tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83612229802481784552011-04-22T01:40:26.308-04:00Join the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust as we reconstruct 13 miles of historic Maine rail line and build the Downeast Scenic Railroad, a tourist rail from Green Lake to Ellsworth Maine. Here are stories from the line, told by the members and volunteers who can truly say, "I've been working on the railroad."TC183http://www.blogger.com/profile/07831196698345893195noreply@blogger.comBlogger91100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8361222980248178455.post-39186898577983758652008-11-21T16:33:00.002-05:002008-12-04T16:45:28.429-05:00

It's Fall at the Downeast Scenic Railroad. What an exciting time Fall 2008 has proved to be for the members of the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust, Inc. and the curious passersby at Washington Junction and throughout Ellsworth.In early September tracks crews from the Maine Eastern Railroad began installing 2000 new ties and 125 switch timbers within the 4 mile segment from Washington

Downeast Scenic Railroad Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057663403853646448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8361222980248178455.post-14697677513224818932008-09-01T15:31:00.003-04:002008-12-04T16:16:03.253-05:00

July and August have been very busy at the Downeast Scenic Railroad. Volunteers have been hard at work sanding, sealing, priming and painting the exterior and interior, and installing new windows in our caboose. We are also making preparations to begin work on restoring MEC day coach #155.Roadmaster Charlie Freeman and his track crew have been installing ties and aligning track from Washington

Downeast Scenic Railroad Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057663403853646448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8361222980248178455.post-91028006956883649662008-06-05T15:22:00.003-04:002008-12-04T16:38:06.582-05:00

In May, The Trust received a delivery of 1500 new ties to aid in the rehabilitation of the line between Washington Junction and Ellsworth Falls. We would like to thank all those who so generously donated to our Buy-a-Tie program and helped to get this tie program started.The Railroad also took delivery of three new pieces of rolling stock in May to add to our growing inventory of vintage

Downeast Scenic Railroad Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057663403853646448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8361222980248178455.post-74724159582478685522008-01-31T07:52:00.000-05:002008-01-31T07:54:45.819-05:00

This was an amazing feat. We answered the question of ae we for real. This wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of every one. Lots more to do, but we are doing it.We are going to need more help this summer that is for sure with all that we have planned.

TC183http://www.blogger.com/profile/07831196698345893195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8361222980248178455.post-3956129045164916942007-11-11T23:44:00.001-05:002008-12-04T15:42:14.064-05:00

Photos1 - Bill Alexander at work with the rail saw2 - The volunteers gather the tools with the connection having been made3 - Another layer of dirt for compacting is laid onto the crossing4 - Leverett Fernald guides the Gradall as the first "official" piece of MOW equipment to cross Wyman Road by rail in almost 20 years!! 5- The rails heading west into the sunset!!

Downeast Scenic Railroad Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057663403853646448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8361222980248178455.post-9363906209699367312007-11-11T23:37:00.003-05:002008-12-04T16:22:55.904-05:00

November 11The four weekends following the initial rebuild of the Wyman Road crossing included the cleanup of ties and rail placed aside of the crossing, removal of dirt piles (much used as new roadbed), additional ditch work to provide proper water flow into the new crossing culvert and open box culvert just east of the crossing, the lining of the ditches with rip-rap to prevent erosion, and the

Downeast Scenic Railroad Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057663403853646448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8361222980248178455.post-80983568642107235242007-10-14T18:52:00.001-04:002008-12-04T16:11:11.972-05:00

Sunday, October 14 Pavement continued to be removed from the crossing approaches as the actual crossing bed was being leveled and compacted. Geo textile fabric was laid in place, followed by crushed rock which also needed to be compacted. Drainage pipes were laid on the perimeter of the bed as well as signal conduit. At about 2 P.M., the bed was prepared for the track panel which had been

Downeast Scenic Railroad Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057663403853646448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8361222980248178455.post-18142253073874534822007-10-13T18:16:00.001-04:002008-12-04T15:37:17.294-05:00

Sunday, October 13It had been previously determined that grinding the road back to the level of the rails would not be feasible as doing so would require several hundred feet. The Gradall began picking at the pavement, but due to the depth and the fact that in some places the pavement was in excess of 19 inches, a jackhammer would have to be used. As the pavement was removed, much of it was

Downeast Scenic Railroad Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14057663403853646448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8361222980248178455.post-89876522721656338532007-10-06T18:10:00.002-04:002008-12-04T15:39:28.162-05:00

Saturday, October 6Wyman Road, the first crossing west of the yard at Washington Jct., has been paved since 1988 with several layers. This has made the movement of maintenance equipment prohibitive by rail. These vehicles, including our Gradall and Hy-Rail dump truck, have had to be driven to to other crossings to set on which is extremely time consuming. The Trust determined that opening the

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