Inside the power station on the corner of Forest Avenue
and Marginal Way where electricity was generated
for the electric trolley cars of the Portland Railroad,
Portland, Maine. c 1910
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_30_073
Photo and research resources used in this blog post are courtesy of Seashore Trolley Museum's Library; specifically from the O. R. Cummings Collection and Phil Morse (PWM), and O. R. Cummings books, "Portland Railroad" Part 1, 1957, and Part 2, 1959.
Monument Square in Portland, Maine was the hub for all the early horse-drawn and electric railway systems running into and out of Portland. This blog features the high-speed, luxury interurban, No. 14, Narcissus of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI) that is now being restored at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. The Narcissus and nine other Maine vehicles used on electric railways have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Though we are deep into the research of information and materials related to the PLI and the Narcissus for use in creating the interpretation portion of the Narcissus project, it's too hard to resist posting other interesting electric railway tidbits from Maine's transportation history. With that in mind, from 1914 until 1933, the Narcissus, as a PLI interurban, operated into and out of Monument Square to pick up and discharge passengers. As we approach Maine's Bicentennial year (2020), this blog will release posts that relate to many electric railway operations throughout the State of Maine. One of the first in the series will be a more comprehensive look at the Portland Railroad. The 470 Railroad Club in Portland will host a public presentation on the history of the Portland Railroad beginning at 7 p.m. on October 17, 2018, at 75 State Street, Portland, Maine; the entrance to the meeting hall is on Gray Street between Gray & Park Street.
This blog post will be a bit of a teaser for that presentation at the 470 Railroad Club next month and will show a few images of the Portland Railroad system along Forest Avenue and at Riverton Park.
Click Here to go to the post: Maine Bicentennial - Portland Railroad - A History of Public Transportation 1860-1941
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Westbrook, Gorham & So. Windham Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Congress Street Revisited: Monument Sq.-Union
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - South Portland & Cape Elizabeth Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Portland Railroad - Munjoy Hill Revisited
Click Here to go to the post: Trolleys Through Scarborough, Maine
Horse-drawn trolley cars were known as horsecars
when they first started carrying passengers in 1864
along Forest Avenue as they headed past
Evergreen Cemetery to Morrill's Corner.
Map from O. R. Cummings books,
"Portland Railroad" Part 1, 1957
1897 builder's photo taken at the J. G. Brill Co. of Portland
Railroad's No. 139. For many years, the cars of the PRR
were painted different colors according to the line or
division on which they were operated. The Deering cars
were yellow. About 1920, the company settled on one paint
scheme for all divisions. Red body with white and blue
trimming and gold leaf numerals. The roofs were gray. The
company name was omitted when cars were repainted in
these colors. Image from O. R. Cummings books,
"Portland Railroad" Part 1, 1957
Once electrified, the Deering Division of the Portland Railroad
was expanded over the years to serve many of the greater-
Portland-area communities.
Map from O. R. Cummings books,
Portland-area communities.
Map from O. R. Cummings books,
"Portland Railroad" Part 1, 1957
The front dasher of the open car no. 131, reads, BELT LINE.
The North Deering Belt Line was a popular outing in Portland
for many years. The trip was 5.6 miles and took just an hour
from Monument Square to travel the loop and return
to Monument Square.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_042
In 1908, a large brick, seven-track carhouse was
built on Steven's Avenue, near Morrills' Corner.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_30_010
No. 212 was built for the Portland Railroad in 1910 by
the J. G. Brill Co. in Philadelphia, PA. Seen here heading to
Monument Square while passing by what is now the
U. S. Post Office at 125 Forest Ave.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_020
No. 12, Gladiolus, sister to Narcissus, passing what is
now the Odd Fellows Block at 651 Forest Ave.
The Portland-Lewiston Interurbans used Forest Ave.
as they traveled to where the PLI right-of-way started
at Deering Junction just off Allen Avenue.
From the O. R. Cummings Collection atSeashore Trolley Museum Library.
The most popular destination for passengers on the PRR along Forest Avenue was certainly Riverton Park. The Portland Railroad built three trolley parks specifically to attract ridership on the lines; Riverton Park in Deering, Cape Cottage Park at Cape Elizabeth, and Underwood Park on Falmouth Foreside.
Railroad cars left Monument Square for Riverton Park
every 15 minutes starting at 8:30 a.m. and generally, one
or more extra cars were required to handle the rush.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_072
Another busy day at Riverton Park. Open trolley cars like
the ones in this image could each carry 75 passengers.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_103
has arrived and discharged its passengers at Riverton Park.
Bridal shower parties, card parties, and other private groups
could hire a trolley car to transport their group. The bandstand
in this image was one of the many attractions at the park.
Image from Seashore Trolley Museum Library 2015 book,
The Illustrated Atlas of Maine's Street & Electric
Railways 1863-1946
Riverton Park's outdoor rustic theater could seat 2,500 guests.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_097
The casino at Riverton Park is where the trolley cars would
discharge their passengers. The casino featured private
dining rooms, card rooms, broad verandas, and a dance hall.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_078
A general decline in visitors started about the time of WW I.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_108
Catering to automobiles only prolonged the inevitable.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_105
Riverton Park had closed several years before this photo was
taken of No. 205 near the end of the Riverton line in the 1930s.
No. 205 was built for the PRR in 1905 by Stephenson &
Son Co., of Troy, NY.
Courtesy Seashore Trolley Museum Library:
O. R. Cummings Collection 2009_2_31_031
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We continue the restoration work on the 1912, Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts
Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem. This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including; time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents captivates, fascinates, then generates, interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!
Click Here: Donation Options
The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition of narratives.
Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban
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.
Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project
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
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