Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad
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Overview
Standard gauge was favored for railway construction in the United States, although a fairly large narrow-gauge system developed in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Utah. Isolated narrow-gauge lines were built in many areas to minimize construction costs for industrial transport or resort access, and some of these lines offered common carrier service. Outside Colorado, these isolated lines evolved into regional narrow-gauge systems in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Wed9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sat9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sun9:30AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeOperates regular scenic runs from May through October, with a magical transformation from late November through December into the nationally acclaimed 'Polar Express' holiday train. Booking an afternoon departure between 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM is ideal. Ride inside pristine, century-old 2-foot narrow gauge historic coaches as they click-clack directly along the absolute water's edge of Casco Bay.
Getting ThereThe historic station and museum campus is located at 49 Fore Street along the eastern waterfront. Drive east from the Old Port down Commercial Street as it merges into Fore Street near the Eastern Promenade; limited paid lot parking loops the site. For public transit, ride the Portland METRO Bus Route 8, disembarking at the Fore/Ocean Gateway platform, followed by a scenic 3-minute walk.
Travel Tips
- This historic narrow-gauge railroad restricts operations from mid-April through late October; general scenic trains deactivate entirely for winter storage, and securing digital advance tickets online is mandatory as the depot window retains zero walk-up spots.
- The waterfront rail alignment parallels the Eastern Promenade trail; the departure station features zero private parking fields, forcing total reliance on municipal street-side spaces which strictly exclude commercial chassis and extended RVs.
- The vintage rolling stock completely lacks modern climate-control systems, exposing passengers to raw marine wind-chills and engine soot; donning windproof, dirt-resistant outerwear is required, and extending limbs outside moving coaches is illegal.
Reviews
Positive
- A nostalgic vintage steam train journey! Riding rare 2-foot narrow gauge trains along the sparkling Casco Bay shore offers lovely authentic views.
- The train runs at a relaxing pace, car windows offer cool breezes, and it's perfect for toddlers and railfans, delivering high interactive fun.
- Volunteers wear traditional historic conductor uniforms and are incredibly warm. Ticket queues and boarding management are well-organized.
- Ticket pricing is fair and includes a compact rail history museum. It features onsite parking next to the Eastern Promenade for great convenience.
Heads up
- The entire round-trip train ride is short, lasting only about 35-40 minutes; road-trippers driving from far away might find it too brief.
- The boarding steps of the historic wooden cars are steep and narrow; modern wheelchairs and bulky strollers cannot roll up directly.
- It reduces schedules or switches strictly to polar express weekend events in winter, requiring advanced ticket rushes or face closed gates.
- The carriage interiors preserve raw mechanical structures without modern central AC; sitting in the cars during hot July middays gets stuffy.