The "Mother Car" of all trolley museums in the world,
Biddeford & Saco Railroad Company No. 31. was built in 1900
by the J. G. Brill Company in Philadelphia, PA, Car 31
is a double-truck open car that carries 60 passengers and has
been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since
1980. Nine other historic Maine railway vehicles join
Car 31 is on the NRHP list and is all held in public trust at
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
In addition, Car 31 became a Save America's Treasures
Project in 2000. Photo courtesy of Dan Vardaro.
Car 31 in Old Orchard Beach. Collection of Charles Duncan
at STM.
In 2019, Seashore Trolley Museum will celebrate its 80th Anniversary! July 5, 1939, was the day that Seashore's creators paid a deposit of $108 for Car 31 to Mr. Stride, the general manager of the Biddeford & Saco Railroad Company. The balance of $42 was paid a few days later. Car 31 is recognized as the first electric railway vehicle acquired by private individuals specifically to start an electric railway museum. Car 31 arrived at what were the original 10 acres (of what would become Seashore Trolley Museum) in North Kennebunkport on July 15, 1939. That original car sitting on ten acres did not remain alone very long. Over the past 79 years, the number of mass transit vehicles and related equipment has grown to include more than 200 electric railway vehicles, 60 buses, more than a dozen trackless trolleys, and transit-related buildings, all on a campus that has a little over 300 contiguous acres in three communities (Kennebunkport, Arundel, and Biddeford).
Car 31 at its new home in North Kennebunkport in the fall
of 1939. It wouldn't be alone for very long. STM
This blog post will speak specifically to the collection of historic Maine railway vehicles on the campus of the Seashore Trolley Museum.
Maine Railway Equipment Listed on the National Register
1939 (Acquired) - No. 31 - Biddeford and Saco Railroad Company
- 1900, 12-Bench Open by J. G. Brill Company, Philadelphia, PA
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- Official Project of Save America's Treasures in 2000
- The first trolley/streetcar preserved by a private organization for museum purposes worldwide
- One of the last open trolley cars to operate in regular service in Maine
- The only surviving original railway vehicle from the Biddeford & Saco Railroad Company
Car 31 out for a mainline trip on July 4, 1999
during 60th-anniversary activities celebrating
the beginning of what would become Seashore
Trolley Museum. No. 31 had major restoration
work in the mid-1970s. The interior and the
exterior were "freshened up" in the late 1990s.
Some mechanical and truck work is needed.
PWM photo.
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
Click Here to see the video of Seashore Trolley Museum Founder, Theodore Santarelli telling how Car 31 was saved, which started the Museum
1941 (Acquired) - No. 615 - Portland Railroad Company
- 1920, Birney Safety Car by Wason Manufacturing Company, Springfield, MA
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- Only surviving railway equipment from the Portland Railroad Company
- Originally was built for and operated by the Portland Railroad Company (ME) as No. 615. No. 615 was sold to the Biddeford and Saco Railroad Company in 1936, where it retained its No. 615 and operated until 1939.
Portland Railroad Company's No. 615 Birney car is being
loaded on a trailer at Thornton Heights in Scarborough, ME to
be delivered to the Biddeford & Saco Railroad carhouse in
Saco. The PRR sold No. 615 to the B&SRR in 1936. 615
would operate on the B&SRR line until the line converted to
buses in early July of 1939. The body of 615 would be used
as a shed during the dismantling of the RR and later
acquired by early Seashore members and moved to
the fledgling campus in North Kennebunkport.
No. 615 on Main Street in Biddeford on June 5, 1939
Just a month before the
Biddeford & Saco Railroad converted to buses.
Gerald Cummingham photo at STM
No. 615 at Seashore circa 1950. 615 was the "bunkhouse"
for volunteers for many of the early years. Photo "Historic
Cars of Seashore Electric Railway" @1954.
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
Portland Railroad Company No. 615 on display at
Seashore during the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the
completion of the restoration of the Atlantic Shore Line
electric locomotive No. 100 on September 25, 2009.
A correct truck was acquired for 615.
No. 615 needs to be restored. Karl Johnson photo.
1946 (Acquired) - No. 52 - Aroostook Valley Railroad Company
- 1909, Express/Freight Motor by J. G. Brill Company, Philadelphia, PA
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- Only known surviving combination freight motor, express car, & snowplow electric railway vehicle in Maine
Aroostook Valley Railroad Company
No. 52 Box Motor-Snow Plow.
This picture was taken by General Electric Engineers and
was used for many years as advertising in trade magazines. It
shows the frame and mounting for the air-controlled
"Nose Plow". No. 52 was built with it being able to
perform many different duties for the small electric railroad.
Engineers from General Electric built No. 52 to be able to
plow snow and still be used for other purposes, including;
construction car, express car, or small locomotive. No. 52's
role in advertising was to convince other small railroads that
savings could be made using this concept.
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
No. 52 during shifting at Seashore Trolley Museum
in the summer of 2016. Eric Gilman photo
1946 (Acquired)- No. 70 - Aroostook Valley Railroad Company
- 1912, Wooden Interurban Combine by Wason Manufacturing Co., Springfield, MA
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- Made the last passenger run over the Aroostook Valley Railroad on August 7, 1946
Aroostook Valley Railroad Company No. 70 at Washburn
before the track was moved from the street to the
private right-of-way circa 1912. PWM
70 must have been buried cause this
is 71 (70 a twin to 71) National
Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
Aroostook Valley Railroad Company No. 70
on September 26, 2009, following being on display during
the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of
the restoration of the Atlantic Shore Line electric locomotive
No. 100 on September 25, 2009. PWM
The interior restoration of AVRR No. 70 is not complete,
though seats have been restored. 2016 photo PWM
1946 (Acquired)- No. 82 - York Utilities Company
- 1919, Birney Safety Car by Wason Manufacturing Company, Springfield, ME
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- Originally was built for and operated by the Denver & South Platte Railway as No. 2. No. 2 was sold to the York Utilities Company in 1927, where it operated as No. 82 until 1946.
York Utilities Company No. 82 at the
River Street carhouse circa 1946. STM
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
Interior of York Utilities Company No. 82 STM
No. 82 at Seashore circa 1950. Photo "Historic Cars of
Seashore Electric Railway" @1954. No. 82 needs to be
restored.
1947 (Acquired)- No. 8 - Mousam River Railroad Company
- 1893, Baggage & Express Trailer by the Portland Company, Portland, ME
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- Only surviving railway equipment from Mousam River Railroad Co. (Sanford/Springvale, ME)
Mousam River Railroad Company No. 8 on the left with steps
leading up to the sliding door, at the York Utilities Company
carhouse on River Street in Sanford circa 1946. STM
Mousam River Railroad Company No. 8 at Seashore Trolley
Museum circa 1960. No. 8 has been restored. PWM
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
1947 (Acquired)- No. 88 - York Utilities Company
- 1926, Lightweight One-Man Car by the Wason Manufacturing Co, Springfield, MA
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- Last electric streetcar to carry passengers in regular service in Maine - April 1, 1947
- Was originally built for and operated by the East Taunton Street Railway (MA) as No. 12. No. 12 was sold to the York Utilities Company in 1933, where it operated as No. 88 until 1947.
York Utilities Company No. 88 on Washington Street in
Sanford with one of the Goodall Mill buildings on River
Street in the distant background. Circa 1947 just before
passenger service ended. Freight service would continue
for two more years. No. 88 has not been restored. STM
No. 88 at Seashore circa 1950. Salt used on the tracks has
taken its toll over these many years. No. 88 has not been
restored and it will require a lot of work and funds
to restore it to operable condition. Photo "Historic Cars of
Seashore Electric Railway" @1954
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
1947 (Acquired)- No. 100 - Atlantic Shore Line Railway
- 1906, Steeple Cab Electric locomotive by Laconia Car Company Works, Laconia, NH
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- The sole surviving electric locomotive of its type in its original configuration in America
- Only surviving railway equipment from the Atlantic Shore Line Railway
- One of three of the first electric locomotives in Maine (all three were ordered on the same invoice)
- Last electric locomotive to operate in Maine - June 1949
Atlantic Shore Line Railway electric locomotive No. 100
pulling a train of boxcars in the Goodall Mill complex in
Sanford, ME, circa 1907. STM photo
No. 100 at the York Utilities (YUCo) carbarn at River &
Brook Streets, Sanford, circa the 1930s.
No. 100 was a hard-working locomotive for decades at
Seashore Trolley Museum before the wear and tear
put out of service. Here it is in use to carry ballast for
building the track at the "Terminal" operation in 1957. STM
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
Atlantic Shore Line Railway No. 100 is making its
way to the restoration shop for its initial inspection before
its complete restoration begins. September 2005 PWM
Atlantic Shore Line Railway electric locomotive No. 100
was fully restored and released for limited operation
on Seashore Trolley Museum's Heritage Railway
in September 2009. PWM
1947 (Acquired)- No. 108 - Portsmouth, Dover & York Street Railway
- 1904, Railway Post Office/Express Car by Laconia Car Company Works, Laconia, NH
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- Was used in the First-Day-Issue cover release of streetcar commemorative stamps at STM in 1983, officiated by Vice-President George Bush and Postmaster General William Bolger
- Only surviving railway equipment from the Portsmouth, Dover & York Street Railway
Laconia Car Company-built PD&Y Mail and Express car
No. 108 when new circa 1904. STM
Sorting letters inside PD&Y No. 108 is clerk Charles Preston.
STM
No. 108 on its side after toppling off Brave Boat Harbor
trestle in 1918. Shortly after this accident, it was converted to
a work maintenance car for doing overhead wirework.
STM
No. 108 at Seashore circa 1950. Photo "Historic Cars of
Seashore Electric Railway" @1954.
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
PD&Y No. 108 came to Seashore from York Utilities Co.
in 1949. 108 had exterior restoration work in the early 1980s
in preparation for use in 1983 for the first-day-issue stamp
ceremony at STM. It needs the interior restored and
its exterior needs to be refreshed.
1969 (Acquired)- No. 14 - Portland-Lewiston Interurban
- 1912, Wooden Interurban Coach "Narcissus" by Laconia Car Company Works, Laconia, NH
- National Register of Historic Places - #198011148000262 in 1980
- Former President Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on No. 14 on August 18, 1914
- the only surviving railway equipment from the Portland-Lewiston Interurban
Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus had been
operating on the new electric railroad for less than two
months, when former President Theodore Roosevelt
was a passenger on a trip between Lewiston and Portland
on August 18, 1914. TR is seen here waving from the
number two end train door of the Narcissus to the gathered
spectators at the Gray, Maine stop. Photo courtesy of
the Gray Historical Society.
PLI No. 14, Narcissus in Lewiston early in April 1933, less
than three months before Maine's Fastest and Finest
Electric Railroad ceased operations. STM
The body of PLI No. 14, Narcissus was the summer camp
of the J. Henri Vallee family at Sabattus Pond for thirty-five
years. Mr. Vallee transferred ownership of the Narcissus to
Seashore upon completion of a new home built to replace
the former summer home. See here in late October 1969,
the Narcissus is secured to Seashore's "Highway Monster"
and is about to travel to its new home in Kennebunkport.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Vallee.
PLI No. 14, Narcissus is seen to the right in Seashore's
public parking area in the spring of 1970. PWM
National Register photo on file at
ME Historic Preservation Comm.
PLI No. 14, Narcissus is seen here in March 2018, in
Seashore Trolley Museum's Donald G. Curry Town House
Restoration Shop. The Narcissus is currently
being completely restored to operating condition. PWM
Maine Railway Equipment - Accessioned
1946 (Acquired)- No. 80 - York Utilities Company
- 1919, Birney Safety Car by Wason Manufacturing Company, Springfield, ME
- Originally was built for and operated by the Denver & South Platte Railway as No. 1. No. 1 was sold to the York Utilities Company in 1927, where it operated as No. 80 until 1946.
- No. 80 is currently being restored as it was originally to its No. 1, Denver & South Platte Railway configuration.
- No. 80 is an accessioned vehicle in Seashore's railway collection
No. 80 at Seashore circa 1950. Photo "Historic Cars of
Seashore Electric Railway" @1954.
Each of the historic Maine railway vehicles has had its own individual assessment conducted. The purpose was to assess the current conditions to prepare a plan for estimating costs associated with maintenance or restoration needs for the following ten-year period. This assessment was part of an examination to prepare a presentation for having these vehicles, along with the historic Maine buses prepared for display/exhibit in a state-of-the-art, proposed new 22,000 sq. ft. "Maine Transportation Hall" with its companion 9,000 sq. ft. Education Center. More details to follow in subsequent blog posts
2010 STM
We are still in need of funds for creating the interpretation programs that will tell this fascinating 100+-year-old story of the Narcissus. For information on donation options, scroll down this post and find the one that best fits your position. Fund 816 to help with the restoration and Fund 817 (PLI Education-Interpretation programs ) should be noted when making a donation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click Here for the post that has the short virtual 3-D video of the digital model of the Narcissus, with components added to the file from earlier this year (the gold leaf file had not been added yet).
Restoration work continues on the Narcissus. The Narcissus is more than 110 years old now and has so many incredible stories to share. The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one of those incredible stories.
The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.
Independent book publisher, Phil Morse, holding
the Gold Book Award Winner plaque for
the Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive
Seashore Trolley Museum Promo Video
The paperback edition of Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride can be purchased online through the Seashore Trolley Museum's store website. Books purchased through the Museum's website directly benefit the Museum and the Narcissus project.
Click Here to go to the Museum Store web page to order online
Click Here to go to the Amazon page to order the ebook or audiobook online
Paperback books are available at these local bookstores in
Androscoggin Historical Society, Lewiston
Eliot Historical Society, Eliot
Gray Historical Society, Gray
Kennebec Historical Society, Augusta
Letterpress Books, Portland
Maine Historical Society Store, Portland
Morph Gallery & Emporium, Kennebunk
New Gloucester Historical Society, New Gloucester
Roosevelt Campobello International Park, Welshpool, NB, Canada
Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops, All Locations
Thompson's Orchard, New Gloucester
Winthrop Maine Historical Society, Winthrop
Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride
by Jean M. Flahive
Illustrations by Amy J. Gagnon
Listen to a 2-minute, 30-second, Retail Audio Sample of the Audiobook
Millie Thayer is a headstrong farmer's daughter who chases her dreams in a way you would expect a little girl nicknamed "Spitfire" would run full tilt and with her eyes on the stars. Dreaming of leaving the farm life, working in the city, and fighting for women's right to vote, Millie imagines flying away on a magic carpet. One day, that flying carpet shows up in the form of an electric trolley that cuts across her farm. A fortune-teller predicts that Millie's path will cross that of someone famous. Suddenly, she finds herself caught up in events that shake the nation, Maine, and her family. Despairing that her dreams may be shattered, Millie learns, in an unexpected way, that dreams can be shared.
A resource for teachers
Companion curriculum State-standard-based units,
vocabulary, and reading activities for use in grades 3-8
are available online as downloadable resources through
Seashore Trolley Museum's website
www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Maine Historical Society has created eight companion lesson units in Social Studies and ELA that were inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride - These State-standard-based lesson plans for use in grades 6, 7, and 8 are easily adapted for use in grades 3-5. Vocabulary and Reading activities for grades 3-8 along with the eight lesson plan units are available free and may be downloaded through Seashore Trolley Museum's website www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Go to the Teacher Resource Page in the pull-down for more details.
A 60-second intro to Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride by author, Jean Flahive
Click Here to watch the video on YouTube
Award-winning author, Jean M. Flahive
Please Consider a Donation to the Narcissus Project to help us tell the incredible story of the Narcissus through the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project.
Here is an example of how donations to the Narcissus Project now will help with the interpretation portion of the project. The interpretation programming will include exhibits, displays, and education programming. In 2019, through generous donations to the Narcissus Project, we were able to conserve, replicate, and have high resolutions digital image files made of the original, 1910, 28.5-foot long, surveyor map of the elevation and grade of the 30-mile private right-of-way of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad (Portland-Lewiston Interurban) Click Here
Thank You!
the crowd gathered in Gray, Maine on August 18, 1914.
Image courtesy of Gray Historical Society
The Narcissus as the Sabattus Lake Diner in Sabattus, Maine,
circa 1940. Photo by John Coughlin in the Kevin Farrell
Collection at Seashore Trolley Museum
L. Henri Vallee (right) and family members in the
Narcissus, when it was Vallee's summer camp in
Sabattus, Maine circa 1958. Photo courtesy Daniel Vallee
Inside the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop, the Narcissus is in the midst of major work as we strive to complete its restoration. We are now planning the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project. Donations to the Narcissus Project may be used in the future to help tell the incredible 100-plus-year-old story of the Narcissus. Your donation to the Narcissus is helping to make the dream of the project's success, a reality.
See below for Donation options -
It starts with YOU
Your Donation Matters
Make a Donation TODAY
Please Help the Narcissus.
Donation Options to Help the Narcissus Project:
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society
is the 501c3 organization that owns and operates the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, and the National Streetcar
Museum in Lowell (MA).
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society registered with the IRS (EIN# 01-0244457) and was incorporated in Maine in 1941.
Check or Money Order ***** should be made payable to:
New England Electric Railway Historical Society
In the memo: for a donation to the Interpretation programming
please write: PLI Education Fund 817
For a donation to help with the restoration write: Narcissus Fund 816
Mail to: Seashore Trolley Museum
P. O. Box A
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Credit Card ***** donations can be one-time donations or you
may choose to have a specific amount charged to your card
automatically each month. Please contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3.
Online Donations - may be made by using a Credit Card:
Click Here to make an online donation through the Museum's website - When at the Donation page: Fill in donor info, etc., when at "To which fund are you donating? Scroll down to "Other" and type: 816 Narcissus, then continue filling in the required information.
Click Here for PayPal - to make an online donation: you can use email: finance@trolleymuseum.org and in the message box write:
For "Narcissus Fund 816" - if supporting the restoration
For "PLI Education Fund 817" - if supporting Interpretation programs
Donation of Securities ***** We also accept donations of
securities. You can contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3,
for brokerage account information for accepting donated securities.
BONUS ***** If you work for a company/corporation that will
"match" an employee's donation to an approved 501c3 non-profit
educational organization, please be sure to complete the necessary paperwork with your employer so that your donation is matched :)
Questions? ***** Please contact Narcissus project sponsor:
Phil Morse, narcissus@gmail.org or call 207-985-9723 - cell.
Thank You :)
Thank You for our Current Funding Partners
* 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation - 2020/2018 - Major Gift, 2017/2014 Matching Grants
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Mass Bay RRE - 2018 Railroad Preservation Grant
* Thornton Academy (Saco, ME) - Staff & Alumni - Matching Grant Challenge 2014
* New England Electric Railway Historical Society (Kennebunkport, ME) - Member Donations
* Amherst Railway Society - 2015 Heritage Grant
* National Railway Historical Society - 2016 & 2015 Heritage Preservation Grants
* Enterprise Holding Foundation - 2015 Community Grant
* Theodore Roosevelt Association - Member Donations
* John Libby Family Association and Member Donations
* The Conley Family - In Memory of Scott Libbey 2018/2017/2016/2015
* The W. S. Libbey Family - Awalt, Conley, Graf, Holman, Libbey, McAvoy, McLaughlin, Meldrum, O'Halloran, Salto, - 2018/2017
* The Hughes Family 2017/2016/2010
* New Gloucester Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Public Library Association - Pat Barter Speaker Series
* Scarborough Historical Society - PRR/PLI
* LogMein - Matching Employee Donation
* IBM - Matching Employee/Retiree Donations
* Fidelity Charitable Grant - Matching Employee Donations
* Richard E. Erwin Grant - 2017/2016
The Narcissus, with interior back-lit, stained glass windows is majestic.
Make a donation today to help restore the interior of this Maine gem.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track! Once restored,
you will be able to ride in luxury on this National Register Treasure at
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
PWM photo
Please Consider Making a Donation to the project of the National Register of Historic Places member, Narcissus. We are currently raising funds to advance the restoration and to tell the incredible story of this Maine gem.
Various News stories during the summer of 2015 about the
Narcissus and its connection to Theodore Roosevelt. TR
was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914.
Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
The Narcissus - July 31, 2015. Make a donation today.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track!
Once restored, you will be able to ride in luxury on this
National Historic Treasure at
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