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1956 Portland-Lewiston Interurban: a history of the finest electric interurban railway to run in the State of Maine Osmond Richard Cummings
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Recommended Citation Cummings, Osmond Richard, "Portland-Lewiston Interurban: a history of the finest electric interurban railway to run in the State of Maine" (1956). Books and Publications. 44. https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/44
This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections at Bangor Community: Digital Commons@bpl. It has been accepted for inclusion in Books and Publications by an authorized administrator of Bangor Community: Digital Commons@bpl. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Transportation , ·;; ::. -~~J - ... ·· : •••• : ..... • · r.,~ ·: J·. : - , - ' ' ?('"~ !;0 ' ''" Volume 10. May 1956. Price $1.50< ,_, ~:,~, ,~ 1 - rt' :,o..l1 : ,': ', Warehouse Point, ... ., ., • ...onr.l, .... C ~ ~ ~ ey .., I , , Conn. · t· t . . . t . . Chapter ,______:• Copynghtc. , 1956, Connec 1cu Valley Chap t er, Natwna l Ra1Iway H1s on cal Soc1ety Inc. __ A History of the Finest Portland-Lewiston Electric Interurban Railway to run in the state of Maine. lnte·rurban By 0. R. CUl\1MINGS ...... ···...... ··. .··· ...... -~.· ...... TRANSPORTATION Vol. iO, Page 2.
Transportation ...... Volume 10 ·: : : : .. . . ' Published by: Connecticut Valley Gpapter,
National Railway Historical Society Inc. Warehouse Point, Conn.
Published May -1956
This is our lOth year of his torical publications about rail .... ,• road and traction lines. A listing ~.. · of previous years' issues, copies of which are available for pur PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN car No. 18 as it looked in later years with chase, may be had by writing orange paint on t·he front dash to promote better visibility at night. This view to the Publication Committee of the "Azalea" was taken at Deering Junction.- [Photo by Harold D. Forsyth. at the above address.
A History of the Finest ern methods of power distribution Other data has come from the were employed and operations were "Electric Railway Journal," "Brill Electric Interurban Railway ccnducted in a careful and efficient Magazine" and various standard to run in the State of Maine. manner. reference sources, including files of Both limited and local service the Portland Press-Herald and were offered, with cars leaving each Evening Express and the Lewiston terminus every hour during the Daily Sun and Evening Journal. The day. Speed, comfort and safety was Personal assistance was given to the slogan of the Portland-Lewiston the author by Oscar S. Adkins of Porlland -Lewislon Interurban and it is notable that Auburn, Maine, who served as con only one accident of any conse ductor, motorman and dispatcher Interurban quence ever took place on the road. on this outstanding Maine pike. Although the Portland-Lewiston Others who provided material and Interurban has been gone for more information were the late Percy E. than two decades, it is still well· Weymouth, former superintendent, and fondly remembered in the area the Portland-Lewiston Interurban;· Introduction it served. William F. Libby of Portland, Theodore Santarelli of Boston and THIS is the story of New Eng- Gerald F. Cunningham of Wash land's finest interurban- the ington, D. C. PORTLAND - LEWISTON INTER Foreword Photographs have been secured URBAN-which connected Maine's from various sources and are cred two largest cities from 1914 to 1933. PORTION of the material for A ited individually. A high speed road operating al this history of the Portland most entirely over private right-of Lewiston Interurban was taken 0. R CUMMINGS way, it provided the best in passen from the article which featured the 300 North Bay Street ger and freight transportation for August 1946 issue of "Electric Rail Manchester, N. H. nearly 20 years and was abandoned roads," published by the Electric only when steadily increasing high Railroaders' Association of New way competition made continued York and written by Charles D. Dedication operation financially impossible. Heseltine of South Portland, Maine, Its 30-mile single track line was a Portland-Lewiston Interurban THIS history is respectfully dedi- of substantial construction-as well enthusiast of many years' standing. cated to all former employees buiLt as many steam railroads-and Additional information was gath of the Portland-Lewiston Inter its rolling stock was outshopped by ered from the annual reports of urban and to the memory of its two of the country's leading car the Maine Railroad Commissioners foremost promoter, the late W. builders, Laconia and Wason. Mod- and Public Utili ties Commission. Scott Libbey. L 3. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Page 3.
'"""""'~~ ....,.,
.,
FINE VIEW of No. 22, the "Maine," at Maple Point, Auburn, in 7920 when car was new. -[From G. F. Cunningham.
w. LONG DOWNGRADE paralleling the state highway was the scene of many a race between an interurban car and an automobile. The scene is Danville Hill, located near Danville substation. -[Photo from Gerald F. Cunningham. 4. TRANSPORTATION Vol. 10, Page 4.
A intc beg the tw est Po waJ nus anc on Strc T the . im.t= lOll! tha EXPRESS MOTOR NO. 30 pulls out of the Portland Street terminal in Portland. Note the supports for the snow plow cha blades at each end of the car. For a time, No. 30 was used as a line car. -[Photo from Gerald F. Cunningham. at:E sen the rail Le~ 0 roac Lew the the1 on ice 90 (j B~ rail1 volv ear~ urbl •- Port def~ take com terel of l:l T~ Porf
Fl
L'~ b ~ m Le RIGHT-OF-WAY VIEW through Chandler's Woods, New Gloucester, shows the excellence of the Portland-Lewiston fa I track and roadbed construction. Trolley poles are on right and high tension lines at left. [-G. F. Cunningham. 5. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Page 5. Portland-Lewiston Interurban By 0. R. CUMMINGS Historical Background
ALTHOUGH the Portland-Lewis- the Lewiston & Portland Railroad, way. Promoted by the F. E. Hawkes ton Interurban did not come both of which filed articles of Co. of Boston, this road came into into being until 1914, its history association with the Maine Raill;oad being in 1906 and planned to run began 12 years earlier in 1902, when Commissioners in April 1905. Edison-Beach storage battery cars the first electric railway link be The Portland & Lewiston Railway in both passenger and freignt serv tween Portland and Lewiston was proposed to build from Morrill's ice over its proposed route- one established with the opening of the Corner, Portland, through West substantially the same as those Portland & Brunswick Street Rail Falmouth, West Cumberland, Gray sought by the Portland & Lewiston way between the Yarmouth termi and North Gray, New Gloucester Railway and the Lewiston & Port nus of the Portland Railroad Co. and Upper Gloucester to Auburn, land Railroad. There is no record and the college town of Brunswick, terminating at Court Street and of its articles of association being on the Lew~ston, Brunswick & Bath . Minot Avenue in that city. Its in filed with the Railroad Commission, Street Railway. corporators were Edward W. Gross and it seems likely that the project The roundabout route created by of Auburn, John W. True of New never reached that point. the completion of this new and Gloucester, Lewis A. Goudy, L. M. About this time, Amos F. Gerald important 15.:.mile link was 42 miles Leighton, Thomas M. Johnston and of Fairfield, a leading Maine trac · long, with a running time of more Jabez True, all of Portland, and tion promoter, appeared on the than three hours and with two Frank Ridlon of Boston, Mass. scene. A director of the Lewiston, ow changes of cars-at Yarmouth and Brunswick & Bath and the Portland !m. The Lewiston & Portland Rail & Brunswick Street Railways, he at Brunswick-~being necessary. The road outlined a route extending organized the Lisbon, Durham & service was frequent, however, and from Minot Avenue and Washington the combined fares of the three Freeport Street Railway on Dec. 31, Street in Auburn, through Auburn, 1906, to build a 9-mile line between railways involved in the Portland New Gloucester, Gray, Cumberland Lewiston trip totalled only 65 cents. Lisbon, on the Lisbon, Brunswick & and Falmouth to Portland, to con Bath Street Railway, to Freeport, Of course, there were steam rail nect with the Portland Railroad Co. road lines between Portland and •on the Portland & Brunswick. The road was to be 30 miles long While the articles of association Lewiston-the Maine Central and and its incorporators were Winfield the Grand Trunk Railway. But of the Lisbon, Durham & Freeport S. Libbey, Henry M. Dingley, Julius were approved by the Railroad there were few trains on either line E. Parkhurst and J. Frank Boothby, on weekdays and even poorer serv Commissioners on Jan. 1, 1907, the all of Lewiston, and John A. Morrill company was never heard from ice on Sundays, and the fare was of Auburn. 90 cents. again. Instead, later in the year, The articles of association of the Mr. Gerald formed the Auburn, Because of the inadequacy of the Portland & Lew}ston Railway were Durham & Yarmouth Electric Rail railroad facilities and the time in approved by the Railroad Commis way which was to extend from volved on the trolley line, there was sioners on April 26, 1905, and those Auburn, through Pownal and Dur early agitation for a direct inter of the Lewiston & Portland Rail ham, to Yarmouth and a connec urban electric railway between road on the following day. Charters tion with the Portland Railroad. An - Portland and Lewiston. But no of both companies expired in 1907, organization meeting was held in definite action seems to have been however, as neither had made any September, officers were elected taken until early 1905 when two progress toward constructing its and that was the end! companies, organized by rival in respective route within the two Then came the Portland, Gray & terests, announced their intentions years required by Maine law. Lewiston Railroad, organized in of building the long-sought line. A third company announcing its 1907 by Edward W. Gross to succeed The two companies were the intention of building the interurban his earlier Portland & Lewiston Portland & Lewiston Railway and was the Portland & Auburn Rail- Railway.
I -- I Good for one continuous passage bel ween stations ~I FIRST REGULAR TICKET over the rP. L. punch,d, on date punched. Must be punched ~efore • " PortiCind - Lewiston Interurban I • separating and surrendered to conductor or inspector . .Z:(f'de@. · was purchased by Mrs. Gertrude 1~ I = o.n = o.nc::Hnc:::> o.n = o.n c:u.n = •I ::.Z c::i ~ C::: ?!;c ::Z _j ci C.:,_: :::O:c.:i en .... i-- C'o!C'olet:)C'r.) ooc:t ooc:t...., o.nc.c c.c r- .....: LL.I a.. ::e ~ = LL.I LL.I Libbey Anthony, daughter of the ~~ ~~::e- .....:~===Co.:)= ~-- builder, on July 2, 1914. Punch -.:::t' 1 ::EIo ..., .::--=.. ::>:.. ~-~-=-= ·~ ., :;,"' ., Jtt iI ...... Ct:)ooc:to.nc.cr-cocn=.-c-..Ct:)ooc:to.nc.c C) _...... mark shows that she rode from ~ ~ ~~-~~~~~~~<~~ I .-~.-~.-~.-- C) Lewiston to Portland and paid a I !-f ·.: ta E ""' .c ...... c ..!! ~ .1!2 .:!? f ton o J ~ "- "'~ 't: ~ ~Q:::: .5: ~ , r-coc:no-c-..Ct:).q-o.nc.cr-cocn=- fare of 75 cents. I 1- c. Q :i ~ ~ .9 ~ :=i :e ~ )..-.-.....- C'"'l C"' C'ol C"i ~ C"' ~c.... C"'ooool C'ol C'r.) cr,) am . I 6. TRANSPORTATION Vol. 10, Page 6.
2t 5 71 10
I) LEWISTON
D~~'1.1\ ~:. .-:: .. AUBURN I I I ...... fa~b Jet. POLAND ~ · ~eeM~~~---~Fairview -<:."' ~--- · Register Sta. ~ \7\,0 Siding v~'~~ :r.'"' ''I!; POLAND
Upper Sabbai~'J9R' .1 Gloucester DURHAM Lake ~
' NEW
GLOUCESTER
""" Morse Rd.Freight Shed
HawkesFrt. Platform GRAY Freight Shed, Barn and Storage Tracks GRAY t Li t; Forest Lake Siding ~j S• Sand Pit IJ J FALMOUTH
a
(.) ______ro ~ ~ /Deering Jet. Register Sta.
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PORTLAND
C. 'D. 'Perry :J\[ol lo •cale 7. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTER URBAN Page 7.
Portland~ Gray & Lewiston Railroad
Corporate Structure Construction
THE articles of association of the .the principal power behind the or GRADING between Littlefield's Portland,. Gray & Lewiston ganization of the Lewiston & Port Corner in Auburn, and New Railroad were filed with the Maine land Railroad in 1905, purchased Glucester began during the spring Railroad Commissioners on June 8, 1the Sturges br01thers' and Holland's of 1910 and continued through the 1907, and were approved by that shares, a controlling interest in the summer and fall, with Italian la body a month later, on July 9. The Portland, Gray & Lewiston, and borers and horse-drawn carts doing company at first was capitalized at was soon elected 1treasurer of the all the work. Construction was sus $160,000 1 J 8. Cumberland Avenue and Portland Street; and in Lewiston a carhouse was constructed on Middle Street, with •the building running through to Bates Street. During April, 1912, four passenger cars were ordered from the Laconia Car Company of Laconia, New Hampshire, and two cars from the Wason Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Mass. The four Laconia cars were first to arrive and were stored for some time on a siding near the Deering interchange, be fore being taken to Lewiston. The two Wason cars were deliv ered shortly before the railway was scheduled to begin operation. All six were named after flowers native to Maine. The four Laconia cars were the "Arbutus," "Gladiolus," "Narcissus" and "Clematis" and the two Wasons were the "Azalea" and "Magnolia." INTERIOR VIEW of the "Magno·lia" Arrangements were made to con nect with the Lewiston, Augusta & Portland Railroad at Morrill's Cor without interference either from or Waterville Street Railway at the ner was granted by the Portland to city cars. junction of Minot Avenue, Fairview City Council Sept. 22, 1913, where By early 1914, the interurban was Avenue and Old Portland Road in upon the Portland Railroad built a nearly ready to start operation, and Auburn, with interurban cars being branch-off from its North Deering to promote public interest, the "Ar given trackage rights over street line to the interurban right-of-way butus," after being equipped with railway tracks from this junction at Allen and Goodrich Avenues. trucks, motors, etc., at the Lewiston to Union Square and the Portland, The Portland Railroad also built a carhouse, was placed on d1splay in Gray & Lewiston's carhouse on double track line along Forest Ave Union Square, Lewiston, so that Middle Street, Lewiston. nue, from Woodford's Corner to future patrons might have an op Permission for the Portland, Gray Morrill's Corner, so that the inter portunity to view the deluxe cars & Lewiston to connect with the urbans could reach their terminal to be used on the line. ,. AT THE WASON PLANT the "Magnolia" gets finishing touches from carshop mechanics while being spotted for this builder's photo. The date was Nov. 15, 1912. From Wason Co. files of Conn. Valley Chapter, N.R.H.S. 9. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Page 9. ..e; ..,. -~ ~..... · fj~~~... - .' ... I. or vas end '\r ith ~on I OPENING [>~Y-This picture_ of the "Arbutus" was reportedly taken the day the car carri~d the inspecting Railroad in Comm1ss1oners from Lew1ston to Portland, June 29, 1914. -[Photo from the colfect1on of Barney Neuburger. 1at )p ars TYPICAL of the brick substations erected by Portland Lewiston Interurban is this building at Danville. Car GRAY SUBSTATION of Portland-Lewiston Interurban, No. 22, the "Maine," is shown departing from station. shortly before the road was opened to travel in 1914. - [Photo from the collection of 0 . R. Cummings. The brick building is now (1955) a residence owned by Mr. and Mrs. Collins Taylor, who bought the structure after the aban·donment of the interurban line in 1933 . ..4 +-« EXTRA NO. 32 and one of the Laconia-built interurbans meet at Sadlers' siding in Auburn. The passenger car is heading for Portland and the express motor is bound for Lewiston freight station.- [Photo by George King Jr . for I J.. 1,0. TRANSPORTATION Vol. 10, Page 10. Portland-Lewiston Freight and Express Cars ~ THESE FOUR VIEWS of Portland-Lewiston Interurban's la box motors was taken at the Gray yard after the of road was abandoned in 7933. From top to bottom are 19 Nos. 30, 32, 34 and 36. -[Photos from Charles C. Holt. ro' re as th -· ., BUILDER'S PHOTO of No. 6, one of the flat cars, in front of Wason Manufacturing Company office in Springfield, Mass., May 5, 797 3. Note the MCB trucks which belonged under the interurban cars then on order. . In NO. 90, a Baldwin-Westinghouse locomotive, was hauling two flat cars loaded with ties when this photo was taken at the register station at Deering Junction. From 7925 to 7933, this locomotive was leased to the Portland Railroad for freight car switching service on streetcar was tracks in South Portland.-[Photo from 0. R. Cummings. and 11. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Page 11. Portland-Lewiston Grand Interurban s Loss of its Promoter and Chief Financial Opetzi11g Supporter Noted on Eve of its Completion. THE maiden trip over the Port- W SCOT!' LIBBEY, whose efforts over the properties of the inter land-Lewiston Interurban was • and financial assistance were urban and of the Lewiston & made on June 29, 1914, when the r's largely responsible for the building Auburn Electric Llght Company. "Arbutus" was given the honor of ~e of the interurban, died on May 17, The name Portland-Lewiston Inter carrying the inspecting Railroad re 1914, just a few weeks before the ur·ban, however, remained as the Commissioners from Lewiston to ft. road was due to open. His death operating title of the railway and Portland. Charles H. Mitchell, as resulted in considerable speculation appeared on all of its rolling stock, motorman, an the Portland-Lewiston Interurban for orders after checking the reg'.is & Waterville Street Railway. In had carried 87,274 passngers for ter to determine if all opposing bound and outbound interurban total railway operating revenues of trains due had arrived. If the dis cars usually crossed on the double $46,308.47. Operating expenses and patcher had no orders and no track on Court Street, Auburn, but taxes totalled $20,139.13, for a net opposing trains were late, the con occasionally the eastbound train operating income of $26,293.09. ductor made out his clearance card, would be late arriving at Fairview. Officials of the company included registered the train and departed. Upon such occasions, the eastbound Harold S. Libbey, president; John If orders were forthcoming from car was required to clear on the A. Morrill, secretary, and Henry M. the dispatcher, sufficient copies Mechanic Falls track so that the Dingley, treasurer. These three, were made for each member of the westbound interurban would not be together with Julius A. Parkhurst train crew. delayed. of Lewiston, comprised the board Extra trains were run only on In Lewiston, the interurbans dis of directors. Samuel Ferguson was orders of the superintendent. All charged and loaded passengers in the first superintendent. extras were required to clear the Union Square, the principal trans time of regular trains by five min fer point in that city. Inbound utes, unless otherwise provided, cars, after discharging their loads, and were governed by train orders went to the carhouse on Middle Operations and with respect to opposing extra Street to lay over between trips. trains. Passenger facilities were never ·Operating When regular trains were run installed at the Portland-Lewiston ning in sections, all but the last Interurban terminal building in section were required to carry two Portland as interurban cars were Procedures green flags by day and two green rbuted over Portland Railroad lanterns by night. Extra trains trackage up Forest Avenue hill and were required to display two white down Congress Street, through the MODIFIED steam railroad business district to Monu · operating rules were in ment Square and Federal effect on the Portland Temple Street loop. Lewiston Interurban, with Portland-Lewiston Interurban R. R. movements being governed TRAIN ORDER NO.______193_ by the dispatcher and "31" ·-·------...... ------···---- ..-··- orders and clearance cards To Train .... At... Schedules being used. All regular trains were numbered-the northbound ABOUT a year after the Portland-Lewiston In trains (Portland- Lewiston) ....------..· ---..------.... ___ , ____ , ______...... __ __~ term·ban began to operate, carried odd numbers and ------··- .....______...... ______, __, _ ,, _ __,, ______the State Public Utilities southbound trains (Lewiston ______...... ______, ______...... __ _ to Portland) had even num Commission ordered the line bers. Metal tags hung in ------to provide local service, and ------...... ______front of the headlight indi such service commenced on cated the number of each ..------or about July 1, 1915. Co train. Extra trains were des incidentally, limited service ignated by the car number, , ______, ____ , _,______.. ______, ______, ______, - with cars making only five followed by the direction station stops-was inaugu-. 1 indicator "northbound" or rated, and from that time "southbound." until the last year or two of In later years, the desig operation, limited and local E.ACB HEHBER OF TRAIN OBEW MUST RAVE A COPY OF '!'IDS OB.DE'& nations "northbound" and cars alternated over the line. "southbound" were changed Repeated at M . From 1915 to 1917, limited to "eastbound" and "west OONDUOTOR MO'l'OBMAN >IADB TRAIN DIBPATOHBB ~a rs left Portland and Lewis bound," respectively. ton at 25 minutes past the There were no signals on odd hour and locals departed the system, which operated at 20 minutes past the even with all meets positive. For hour. The running time for emergencies, each car was limiteds was one hour and equipped with a portable 1------~------~--~--~---~ - --- 20 minutes and for locals telephone and an antenna one hour and 40 minutes. arrangemr nt with which the con flags by day and two white lan Because of a general speed limit ductor co~ld tap the telephone wire terns by n ight. of 15 miles an hour in effect on the running a!ongside the right-of-way Between Fairview Junction and trackage of the Portland Railroad and call the dispatcher for orders. the intersection of Court St reet and the Lewiston, Augusta & Register stations were main and Minot Avenue, Auburn, inter Waterville Street Railway, it took tained at .Deering and Fairview urbans proceeded by blocks over 10 minutes to run the 1.831 miles Junctions ·and here ·conductors the single track of the Mechanic from Union Square, Lewiston, to were required to call the dispatcher Falls line of the Lewiston, Augusta Fairview Junction, Auburn, and 2. 13. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Page 13. In another 18 minutes to cover the 3.71 ton. Freight runs left Portland at Yarmouth line of the Androscoggin rban miles from Deering Junction to 8 a . m. and 2:55 p. m. and arrived & Kennebec Railway (successor to mble Monument Square, Portland. For in Lewiston at 10:30 a. m. and the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville , but limited cars, this left 52 minutes to 5:30 p. m., respectively. In the op Street RaHway) took place Sept. 10, Grain cover the 29.8 miles between Fair posite direction, freight cars left 1929, thus breaking the alternate view. view and Deering Junctions, and it Lewiston at 8:45 a. m. and at route between Lewiston and Port )Und required an average running speed 12 :40 p.m., arriving in Portland at land- via Brunswick. Thereafter, the of 34.38 miles per hour. The aver 11:30 a. m . and 3:25 p. m. All the Androscoggin & Kennebec ran the age running speed for locals was freight trains operated as extras. its Lewiston-Portland freight serv ::>t be 24.8 miles per hour. The Portland terminal building ice over the interurban. Portland There were layovers of 25 min housed the freight facilities in that Lewiston crews ran the Andros dis utes for locals and 40 minutes for city and in Lewiston a freight coggin & Kennebec motors and rs in limiteds in Portland and the cars house was built on Bates Street, trailers from the latter's freight ·ans usually waited on Federal Street. adjacent to the carbarn. Small station on Lincoln Street, Lewiston, ound By 1917, the standing interurbans freight sheds were erected at Gray to the joint terminal of the railway oads, were causing considerable traffic and New Gloucester and later at and the Atlantic Motor Express iddle congestion and a change in the Danville, Upper Gloucester and at Company at 76 Cross Street, Port JS. interurban schedule became neces Penny Road and Morse Road in land. 1ever sary. This change, effective August New Gloucester. There were a This arrangement came to an is ton 1st of that year, called for limited number of freight and milk plat end July 31, 1932, when the Andros forms at various points along the coggin & Kennebec Railway aban s in cars to leave Lewiston at 35 min were utes past the odd hour and depart line and there were three cattle doned its entire Kennebec Division !road from Portland on the odd hour. runs, two in Auburn and one at -Lewiston to Augusta and Water land Locals left Lewiston at 10 minutes Deering Junction. ville - and virtually discontinued 1 the past the even hour and left Port The physical layout of the inter its freight business, except for car :onu land on the even hour. The run urban was such that steam railroad load lots of coal between Bath and eral- ning time for limiteds remained freight cars could have been han Lewiston and switching services in unchanged but that for locals was dled over the line-but this was both cities. increased to one hour and three never done, in spite of promises The Portland -Lewiston Inter quarters. made by promoters of the inter urban, in conjunction with Hodg Under the new schedule, the cars urban that an interchange freight don's Express Company, Lewiston, waited only three minutes in Mon traffic would be maintained be began operating motor truck ex ~s ument Square before leaving for tween the Maine Central Railroad press and freight service over a Lewiston. and the Portland-Lewiston Inter circuitous route extending from urban. Shortly after the interurban Lewiston to Augusta via Monmouth : the was completed, connecting track and Winthrop, down to Hallowell In with the Maine Central at Deering and Gardiner and back to Lewiston ~rate, Freight was removed and efforts to force via Wales and Sabattus. This re ili ties its restoration were unsuccessful. mained in operation until aban ~ line Abandonment of the Brunswick- donment of the interurban in 1933. , and and Express ~d on Co _rvice LIKE OTHER railways in y five :tugu- Maine, the Portland Lewiston Interurban soon time developed a profitable ex woof press and freight business. local _ line. Less-than-carload service was provided, commencing mited March 15, 1915, and there Jewis was some carload traffic >t the with the principal cargo Jar ted being livestock. even In the best years of the 1e for road, there were two daily r and round trips for freight be locals tween Portland and Lewis- ;es. limit m the IN ADDITION to service ilroad as a snow plow and ex a & press ·car, No. 30 was also , took used as a line car for many miles years. Here she waits at n, to Webster's Siding in North and Gray. - [PL/ scrapbook. 14. TRANSPORTATION Vol. 10, Page 14. porcelain insulators attached to speed and could stop quickly if a three-inch !-beams, eight feet in highway vehicle suddenly appeared. length, with the bracket stiffened Power by a % -inch steel tie rod clamped to the pole. Bridges powER for the interurban was On curves, a pull-off rod was generated at the waterpower used between the trolley wire and plant of the Androscoggin Electric the bracket. The brackets were equipped at the outer ends with THERE were 10 reinforced con- Company at Deer Rips, on the An crete bridges on the interurban , droscoggin River, supplemented by hooks to hold the messenger wire on arms in case of a broken insu the longest of 200 feet crossing the a steam turbine auxiliary station Presumpscot River, between Deer at Lewiston. From Lewiston to the lator. There were six DC lightning arresters per mile of line. ing and West Falmouth. This bridge substation at Danville, the power began to deteriorate in 1927 and on was transmitted at 10,000 volts, 60 A private telephone wire was carried on the trolley poles and, as December 15th of that year was cycles, three-phase, and from Dan replaced with a modern steel span. ville to the Gray and West Fal previously stated, each car carried a portable Western Electric tele Two other bridges were 100 feet mouth substations, transmission phone set, with a jointed contact in leng'th, one crossing the Little pressure was raised to 33,000 volts. rod, permitting the crew to com Androscoggin River in Auburn and The high tension line poles were municate with railway headquar the other being located in West separate from t hose used for the ters at all times. Falmouth. trolley overhead. The overhead potential on the All cattle passes on the road were In later years, an aluminum high right-of-way was 650 volts. On the of reinforced concrete construction tension line was installed and the terminal trackage of the Lewiston, and culverts were of corrugated transmission potential from Dan Augusta & Waterville and the Port steel pipe, concrete or wood. ville to Gray and West Falmouth land Railroad, overhead voltage Late spring freshets during May was increased to 36,000 volts. was 600 and 550, respectively. of 1916 resulted in a number of At the Danville substation, there wash outs on the line, particularly were a 300-KW rotary converter , between Gray and West Falmouth. three 100-KW step-down trans The road was shut down for a formers and three 200-KVA step-up Track and number of days as much re-grading transformers feeding the high ten had to be done and extensive re sion line, with usual oil switches pairs were required on several of and lightning arrester equipment. Roadway the bridges. The Gray and West Falmouth substations were similarly equipped with 300-KW rotary converters and THE private right-of-way of the Bridges three 100-KW step-down trans interurban was 50 feet in width formers. General Electric equip and the track was 70-lb. open on the ment was used throughout. In later hearth T- rail, laid in 33-ft. lengths Portland-Lewiston years, a Westinghouse converter with staggered joints and twin was installed at Gray and the terminal copper bonds. Ties were of chestnut, eight feet, six inches long Interurban original Gray rotary was moved to f_ength Danville. and 6 x 8 inches in cross section, No. Location Power for the Lewiston and Bath laid on 24-inch centers. Tie plates 200' Presumpscot divisions of the Lewiston, Augusta were used throughout and track River* was gravel ballasted. & Waterville Street Railway also 1 30' W. Falmouth was supplied by the Androscoggin Maximum grade on the line was 2&3 100' W. Falmouth** Electric Company. 4 per cent and the sharpest curve was 780 feet in radius. 4 30' Near Hurri.cone Grade crossings of the main road 5 30' Near Hurri.cone between Portland and Lewiston 100' Littlefield's Overhead were made at Hurricane in West (Auburn) Cumberland and at Danville. In later years, as automobile traffic 20' Arsenault Pork T HE overhead was of light cate- increased, these crossings were (Auburn) nary construction throughout, protected with automatic wig-wag There were also short reinforced with both messenger and trolley signals. Another signal protected con·crete bridges at Showtown wires being of No. 0000 copper. To the crossing of the Portland-Lewis (West Cumberland) and near save line material, the messenger ton and the present Route 115 at Webster Siding, North Gray. wire was used as a feeder, trolley Gray. *Original reinforced concrete wire being attached to it by sherar The highway crossing at Danville bridge over Presumpscot River dized steel hangers 30 feet apart. was somewhat dangerous, particu replo·ced by steel girder span Trolley poles were 30 feet long larly for Portland-bound motorists in 1927. and were of chestnut, the spacing whose view was obstructed some **These were 2 separate bridges between the poles being 120 feet. what. But since all interurbans h ad but were connected with each Bracket suspension was employed, to stop at Danville, they crossed other. the messenger wire being laid upon the Lewiston highway at very low 15. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN ·Page 15. Passenger Equipment THE PORTLAND - LEWISTON type. There were two leather cov with a standard MCB flange and a Interurban owned only nine ered side seats in the smoking com 3 Yz -inch tread. Consolida ted car passenger cars, the six with which partments. The smoking and main heaters, Van Dorn couplers and it began operation in 1914 and the compartments were separated by Crouse-Hinds luminous arc head three added in later years. bulkheads having a central sliding lights were used. Four of the original half dozen door with ribbed glass panels. The It was the general practice to cars were built by Laconia and the end of each seat was provided with operate the cars with the smoking other two by Wason. All six were a leather ticket holder, eight of compartment forward, necessitat practically identical in appearance, them being attached to the inside ing the turning of the cars on a the only differences being in the sheathing, with four more in the wye in front of the Lewiston car shapes of the windows and doors. smoking· compartment over the barn. In Portland, the interurbans The cars had a seating capacity of seats. Baggage racks were provided negotiated the Federal-Temple St. 52 and were divided into a main but the cars had no toilets. loop. compartment seating 44 and a Car lighting was accomplished Two smaller cars were built by smoking compartment seating 8. with two 60-watt lamps in each Laconia for the local service estab The cars were 46 feet long over vestibule hood above the steps, lished by the Portland-Lewiston all and 8 feet, 8~\t inches wide over three lamps of the same size in the Interurban in 1915. Of semi-steel the sheathing. The main compart smoking compartment and 16 in construction, these cars seated 48 ments were 30 feet in length and the main compartment. The last and were equipped with Baldwin the smoking compartments were named were installed in three 79-25A trucks, four Westinghouse six feet long. parallel rows. Fare registers were 305, 75-horsepower motors and Interlocking rubber tiling was located in the smoking compart HL: 15-B controllers. They were used on the floors and the cars ments anjj there also were small more of a suburban than an inter were finished in mahogany, with brass plates with spaces for insert urban type and could not make leaded glass windows and steam ing the names of the crew. the speed of the larger cars. One of coach type roofs. Each of the vesti Each car was equipped with four them was loaned to the Portland bules, which had end train doors, Westinghouse 304, 90-horsepower Railroad for two years and saw was provided with two sets of Pull motors, geared to maximum speed service between Portland and Saco. man steps with trapdoors in the of 59 m.p.h. The Laconia cars rode The last passenger car acquired floor, three steps being provided in on Baldwin 79-25A trucks and the by the Portland-Lewiston Inter each case. Windows were designed Wason cars on Brill 27 MCB trucks. urban was purchased from Wason to slide vertically into the monitor Controllers were of the HL auto in 1920 and closely resembled the pockets. matic air multiple-unit type, with six original cars except for some The main passenger compart Westinghouse 15-B master con variation in window and door de ments were fitted with 20 Heywood trollers and Westinghouse straight sign. It was named the "Maine" in reversible green plush seats and air brakes. The wheels were of cold honor of the Pine Tree State which two end seats of the longitudinal rolled steel, 36 inches in diameter, was observing its centennial that Passenger Cars of the PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Number Name Type Builder Year Built Trucks Motors Control Se'lting Capacity 10 Arbutus Coach-Smoker Laconia 1912 Baldwin 79-25A 4-WH304 HL:15-B 52 12 Gladiolus Coach-Smoker Laconia 1912 Baldwin 79-25A 4-WH304 HL:15-B 52 14 Narcissus Coach-Smoker Laconia 1912 Baldwin 79-25A 4-WH304 HL:15-B 52 16 Clematis Coach-Smoker Laconia 1912 Baldwin 79-25A 4-WH304 HL:15-B 52 18 Azalea Coach-Smoker Wason 1912 Brill 27 MCB 4-WH304 HL:15-B 52 20 Magnolia Coach-Smoker Wason 1912 Brill 27 MCB 4-WH304 HL:15-B 52 22 Maine Coach-Smoker Wason 1920 Brill 27 MCB 4-WH304 HL:15-B 52 40 Coach Laconia 1915 Baldwin 79-25A 4-WH305 HL:15-B 48 42 Coach Laconia 1915 Baldwin 79-25A 4-WH305 HL:15-B 48 No. 40 was leased to the Portland Railroad 1916-18 for use on its Saco Division. 16. TRANSPORTATION Vol. 10, Page 16. year. Trucks, motors and con diamond, to provide for greater a special party from Lewiston tci a ·trollers were the same as on the visibility at night. Christian Science lecture in Port cars built in 1912. Interurban cars were painted by land. The Portland-Lewiston Inter the Portland Railroad Company at This was successful as far as urban was among the first roads in its St. John Street shops, but the operating over the Portland-Lewis the country to adopt the Miller Portland-Lewiston did its own re ton right-of-way was concerned, trolley shoe in place of trolley pair work at Lewiston. but in Portland some difficulty was wheels, the change being made in encountered in passing over electric 1917, and in 1924, the brass whistles switches. In Lewiston and Auburn on one of the cars was replaced the train reportedly drew so much experimentally with dual air horns. Multiple-Unit Trains power that local cars in the "twin These proved successful and in 1926 cities" came to a near standstill. the remaining cars were so re Although two-car trains were run equipped. DURING the latter part of 1916, from time to time thereafter, and Cars were painted a Pullman knuckle couplers and auto usually on special trips only, it was green, with gray roofs and dark red matic air braking systems were in the custom to run them as single doors and trim. The lettering and stalled on the six original cars and cars over terminal trackage, with numerals were of gold leaf. In later on November 12th, following a coupling and uncoupling taking years, front dashers were painted secret test run the night before, place at Fairview and Deering orange, with a horizontal green the first multiple-unit train carried Junctions. Freight and Express Equipment AS OF JUNE 30, 1915, Portland- A roof platform was constructed Maintenance and repair work on Lewiston Interurban owned two on box motor No. 30 so that it the track and roadway was han double truck wooden box motors, could be used as a line car. All four dled by one of the box motors or both built by Laconia; 10 trailer could be equipped with steel noses the locomotive, towing one or more flats and a Baldwin-Westinghouse for snow plowing in winter. A flat trailers. These trailers could be steeple-cab locomotive. similar arrangement was devised fitted with side and end boards for One of the box motors, No. 30, for the locomotive. use as ballast cars and they were was the only General Electric Several box, stock and automo also used to haul rail and ties. equppied car on the system, with bile trailers rounded out the roster When the Androscoggin & Ken four GE210 motors and MK:0-101 of freight and express equipment. nebec Street Railway started to control. It rode on Brill 27 MCB A number of the box and flat cars route its Lewiston-Portland freight trucks. The other car of this type were later sold to t}fle Rocltland, service over the interur·ban, it had arch bar trucks, four Westing Thomaston & Camden Street Rail added another pair of trolley poles house 306 motors and HL: 15-B way which came under the owner fitted with Miller shoes to its box control. ship of the Central Maine Power motors. The shoe-equipped poles · Another box motor was pur Company at about the same time were used while running over the chased from Kuhlman in 1919 and as did the interurban. Portland-Lewiston right - of - way later a fourth car of this type was From 1925 to 1933, the locomotive and the other poles with conven acquired second-hand from the was leased to the Portland Railroad tional wheels were raised when the Lewiston. Augusta & Waterville Company for switching service in cars were operating on Portland· Street Railway. South Portland. Railroad and A. & K. rails. Freight and Express Cars of the PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Number Type Builder Year Buill Trucks Motors Control Remarks Box Express Laconia Nos. 30·36 and 90 equipped with 30 1914 Brill 27 MCB 4-GE210 MK:0-101 plows in winter. No. 30 fitted as 32 Box Express Laconia 1915 Arch Bar 4-WH306 HL:15-B line car. No 36 purchased from Lewiston, 34 Box Express. Kuhlman 1919 Arch Bar 4-WH306 HL:15-B Augusta & Watervllle St. Ry. 36 Box Express Laconia Arch Bar 4-WH306 HL:15-B No. 90 leased to Portland Rail road for switching service In 90 Locomotive Baldwin 1912 ~aldwin 4-WH303A HL:15-B South Portland, 1925-1933. Portland-Lewiston Interurban also owh~d 10 double truck flat and seve.ral box and stock trailers. 17. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Page 17. December 2, 1922 ELECTRIC RAILWAY JOURNAL 33 On the Speedy Interurban Fliers On Electric Locomotives MILLER On Powerful Snowplows TROLLEY SHOES on the Portland-Lewiston Interurban Installed nearly five years ago, Miller Trolley Shoes have been used continuously ever since on all the equipment of the Portland-Lewiston Inter urban. Why? Ask that company's officials and you will learn that Miller Trolley Shoes stay on the wire at high speeds, give steady contact, are quiet where trolley wheels were noisy, and last much longer. On the passenger express cars they have four 90-hp. motors and speed up to practically a mile-a minute. They enter cities and run under city traffic conditions. The electric locomotive has four 125-hp. motors and will draw ten loaded flat cars. Yet under all these diverse conditions, Miller Trolley Shoes give most satisfactory service. Tests of trolley wire wear show Miller I Trolley Shoes do not wear the wire A while ago they checked up on trolley wire wear at 12 points and found, after four months, three spots where the micrometers showed a bare .001 inch wear. At the rest no wear could be I observed. MILLER TROLLEY SHOE CO., Boston-21, Mass. Western Rept·esentative: Economy Electric Devices Co., 1590 Old Colony Bldg., Chicago, Ill. 18. TRANSPORTATION Vol. 10, Page 18. Accidents ALTHOUGH Portland- Lewiston Interurban cars operated at high speed over single track with out signal protection of any kind. only one accident of any conse quence ever took place on inter urban rig'ht-of-way. That occurred on January 11, 1924, when two cars were involved in a rear-end collision at Deering Junction. The "Azalea" and the "Maine'' were operating as specials, carrying a party of Edward Little High HEAVY RAINS in 1915-16 raised havoc with the Portland-Lewiston Inter School basketball players and stu urban right-of-way. This is a view of No. 4 bridge in West Falmouth after dents from Auburn to a game in a freshet receded and left railway crews with a major rebuilding task. Portland. The night was foggy and -[Photo from Portland-Lewiston Interurban scrapbook. when the "Azalea" slowed down prior to stopping at the register Washington Street. The motorman qeunces were avoided by fast action s-tation at the junction, the "Maine" of the "Narcissus," George Blair, on the part of the motormen of came up fast and banged into the believing he had a clear line, had both cars, George Blair and Harry rear end of the first car. Sixteen started toward Court Street when Williams, respectively, who speedily persons were injured, none seri he observed the other car coming applied the air when a collision ously, and the vestibules of both at a fast clip. He stopped his car seemed inevitable and jumped into cars were smashed. and had stepped to the ground to a nearby snow drift. Williams Needless to say, the Auburn boys change ends quickly when the landed on top Df Blair but neither didn't play basketball that nig·ht. crash came. was injured. The motorman of the "Maine," (Under a trackage rights agree The front of the passenger car Lester 0. Stevens, was believed to ment between the Lewiston, Au was smashed but the freight car have lost his bearings in the fog gusta & Waterville and Portland escaped with relatively little dam and was not aware that the car Lewiston Interurban, the interur age. H was loaded with a shipment was so near Deering· Junction. ban car was required to return to of crackers and the force of the Stevens' conductor was Oscar S. Washington Street, switch onto the impact knocked over several piles Adkins. The" crew of the "Azalea" tracks of the Auburn Heights line of cartons, the boxes landing on were Marvin L. Shackford, con and allow the Mechanic Falls car Albion C. Conant, conductor and ductor, and Joseph R. Lavigne, to passJ. freight messenger. motorman. Witnesses testified that Beals Both cars were taken to Portland * * * seemed to be in a state of panic · under their own power and the_ THERE WERE occasional mishaps and instead of shutting off the "Gladiolus" was quickly repaired involving interurbans and cars power and applying the brakes, he and returned to service. of the Lewiston, Augusta & Water advanced the controller, giving his Cause of the accident was Blatt's yille Street Railway on the single car more forward speed. failure to comply with a train order track between Fairview Junction The Mechanic Falls car was badly directing the eastbound "Gladiolus" and the corner of Minot Avenue damaged, the vestibule and two or to cross westbound "Extra No. 32" and Court Street, Auburn. In one three seats being demolished, and at Forest Lake siding. The "Gladi such accident on December 21,1917, it had to be towed to the Lewiston olus" ran by the meeting point, two Lewiston, Augusta & Water carhouse. On the other hand, the colliding with the freight car about ville employees, a motorman named interurban car suffered only minor 10 feet east of the wooden culvert Albert W. Beals and a student damage and was able to proceed at the Outlet. motorman, Eugene Roux, were fa under its own power. None of the As might be expected, there were passengers in either car was hurt, tally injured when the "Narcissus" several grade crossing accidents although all were shaken by the was struck oy a Mechanic Falls car over the years when motorists tried impact. on Minot Avenue, near High Street. ·to outdistance the speeding inter According to a newspaper report * * * urbans, but these were kept to a of the collision, the Lewiston, TWO PERSONS were slightly in- minimum with installation of auto Augusta & Waterville car, when it jured in the head-on crash of matic grade crossing signals at all entered the single track from Court the "Gladiolus" and freight car No. points where the line crossed main Street, failed to trip the block sig 32 at the Outlet stream near Mor highways, one signal a year being nal which would have stopped the rison Hill late in the afternoon of added until the protection was interurban at Minot Avenue and March 1, 1918. More serious conse- complete. ~ 19. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Page 19. Let's Go Back into Memoryland and Take a ~ JJJJM..i.hJL fPdlll.an.tl-:h.wi.IJJm TRIP over the Portland and almost immediately shuts back into the main passenger A Lewiston Interurban was rc oit as the big car takes the compartment to s:eek more always a pleasant experience, switch, turns sharp onto Preble :omfortabJ.e· s•eats and enjoy the both to the regular commuter :::itreet and starts to desteend an ride. . and to the occasional rid.er. The easy grade. The tracks curve Racing at nearly 60 miles an cars were comfortable and fast, left onto Portland Street and hour over smooth riding private the crews were efficient and we pass the· Portland-Lewiston way, we cross the Presumpscot polite and the scenery was the Interurban terminal building on River on a reinforced concrete ever-changing panorama of the our left. One of the express bridge and pass by numerous typical New England country motors is in the doorway and farms before arriving at West side. The interurban provided its crew shout a greeting to Falmouth station. We meet a the best in public transporta L'Heureux and Mitchell. we.s·tbound train, the "Mag tion between Portland and Arriving at the intersection of nolia," here and L'Heureux Lewiston, and it seems incom Portland Street with Park and steps to the rear of our car and prehensible that the rougher Forest Avenues, the "Arbutus?' shouts• his train number to the riding highway buses which swings right onto Forest Ave~ other conductor. The latter re have been serving these cities in nue and Mitchell advances the plies. in kind. . later years can be considered controller. He can't run too Leaving West Fa:lmouth, the symbols of progress· in any way. fast, however, as there are a track para•llels the highway for Let us return in retrosped·to couple of Portland city cars a short distance and then bears the summer of 1917 and enjoy ahead and they are stopping left, cros,sing two more concrete a "ride" on the Portland-Lewis frequently to let off or take on bridge:s. and continuing through ton Interurban. Our starting pass•engers. wooded country to Hurricane point is Monument Square in On to Private Right-of-Way station and a crossing of the Portland, and our car is the main road from Portland to "Arbutus," one of the hand Pass,ing through W oodfords Lewiston. Speeding through some interurbans turned out by Corner, the car crosses' the main West Cumberland we find the Laconia in 1912. The time is 9 line tra·cks of the Maine Cen~ work train waiting at Forest in the morning and a check of tral Railroad and continues on Lake S•iding. Continuing on, the timetable reveals that ours Forest A venue to Morrills Cor the "Arbutus" rolls· over the -is a limited train which will ner. More railroad tracks are ~Gray meadows and soon arrives make only five s:cheduled stops cros.sed here, we swing right in Gray village, the half-way after leaving Portland. onto Allen A venue and then point on the line. Mitchell ex turn left into Goodrich A venue pertly applies the air and the We Board the Car and the start of the Portland car comes to an easy stop in Entering at the rear of the Lewiston Interurban right-of front of the red brick building car, we stroll forward to the way at Deering Junction. which doubles as a passenger smoking compartment. As we Hurrying over to the register depot and rotary substation. station, "Joe Happy" calls the take seats, we note a small Gray, the Halfway Point metal sign, bearing the names dispatcher for ord·ers and is of the crew on the bulkhead told that the "Arbutus," as In Gray, we obs~ J' 20. TRANSPORTATION ' Vol. 10, Page 20. c~ hanged, and a Slhort distance strong, a Portland-Lewiston "We have had holid ~ ays and beyond, the highway comes into Interurban motorman, who had we have had crowds before but view on our left. signed off work on the night of we never struck any such com As the car approaches Dan 1Jhe hold'up. Armstrong, who bination as this. Never have ville, a long grade is des·cend'ed was staid to be suffering finan we carried any such number of and here the "Arbutus" speeds cial difficulties, confessed to the passengers in a single day," was as fast as her whee1ls will turn. crime, as well as several other the statement made by General We S'low down to cross the robberies, and was sentenced to Mana·ger Fred L. Gordon to a main highway again and arrive the State Prison at Thomaston, reporter from the Lewiston art the Danville station. Maine, where he died Oct. 10, Daily Sun. From DanviHe, we· run in an 1918. Other busy days for the inter almost srtra,ight cours·e through urban came when the Maine the woods, passing under the State Fair was held at Lewiston the main line of the Grand Important Events every September. Trunk Railway and over the It might be well to mention Rumf·ord branch of the Maine ITTLE more than a month that in addition to the sidings Central Railroad to Littlefield's Lafter the inte·rurban began at West Falmouth, Forest Lake Diamond and a grade crossing operation-on August 18, 1914 and Upper Gloucester, there of 1Jhe Le,wiston & Auburn Rail -then ex-President Theodore were also s ~ idings at Gray, New road. Crossing anothe·r co,ncrete Roosevelt rode over the line. Gloucester (Webster's), Dan bridge-this one o ~ver the Little "Teddy" had been on a hunting ville, Auburn (Sad ~ ler's ' ) and at Androscoggin River-the "Ar Deering Junction. There was. a trip in northern Maine and on r,nur track to the gravel pit at butus" continues alongsid·e Old his way home had been invited Portland Road, passing through by the Portland-Lewiston Inter Morrison's Hill. M a p I e Point, Interurban urban management to inspect The usual meeting points for Heigthts and Arsenault Park the new road. A special car, trains were at West Falmouth, before arriving at Fairview believed to have been the "Ar Rowe's Siding and Fairview Junction. butus," was pr·ovided for his Junction. The meets scheduled Lewiston, End of the Line convenience. In Gray, a brief at Fairview usually were made stop was· made while Roosevelt at a point on the double track At Fairview, L'Heureux calls of the Lewiston, Augusta & the dispatche.r once again, he addrests·ed a gathering through Waterville Street Railway be registers off the line and we an open train door in the tween Union Square, Lewiston, enter trackage of the Lewistorn, vestibule. and the Maine Central Railroad Augusta & Wate,rvme Street T·here were washouts, in 1915 cros,sing on Court Street in RaHway. 'Dhe block is cle-ar and and on March 6, 1920, a heavy Auburn. we roll alo·ng Minot A venue to blizzard completely tied up the Court Street and the start of line. All of the interurban's double iron. There is a meet snow fighting equipment was '~On the Heights" with the outbound "Azalea," mustered to clear the tracks we eros's the Androscoggin and a lar,ge force of hand labor River into Lewiston and ascend was recruited to shove1l away FROM 'its very beginning, the Main Street hill to the te,rminus the drifts which th'e plows Porrland -Lewiston Inter at Union Square. Our ride is could not penetrate. It was sev urban was a success. It filled a over. eral days before the road was definite transportation n e e d back in bus.ines,s. and its alternate limited and That s.ame year, the inter local cars proved attractive to The Train Robbery urban experienced its biggest patrons. Service was far supe day when, on July 5, 1920, the rior to that offered by the Portland-Lewiston was called Maine Central Railroad and the N MARCH 18, 1917, Con npon to handle so many people downtown termini in Portland Oductor Wesley N. Brown, in between Lewiston and Portland ::~nd Lewiston were convenient charge of the last night car that its pass enger equipment to the business districts in those from Lewiston to Portland, was was inadequate and the box cities. held up by a mastked bandit express motors were hastily The freight operations were and relieved of $50. The rob fitted up with benches from the succes,sful, too, with many car bery took place at Fairview Pythian Temple, Portland, to loads of livestock and manu Junction just after Brown had carry the huge crowds to and f~ctured goods being hand'led. thrown the switch and let his from the Maine Centennial Ex Milk and farm produce were car through onto the Portland nosition in Portland. Cars were the principal cargoes for the Lewiston ri,ght-of-way. .iammed to capacity-as a mat l~'ss-than-carload service, even Conductor Brown immedi ter of fact, four carloads, with though many additional com ately notified the dispatcher of a seating capacity of 208, took modities were carried. At Port the incident and voiced his sus 503 pas·s,engers on one trip land. freight and express' ship picions of the bandit's identity. from Lewiston to Portland. All ments were received from and A day or so later, police appre pasS Shore Line Railway, and there was an exchange of freight and Photographs from the express between the interurban and the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville Street Railway, al Portland-Lewiston Interurban Scrapbook though the latter ran its own freight trains between Lewiston and Portland via Brunswick and Yarmouth. Financially, the interurban earned a net profit of $54,000 in 1916 and in 1919, the net profit was over $70,000. In this latter year, passenger revenues totalled $203,844.86 and the income from freight and ex press was $21,706.80. In 1916, Portland- Lewiston Interurban carried 296,664 paid passen gers and by 1919 this number had increased to 471,062. As ·for the Androscoggin Electric Cornpany, its total:profits from railway and power operations in 1919 were $141,905.17. The stockholders were receiving regular dividends and all was well. Electric Company Officials THE BIGGEST SNOWSTORM ever experienced by the Portland Officials of the Androscoggin Lewiston Interurban struck on March 6, 1920, and the road Electric Company included William T. Cobb as president was practically paralyzed for several days. This view of express and Fred L. Gordon as general car No. 34 near Silo station, Auburn, shows depth of snow drifts. manager, with Rufus H. Stone as superintendent of the rail way division. Mr. Stone re signed in November, 1918, and his position was taken by Percy E. Weymouth, former superin tendent of the Augusta division of the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville Street Railway. With the appointment of Mr. Gordon as general manager of the Cumberland County Power & Light Comnanv on Oct. 1, 1920, George S. Williams, gen eral superintendent of the Cen tral Maine Power Company, was named general manager of the Androscoggin Electric Co. For a number of years. the Androscoggin Electric Com nany, through the Central Maine Power Company, was controlled by the Middle West Utilities Company, an Insull holding- corporation. This re lationship ended with the col lapse of the Insull empire in THREE BRIDGES crossed the Little Androscoggin River near the 1930's. Littlefield's Diamond in Auburn. In the foreground is the Announcement was made on Grand Trunk Railway bridge; in the middle is Portland-Lewiston Sept. 26, 1925, that the Port land-Lewiston Interurban cars Interurban's concrete span and in the background can be seen would make connections· with the highway bridge. The interurban and railway bridges still the "Pine Tree Limited," the remain, but a newer bridge replaced the highway span in 1937. 22. TRANSPORTATION· ' Vol. 10, Page 22. then-new crack Portland-Bos ton train of the Boston & Maine Photographs from the Railroad. Under this plan the inter urban car leaving Lewiston at Porlland-Lewiston Interurban Scraph~ok . 6:13 . a. m. arrived at Forest A venue and Congress Street, Portland, at 7 :30. Here a local street car of the Portland Rail road waited to carry passengers to Union Station. In the evening passengers arriving in Portland on the "Pine Tree" at 7 rode a lo·cal car to Monument Square to connect with the 7 :20 inter urban to Lewis·ton. The depar ture of the interurban was de layed if the train was late. In later years, interurbans connected with the Boston bound "Pine Tree Limited" at W oodfords station and with L:ains from · Boston at Union Station. When the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville Street Railway went into receivership in late 1918, there were rumors that ,....~-:..:·" the Lewiston, Augusta & ., Waterville system would be taken over by the Andros•coggin ~.,,. ~ Electric Company. These re THE "AZALEA" was only two years old when this fine photo of ports were swiftly scotched by of the W ason-built car was snapped at Main and Lisbon General Manager Gordon who stated emphatically that the Streets, Lewiston. The brick building behind the interurban car Androscoggin Electric had no housed the main offices of the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville inter.est in the Lewiston, Au Street Railway Company, Maine's most extensive trolley system. gusta & Waterville -that it had enough to do to take care of its own railway. It will be recalled that in 1914, following the death of W. Scott Ubbey, there were stories circulating that the Portland- Lewiston Interurban would be purchased by the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville-then a prosperous and busy road. How things changed in the short span of four years! The Decline HE DAYS of prosperity of T the Portland-Lewiston In terurban were not long to last. A modern hi·ghway between Portland and Lewiston was built in the late 'Twenties, pro moting the growth of private THE PICTURE of a motor truck ordinarily has no place in a automobile competition for the street railway history, but in this case it's different. This railway. All too frequently, would-be interurban pass·en particular truck was operated by Hodgdon's Transportation Co. gers were given rides by pass in connection with the freight service of th.e Portland-Lewiston ing motorists. Freight business Interurban in 1932 and 1933. -Photo taken by Oscar S. Adkins. 23. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN· Page 23. r-_,....;_~_..;_--~-:\ N ··EW;-. SER:V'ICE FOR TWO YEARS, Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 40, one of the Portland - Lewiston's makes DIRE CT CONNE CTION with local cars, was leased PINE TREE LIMITED TRAINS to the Portland Rail road and operated on F ROlU BOSTON-At Union Station the latter's Saco Di TO JJO~TO N-At 'Voodfords Statton vision. Photo shows the car in service on SUNDAY CONNECTION the Saco line (note L.-. Bos ton (via B. & lU. R. R.) 6.00 P. lU, the dash sign}, and is A rr. Portland (Union Station) 0.00 P. lU. believed to have been taken at Scottow Hill TAKE INTERURBAN CAR . turnout in Scarboro. AT UNION STATION -Photo from C. D. Heseltine. DIRECT TO LEWISTON ' ' FO!i INFORMATION . Lewiston 86.6 Phone Portland Forest 4800 ANDROSCOGGIN ELECTRIC COMPANY began to decline as more and ice continued to be operated Centrnl ~Iaine Pow.. r Company . System more trucks appeared on the over the road but the number roads. of limited trips was gradually To boost sagging revenues reduced until only five such and help meet increased oper trains were listed on the time ating costs, fares were raised ta·ble. Local trains only were from time to time. On Aug. 11, operated during the last two 1931, the through rate between years of the Portland-Lewiston Portland and Lewiston was set Interurban. There were 18 at one dollar. De·ficits began to round trips daily except Sun appear and it became apparent days, when only 16 trips were tq the management that the schedlllled. days of the Portland-Lewiston The interurban made a bid Interurban were numbered. As for more business by dropping TIME TABLE·. far as th.e general pu:blic was passengers at all white pole Eastern Efteetlve concerned, well, the interurban stops in Portland, Auburn and Standard Time Feb. 8, 1932· would always be there whether Lewiston. Later, orders were Leave Portland Leave Lewiston they patronized it or not. issued to pick up passengers at T t 4.55 A. 1\1. t 5.25 A.M. Both limited and local serv- any of these points in the three 6.00 " * 6.].5 " 7.05 " 7.35 " ~"':":':"~- 8.or. " 8.25 " 9.05 " 9.35 " -~ n ~;; .-c:l , ~ ., • ~ -- ---.E--. -k···- JAN I • 2 23 10.05 10.25 '· (!': >. c ftJ ~ U) E = 0 CD ..: "C t> - --- 11.05 " 11.35 f = 0 "' -.. :;; ~ ~ 0 -.. c: rn .... ., ~ 2 13JI 12.05 P.M." 12.25 P." ~1. '=' ~ ~ :r ~ E ~ < ~ 2 !I :s g> ~ ; --- ~--~_:_ 1.05 " 1.35 " >- :s .S 'E = ·;:: ."!! ·;:: ""'e ..... -::. "" -;: ·s: ·;:: = MAR 3 1 4 25 2.01) 2.25 " ca::~·-..,-'--c.. -~..Q..-a>&"" --- 3.01> " 3.31) '" c ::; Q> :iii c ,.,: = "' ' Special ticket issued during last years of the Portland-Lewiston Timetable issued on a pocket Interurban in bid to attract and hold patrons. size card in 1932. 24. TRANSPORTATION Vol. 10, Page 24. Souvenirs from lhe Porlland-Lewislon Interurban Scrapbook ~ Jlrn£rmtt ~ THE NIGHT THE BOYS CLOSED J!jteam Qllamo J!jatnn.. JU:klt• THE ROAD was the heading in -,;ohole.ro 'i!tlfree-'Q;&:u> the Portland -Lewiston Interurban's ADKINS wUI broadcast this Program SONG by Ouellette scrapbook over the program for the LOVE SKETCH by Guy Davis and 0 . S. Adktns "wake" held June 29, 1933, the day by Trask and Newcomb DUET that the interurban ceased operation. The good old section crew will give a comedy Drama "OLDE SNOW FENCE" by Beecher True Lane It was a sad occasion, but the boys PEP TALK by Trask drowned some of their sadness with a Mr. E. W. Jamieson will give a discription of his trip to PALMERSTON NORTH in 1940 copious supply of 3.2 brew. SPEECHES by anyone that feels like it REMARK!? by S. B. Cobb BOXINC MATCHES bring your gloves FAREWELL SPEECH Supt p. E Weymouth • This is your personal lnvilation Inasmuch as this may be the last chance for u~ to all be together for a social gathering it is thought advisable to call this gathering for the THIS CLEARANCE CARD was made evenin g of JUNE 29th at 7 30 I/. M. at LEWISTON CAR BARN out by Conductor Beecher T. Lane It seems quite necessary that some contributions should be made .to defray expeilses but the committe does'nt want anyone to stay away after registering his train, No. 36, ·at oweing to their inability to contribute to these expenses. Send your name in early Fairview Junction, Auburn, on the last trip from Lewiston to Portland at 11:16 on the night of June 28, 1933. :tOM 10.32 I have Checked the ReAiste1' Portland-Lewiston Interurban Book and find all Due T1'ains ~LEA~'S.~E ~ABB ~4 Re8iste1'£>d : ; East I ") West .;' ' i {) At .r= . r. l,,_. .r \Q ~4kt'l { day after the first trial trip w as made over the line. Approximately 50 employees who were f J:K Ed wit h the un pleas.ant fact th ~ t t h eir job s would be no m ore, sough t to take over t·h e interurban and to continue it in op eration, but the Andns.coggin Electric Com pany wasn't interested in t heir offer. The last trip from P ortland to Lewis,ton was a memorable occasion. At 11 :05 Wednesday night, J une 28th, the "Arbutus" departed from Mon ument Square and h eaded f or the Portland-Lewiston right -of -way· at Deering Junction. The crew were Charles H. Mitchell, motorman, and Joseph N. L'Heureux, conductor-as they NO. 10, THE ''ARBUTUS," stops at Morrill's Corner, Deering, had been for the inspection before continuing on to Deering Junction and private right irip of the Railroad Commis sioners on June 29, 1914. of-way. The photo shows the car with its original whistles, later Mitchell had retired f r om replaced with dual air horns. -Photo by Harold D. Forsyth. active employment but he was given the honor of ma king the last run. Rider on First Car Also on Last Among the passengers was Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony, daughter of W. Scott L1 bbey, builder of the Portl <>n d-Lew is ton Interurb>Jn . .Sh e h ad been a guest on the first trip-and cnme up from New York to ride on the last. At Gray, the "Arbutus" met the "Gladiolus" making t h e final Lewis•ton t o P ortland r un. At 12 :26 on the m o rn i :r:t~ of June 29th, old N o. 10 ar rived OSCAR S. ADKINS, left, who furnished much information for this history of the Portland Lewiston Interurban, and John Cluff, right, pose in front of the "Narcissus" at Gray. - Photo from Oscar S. Adkins. LEAVING WEST FALMOUTH station for Portland, No. 12, the "Gladiolus," takes the sid ing to cross an opposing train. West Falmouth was a regular meeting point on the Portland Lewiston Interurban. - Photo from Francis J . Goldsmith Jr. 27. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Page 27. in Union Square, Lewis•ton. It 1932 Roster was the end of the line for of Employees Maine's finest electric railway. with buses of the Maine Central NAME POSITION Percy E. Weymouth Superintendent Transportation Company t~ k M. D. French Master Mechanic ing over the Portland-Lewiston S. B. Cobb Freight Traffic Manager run. J . E. Cummings Freight Agent Harry Ferguson Line Foreman LEWISTON TRAINMEN Dismantling Oscar S. Adkins Conductor A. P . Buchanan Motorman E. H . Buch an a n Motorman HORTLY after abandonment J . I . Cluff Motorm an S Albion M. Conant Motorman of the Portland-Lewiston Willia m M. Jones Conductor lnterurban, the overhead was Joseph N. L'Heur eu x Conductq-r removed and the substations George W. Maxwell Motorman R. E. Trask Cond uctor dismantled. The rails were Forrest Greenwood taken up in 1904, a gasoline T emporary Motorman powered rail truck bemg u.:::;ed. P . G. Smith Temporary Conductor The seven large interurban;:; PORTLAND TRAINMEN were taken to the yard at the J . E. Abbott Motorman A. C. Clement Motorman Andros.coggin & Kennebec Ernest Waldo Jamieson Motorman Railway's Lewiston carhouse, Beecher T. Lane Conductor there to await possible sale, Joseph R. Lavigne Motorman while the two smaller passen Marvin L. Shackford Conductor Ralph H. Shaw Conductor ger cars and the express· and Harry E. Williams Conductor freight equipment were stored G. Fred Pollock Temporary Motorman at Gray. Bventually, several of Last Public Timetable Issued Dana M. Russell Temporary Conductor the passenger car bodties were SUBSTATION OPERATORS sold and one c.omplete car, the M . Clyde Grover Days, Danville ''Arbutus," was purchased by LeRoy Libby Nights, Danville Mrs. Gertrude L. Anthony and Mark Marcus Muzzy Days, Gray llllil~l· Ma urice P. Burns Nights, Gray taken to her summer estate at George Brackett Days, West Falmout h Bay View, Maine, for preser 1~um •H ·•~liliiii!lt11iJ>i Robert X. DeVere Leave Leave Nights, West Falmouth vation in memory of her father. Portland Lewiston 7.05 A.M. 7.35 A.M. SEC'l'ION 1\lEN It remained there until 1946. 9.0;) .. 9.35 .. Traces of the Portland 11.05 .. 11.35 .. George F. Davis Roadmaster 1:05 P .M. 1.35 P .M. Guy F . Davis Section Hand Lewiston Interurban remaining 3 05 .. 3.35 .. Floyd Watson Section Hand 5.05 .. 5.35 .. today (1956) include most of 7.05 .. 7.25 .. P. H . Loring Section Hand the roadbed between W est t9.10 .. 9.10 .. E. Kimball Section Hand Falmouth and Auburn. The 11.05 .. 11.05 .. C. Doughty Section H and t-Connects with train fro W. P . Caswell Section H and portion between Portland and H . L. M arriner •••••u••• •••• r,...... " . .. . Section Hand, West Falmouth was practically ~~~J.R ~ Joe Wilson Section Hand erased through construction of Running Time, .~... ~.P.~!'. .•\\!1~ .. ~~ .. !*!~~!~~:. OTHER EMPLOYEES the Maine Turnpike extension. One way fare-$1.00. M. W. Paine Night Wa tch m an Most of the reinforced concrete Daily round trip and Mark W. Newcomb Terminal Foreman week-ends Friday-Monday, $1.50. Horace A. Williams Terminal Employee bridges are still in place and ...... ,...... " ...... the terminal buildings in Port Phone-Portland For. 4800; George Edwards T erminal Employee P aul Ouellette Freight Truck Driver land and Lewiston still stand, llll George Rand Freight Truck Helper the latter now being a Red & FOR ECONOMY& DEPENDABILITY J . N. Mcilroy Retired White Supermarket. The car SE OUR FREIGHT SERVICE Charles H. Mitch ell Retired "Maine" is a diner on Park F . D. D amren Retired Street, Lewiston; the body of H. J . Sawyer Retired ,ili:IM18::!11 G. M. Harris Laid Off the "Narcissus" rests forlornly F . W. Smith Laid Off by the side of the road near Sabattus Lake in We·bster; the "Azalea" is located on West there it, too, eventually was cut ing carhouse to a National Rose Hill, overlooking the An up for scrap metal. Guard Armory began, the Port droscoggin River in Lewiston, The rotary stations at West land terminal of the interurban and cars Nos. 40 and 42 are in Falmouth and Gray are private again was put to street railway I South Casco where they are homes, while the station build use. The lead-in track switches used as a boat shop. ing at Danville is used for stor on Portland Street were clear ed The remaining pasSienger age purposes by the Central of tar and dirt and overhead cars were junked at Lewiston; Maine Power Company. wire was erected into the build the express cars were scrapped During the latter part of ing so that the barn could be at Gray and the locomotive was 1940, after the conversion of used by the line and track de taken to Deering Junction and the Portland Railroad's Deer- partments· of the railway. i ~ 28. PORTLAND-LEWISTON INTERURBAN Vol. 10, P age 28 . .P 4 1/1! ,.# _.. . ··,..; -~i .. ~ i>~ .. ~ FROM 1933 TO 1946, the "Arbutus" reposed on the estate of Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony at Camp Ellis, Maine, just a short distance from Old Orchard Beach. - The car was dismantled for junk in 1946 much to the distn:ay of railfans who would have liked to acquire it.-Votava Photo. !f' • THE LAST TRIP from Port- land to Lewiston was made by the "Arbutus," shown here at Monument Square, Portland, ~~ June 29, 1933. The lady in the picture is Mrs. Gertrude Libbey Anthony, daughter of W. Scott Libbey, builder of the road. At her left and right, respectively, are Joseph N. L'Heureux, conductor, an d Charles H. Mitchell, ~otorman. - Photo from 0. R. Cummings. •