1918, sold to Ellis Atwood 1945 Edaville, now at MNGRR

 

For more information about the prototype locomotives, visit the Chuck Collins pages.

Click here to view the prototype Monson on another browser page.

Latest update: 13 – March – 2018

Monson; Historic list of plans

Historic Monson drawings list: this list of drawings was last updated on the 19th November 2003.

RR	Description	Author	Reference	Vol-issue  yr-mo pg-
Monson	Maine Two-Foot Flatcars	Frary, Jim – Hayden, Bob	RMC	1971/07        pg-20
Monson	Boxcars 1-8 (dimensions for 1-4 & 5-8)	Estey, Clyde	Kennebec Central & Monson RR Technical Guide	1986/          pg-62
Monson	Snow Plow		NGSL	1987/01        pg-29
Monson	Snow Spreader	Carroll, Alan	Kennebec Central & Monson RR Technical Guide	1986/          pg-62
Monson	Snow Spreader		NGSL	1987/01        pg-30
Monson	Monson system map 1917		Two Feet to the Quarries	1998/          pg-137
Monson	Monson system map (Monson-Monson Jct.)		Two Feet to the Quarries	1998/          pg-006
Monson	Monson yard map	Barney, Peter S	Kennebec Central & Monson RR Technical Guide	1986/          pg-64
Monson	Monson, yard map	Bond, Edward	Two Feet to the Quarries	1998/          pg-000i
Monson	Monson Jct. Freight Station		NGSL	1978/09        pg-62
Monson	Monson Jct. watertank	Barney, Peter S	Kennebec Central & Monson RR Technical Guide	1986/          pg-63
Monson	Monson Jct. yard map	Barney, Peter S	Kennebec Central & Monson RR Technical Guide	1986/          pg-64
Monson	Monson Jct. yard map	Bond, Edward	Two Feet to the Quarries	1998/          pg-153

The Book list – Part 5 – The Monson

Maine Two Foot Railroad Books		Author	Year	Library #
Monson				Revision date: 17 August 2013
The Kennebec Central and Monson Railroads		Peter S. Barney	1986	68 pages, 8½ x 11, LOC 86-070947
Structures of the Maine Two Footers – Volume II, The B&SR, the Kennebec Central & the Monson Railroad		Peter S. Barney	1988	64 pages, 11 x  8½,  LOC 88-071314
Industries & Operations of the Maine Two-Foot Gauge Railroads: Volume VIII: Operations on the B&SR, Kennebec Central, WW&F and Monson		Peter S. Barney	1997	84 pages, 11 x 8½, LOC 88-071314
Freight Equipment of the Other Two Footers (KC, Monson, W&Q/WWFR)		Peter S. Barney	2007	102 pages, 8½ x 5½, 173 photos, 24 plans
Kennebec Central and Monson Railroads, A Pictorial Journey		Peter S. Barney	2008	96 pages, 8½ x 5½, 159 photos, 20 plans
Monson Railroad Forney Locomotives 3 and 4, A Modeler’s Reference		Peter S. Barney & Tim Mulina	2016	108 pages, 8½ x 5½, 237 photos and drawings
Monson – The Switzerland of Maine			1989	Reprinted 1995, 32 pages, 5½ x 8½
Monson Railroad Maine’s Two Foot Narrow Gauge Railroad to the Slate Quarries		Roger Whitney	1989	88 pages, 5¼ x 8¼, Reprinted 1994
Two Feet to the Quarries – The Monson Railroad		Robert C Jones	1998	98-87962 ISBN 0-9667264-0-5       First Edition150 pages, 8½ x 11
The Monson Railroad and its Proposed Extension		Mitchell Construction Co.		Reproduction by Edwin Robertson12 pages, 5½ x 8½
	A Pictorial History of the Monson Railroad	Gary Kohler/M2FQ		120 + pages, 400 photos

 

Partial Updates: 23 & 24-Dec-2022

What are “the Maine Two Footers”?

The former Monson locomotive #3, seen here at the Portland Narrow Gauge Museum in 1997 is a typical Maine Two Foot locomotive. The narrowness of two foot gauge track is evident at the feet of the onlookers.

What are “the Maine Two Footers”?

Most enthusiasts would recognise them as a group of two foot gauge railroads that were built in Maine from the 1880’s onwards, and operated as common carriers to their local communities until as late as the 1940’s.

They were characterised by using the same locomotives designs, and the same suppliers for rolling stock initially, and later worked co-operatively to develop better and larger locomotives. A number of locomotives and coaches changed lines at various stages of their careers.

The lines are;-

B&SR; – Bridgton and Saco River (after 1927 Bridgton and Harrison B&H)

KC – Kennebec Central

Monson – The Monson

SR&RL – Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes (formerly Sandy River, Franklin & Megantic, Phillips & Rangeley, Eustis) with two associated lines Madrid RR, Kingfield & Dead River RR which were both developed to handle lumber interest in the area, but never had equipment of their own.

WW&F – Wiscasset Waterville and Farmington (formerly Wiscasset & Quebec).

The first two foot gauge common carrier railroad built on the East Coast was the ill fated Billerica & Bedford railroad in Massachusetts which started the interest in two foot railroads but only operated  for nine months, before the equipment was sold to the then building Sandy River Railroad.

A lot of the equipment was to later return to Massachusetts when the remnants of the Bridgton and Harrison line and two Monson locomotives plus other various equipment were collected at South Carver to form the Edaville Railroad, which ran from 1947 until initial closure in 1993.

In line with most enthusiasts, this FAQ’s will use the term “the Maine Two Footers” to refer to and include all the above named lines. Further information on these lines can be obtained from a number of sources.

For more information about the B&SR locomotives click here.

For more information about the KC locomotives click here.

For more information about the Monson locomotives click here.

For more information about the SR&RL locomotives click here.

For more information about the WW&F locomotives click here.

Listed below are some resources currently available on the internet;-

Maine, an Encyclopedia

http://maineanencyclopedia.com/railroads-narrow-gauge/

Has a useful map showing the locations of all of the Maine Two Footers (click on image to enlarge in your browser). Some of the historical facts presented about the SR&RL are believed to be suspect.
Bridgton Historical Society
http://www.bridgtonhistory.org/Museum/NarrowGaugeRailroad/tabid/71/Default.aspx
 
B&SR Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgton_and_Saco_River_Railroad
 
Kennebec Central Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennebec_Central_Railroad
 
Monson Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monson_Railroad

Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad http://srrl-rr.org/
 
SR&RL Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_River_and_Rangeley_Lakes_Railroad
 
WW&F Railway Museum  http://www.wwfry.org/
 
WW&FR Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiscasset,_Waterville_and_Farmington_Railway
 
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum http://www.mainenarrowgauge.org/
 
Wikipedia page: Narrow Gauge railroads in Maine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Narrow_gauge_railroads_in_Maine
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Narrow_gauge_railroads_in_Massachusetts
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billerica_and_Bedford_Railroad
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edaville_Railroad
 
Current Edaville theme park site
http://www.edaville.com/
 
Brian Carter has a very useful website about the Maine Two Footers at;- http://www.narrowgauge.iform.com.au/m2f.html

Written by Terry Smith 11-Aug-2013, updated 02-03-2015.