Kennebunkport, from Town House Junction circa 1907. In the
background to the left is the large brick ASLRwy carbarn/
offices. The waiting station in the center of the photo had
a creamery. The combination car on the right could carry
express freight and passengers. That section of line could
lead to Kennebunk, Cape Porpoise, or Biddeford.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Here is the newest release in the Maine Bicentennial series of electric railways in Maine. This blog post features the Atlantic Shore Line Railway summary/images from the book, "Atlantic Shore Line Railway" by O. R. Cummings, presented as Transportation Volume 4 by the Connecticut Electric Railway and the National Railway Historical Society-Connecticut Chapter - June 1950 Re-issued January 1957. And text/images are also taken from an O. R. Cummings book, "Trolleys To York Beach: The Portsmouth Dover & York Street Railway", Bulletin No. 1, New England Electric Historical Society, December 30, 1964. Some text/images may be from the NEERHS 2015 publication, "The Illustrated Atlas of Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946. Additional images will be credited or from O. R. Cummings Collection.
To see the online version of the 1957 book, Atlantic shore Line Railway: Its predecessors and its successors at Bangor Public Library here
The Atlantic Shore Line car station at Wells corner was
situated for many years in the Moulton store. This building
was Wells House of Pizza and was razed in recent years.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Click Here for the post: Ninety Communities in Maine had Electric Railway Service!
Click Here for the post: 57 Million Passengers Carried on Electric Railways in Maine in 1915!
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - History of the Portland Railroad 1860-1941
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - History of the Calais Street Railway 1894-1929
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - History of Aroostook Valley Railroad 1909-1946
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Fryeburg Horse Railroad 1887-1913
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - The Norway and Paris Street Railway 1894-1918
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Skowhegan & Norridgewock Railway 1894-1903
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Benton and Fairfield Railway 1898-1928
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - The Somerset Traction Company 1895-1928
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - The Fairfield and Shawmut Railway 1903-1927
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Waterville, Fairfield, & Oakland Rwy 1887-1937
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Trolleys to Augusta, Maine 1889-1932
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Rockland, South Thomaston, & St. George Rwy
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Biddeford and Saco Railroad Co. 1888-1939
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Mousam River Railroad - 1892-1899
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Sanford & Cape Porpoise Railway 1899-1904
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portsmouth, Kittery & York St Rwy 1897-1903
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor Street Railway 1889-1905
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor Railway & Electric Company 1905-1925
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor, Orono & Old Town Railway 1895-1905
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Rwy 1896-1905
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Penobscot Central Railway 1898-1906
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Bangor Hydro-Electric Company 1925-1945
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath St Rwy 1898-1907
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville St Rwy 1907-19
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Androscoggin & Kennebec Railway 1919-1941
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portland & Brunswick Street Railway 1902-1911
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Auburn & Turner Railroad 1905-1928
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Auburn, Mechanic Falls & NorwayStRwy1902-7
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portsmouth, Dover & York St Rwy 1903-1906
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Atlantic Shore Railway 1911-1923
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - York Utilities Company 1923-1949
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portland-Lewiston Interurban - It Begins 1914
Click Here for the post: Maine Bicentennial series - Portland-Lewiston Interurban - The End 1933
Atlantic Shore Line Railway
Even before the Mousam River Railroad commenced operations, plans for an electric railway from Biddeford to York Beach were in the process of formation. On March 28, 1893, the Maine legislature granted a charter to the Atlantic Shore Line Electric Railroad which proposed to build "from some point on the Saco River, in the city of Biddeford, through the towns of Kennebunk and Wells, and to a point near the depot of the York Harbor & York Beach Railroad at York Beach." The act of incorporation was extended for two years in 1895 and again in 1897.
On October 18, 1899, having acquired the charter of the Atlantic Shore Line Electric Railroad, members of the board of directors of the Sanford & Cape Porpoise Railway and the Mousam River Railroad, filed articles of association for the Atlantic Shore Line Railway (ASLRwy) with the State RR Commissioners. This new company proposed basically the same route as the electric railroad six years earlier. The new charter was approved on February 9, 1900, for the Atlantic Shore Line Railway.
The first trackage built by the new company was a 1.57-mile line from Dock Square in the village of Kennebunkport to Town House Junction where it connected to the Sanford & Cape Porpoise Railway.
The Cape Porpoise trestle with the coal-loading mechanism.
The ASLRwy Casino is on the right.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The next step in the order of events was the merging of the Sanford & Cape Porpoise Railway, the Mousam River Railroad, and the Sanford Power Company with the Atlantic Shore Line Railway. The Maine Legislature authorized the consolidation, which officially took place on April 1, 1904.
Kennebunkport-Arundel-Biddeford Map
from the 2015 NEERHS book,
"The Illustrated Atlas of Maine's Street
& Electric Railways 1863-1946"
Stringing the trolley wire "alive" between York Beach and
Ogunquit in the late spring of 1907.
O. R. Cummings Collection
York Beach-Wells-Kennebunk Map from
2015 NEERHS book,
"The Illustrated Atlas of Maine's Street
& Electric Railways 1863-1946"
A large brick carhouse was built at Town House and later, construction began on the line from Town House to Biddeford, using rails and line materials purchased from the New Hampshire Traction Company's proposed, but never built, Exeter-Newmarket line.
The original Town House carhouse, shop, and main offices
for the Atlantic Shore Line Railway circa 1904. This building
suffered from a major fire early in 1909 and was rebuilt.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The new extension from Town House to Biddeford opened on August 8, 1904, where it connected to the Biddeford & Saco Railroad. Another legislative act, this one during 1905, enabled the ASLRwy to secure control of the Portsmouth, Dover & York Street Railway on February 1, 1906. Later in 1906, construction began to connect the ASLRwy from Main Street in Kennebunk with the PD&Y trackage in York Beach.
The Ogunquit carbarn and power substation is shown here
shortly after the completion of the Kennebunk-York Beach in 1907.
The carbarn was razed in 1924 but the substation was used for
many years thereafter as a Central Maine Power Company
storage building. The Viking restaurant occupied this site.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The new connection between Kennebunk and York Beach opened, Sunday, July 20, 1907. With this stretch of trackage completed, an electric railway passage was opened from New York City to Lewiston, Maine. And in a couple years, from Lewiston to Augusta and Waterville would be completed as well. Total trackage of the ASLRwy in 1907; owned: 87.627 miles, leased: 2.783, siding, etc. owned:4.644, and leased: .110 = 95.164 total miles. Making the ASLRwy the second-longest electric railway system in Maine.
The conductor of the York Beach-bound No. 48 emerges from
the telephone booth at the Elms turnout on Post Road (Route
One), Wells. O. R. Cummings Collection
The Atlantic Shore Line Railway earned the name; "Sea View Route."
Looking north along the Post Road (Route One) from Wells
Corner. O. R. Cummings Collection
For operating convenience, the system was divided into three divisions; Central, Western, and Eastern. The Western Division, formerly the Portsmouth, Dover & York Railway, connects Portsmouth, Dover, and Salmon Falls, NH, Eliot, South Berwick, Kittery, York, York Beach, ME; the Central Division, constituting the latest addition, connects York Beach, Ogunquit, Moody, Webhannet, Wells, The Elms, and Kennebunk; the Western Division includes the Sanford-Springvale-Cape Porpoise route and is the one doing the heaviest freight business. On the ASLRwy there were eighteen intersections with steam railroads, only one of which was at grade. This was at South Berwick which was changed to an under-grade crossing.
Another view at the terminus of the South Berwick line
at the Boston & Maine crossing. O. R. Cummings Collection
Waiting station at the intersection of Post Road (Route One)
and Eldrige Road in Wells. O. R. Cummings Collection
In general, the fares for passengers were based on about 2 cents a mile, except on the new line between Kennebunk and York Beach, where the 16-mile trip cost 40 cents. There were a number of discounted ticket programs available.
Crews were being changed at Bald Head Cliff turnout in York
as No. 50 is about to make a northbound trip towards
Kennebunk. O. R. Cummings Collection
Express and Mail services generated additional revenues for the line, and freight service was substantial. During the summer the coal used by the mills in Sanford came by way of Cape Porpoise, where the company had barge-unloading equipment and a coal pocket near Town House. Winter coal was hauled from the Boston & Maine Railroad connections. About 125 tons of coal a day was the average amount shipped on this division of the line.
The Bald Head Cliff waiting station of the Atlantic Shore
Line Railway in August 1909. This was near the famous
Cliff House, which was built in 1872. O. R. Cummings Coll.
The high water mark for passengers carried in a single year was the year ending June 30, 1908, when 5,881,581 passengers rode the cars of the ASLRwy. With other revenues, the line ended the year with a surplus of $51,759.
One of three identical electric locomotives was built
by the Laconia Car Company Works in 1906 for the
Atlantic Shore Line Railway. Here is No. 102 in its original
configuration. Nos. 101 and 102 were reconfigured early in
their careers. Only No. 100 stayed in its original configuration
until it was retired in 1949 to Seashore Trolley Museum.
No. 100 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2009, No. 100 celebrated its complete restoration.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The best gross revenue year was the year ending June 30, 1909, when the passenger revenues were $284,715, Freight: $34,016, Express: $10,493, and Mail: $ 4,951 all added up to $354,250 of total revenues. However, this year began the steady year-after-year of deficits, with a deficit of [$34,378], that would continue for the Atlantic Shore Railway when it took over the ASLRwy in 1911.
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 Maine:
Center for Maine Crafts, West Gardiner Service Plaza
The Book Review, Falmouth
The Bookworm, Gorham
Letterpress Books, Portland
Maine Historical Society Store, Portland
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, Portland
Morph Gallery & Emporium, Kennebunk
New Gloucester Historical Society, New Gloucester
Nonesuch Books and More, South Portland
Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops, All Locations
Thompson's Orchard, New Gloucester
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-running 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 on a monthly basis. 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 in: 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.
Patricia Pierce Erikson photo
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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