Superintendent George Hanscom posing with car No. 58
on the Atlantic Shore Railway private right-of-way west
of Route One in Kennebunk and Wells circa 1911.
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 Railway summary/images from the book, "Atlantic Shore Trolleys" Bulletin No. 2 NEERHS by O. R. Cummings, January 1, 1966, "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
No. 18 at York Beach terminal circa 1915. The Atlantic
Shore Railway car was equipped with a Baker hot water
heater. Notice the stack protruding from the clerestory roof.
O. R. Cummings Collection
- 3.15.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - York Utilities Company 1923-1949
- 3.14.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Atlantic Shore Railway 1911-1923
- 3.11.2020-Maine Bicentennial Series - Portsmouth, Dover & York St Rwy 1903-1906
- 3.9.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Auburn, Mechanic Falls & NorwayStRwy1902-3
- 3.7.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Portland & Brunswick Electric Railway 1902-1911
- 3.7.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Androscoggin & Kennebec Railway Co. 1919-1941
- 3.7.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville St Rwy 1907-1919
- 3.6.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath St Rwy 1898-1907
- 3.4.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor Hydro-Electric Company 1925-1945
- 3.4.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Penobscot Central Railway 1898-1906
- 3.3.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor. Hampden & Winterport Rwy 1896-1905
- 3.2.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor, Orono & Old Town Railway 1895-1905
- 3.2.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor Railway & Electric Company 1905-1925
- 3.1.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Bangor Street Railway 1889-1905
- 2.23.2020 -Maine Bicentennial Series - Portsmouth, Kittery & York St. Rwy 1897-1903
- 2.22.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Sanford & Cape Porpoise Railway 1899-1904
- 2.21.2020 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Mousam River Railroad 1892-1899
- 1.31.2019 - Maine Bicentennial Series - The Norway and Paris Street Railway 1894-1918
- 1.27.2019 - Maine Bicentennial Series - Aroostook Valley Railroad 1909-1946
- 10.17.2018 - Maine Bicentennial - Portland Railroad History 1860-1941
Atlantic Shore Railway
The reorganized Atlantic Shore Line Railway was incorporated by the new owners on January 1, 1911, as the Atlantic Shore Railway, with essentially the same management as before, attempted to inaugurate operating economies and at the same time make improvements to the service which would draw more patronage. The old route of the former Portsmouth, Kittery & York Street Railway was rebuilt to eliminate many sharp curves in Kittery and York; several trestles were replaced and many new rails and ties were laid at various points on the system.
At York Beach, is Atlantic Express Company delivery wagon
and Atlantic Shore Railway box motor car exchange
goods. Circa 1912. O. R. Cummings Collection
Practically every car on the line was put through the Town House shops for overhauling and painting. Schedules were speeded up, also, but try as it might, the railway just couldn't make money. The heavy funded debt and high operating costs were still present and in addition, automobile competition was beginning to become a factor in declining revenues.
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Looking south from what would become Route One, the
Atlantic Shore Railway dipped under the Boston & Maine
RR bridge that is just north of Route 1 and Route 9 in Wells,
where Route 9 leads to Kennebunk/Kennebunkport.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Looking at what is now Route One near the Kennebunk/Wells
line with what is now the Water District building on the right.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Maine Street Kennebunk. From Main Street; the trolleys could
head south to Wells and on to York Beach, Kittery, South
Berwick, and Dover, NH; or head west from Main St.
to West Kennebunk, Alfred, Sanford, and Springvale; or
from Main St.turn east on Summer Street and on to Arundel,
Kennebunkport, Cape Porpoise, and Biddeford.
O. R. Cummings Collection
In an attempt to pick up a few dollars here and there, the company operated excursions from Sanford and Biddeford to Portsmouth Navy Yard, and once when a whale washed up on the shore between York Harbor and Kittery Point, special cars were provided for those who wished to view the monster of the sea. Another time, when a forest fire was raging through the Ogunquit woods, the railway ran cars through the fire zone as long as possible, discontinuing service only when flames were within a hundred feet of the right-of-way. The last car was somewhat scorched from the heat and some passengers were frightened almost out of their wits, but no one was hurt.
A special excursion ticket
O. R. Cummings Collection
In 1914, the Cape Porpoise trestle was abandoned, the hauling of coal from Cape Porpoise to Sanford had been discontinued, and the salvaged rails were laid on a new location around the shore of Cape Porpoise to the Casino. A year later, on Labor Day night, the Casino was destroyed by fire.
1914 ticket to the Casino at Cape Porpoise. One year
before the Casino burned down, never to be rebuilt.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The Cape Porpoise Casino, seen on the left, was opened
in July 1900. Passengers would disembark or load the trolleys
from the end of the wooden trestle.
Postcard of PWM
The Casino in Cape Porpoise is on the right. The Pier Road
to Bickford Island is seen here.
Image from Kennebunkport Historical Society
The Cape Porpoise Casino outdoor decks had an incredible
view of Cape Porpoise Harbor.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Trolley tracks are still visible on Pier Road to Bickford Island.
Circa 1923. In 1914, the Cape Porpoise coal trestle was
abandoned. The hauling of coal from Cape Porpoise to
Sanford had been discontinued. The salvaged rails from the
trestle were installed on the road to access the Casino at
Bickford Island. Image - Kennebunkport Historical Society
Car No. 51 seen on Bickford Island at the end of the line
in Cape Porpoise circa summer 1915.
The coal pocket on the right-of-way just east of the First
Congregational Church at Town House junction.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Just north and next to the coal pocket was the trolley scrap
yard. Storage of trolleys to be scrapped or that had been in
accidents resided here.
Looking out from under the eave of the "new" passenger
waiting station. Town House Junction.
The First Congregational Church is seen on the left.
The tracks that you see turning left are heading up
Log Cabin Road, where the tracks would turn
right at what is now the main entrance to Seashore Trolley
Museum. The tracks that turn to the right in front of the First
Congregational Church leads to the right-of-way to Cape
Porpoise and pass by the coal pocket seen on the right.
The mainline track to Cape Porpoise passed on the south
side of the coal pocket en route to Cape Porpoise.
pocket. O. R. Cummings Collection circa 1916
The newly built Atlantic Shore Railway offices, carbarn, and
shop as seen here in 1911, was at Town House Junction.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The interior of the shop at Town House Junction 1912.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The waiting station at Town House burned in 1914.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The new waiting station was opened in 1915.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Freight service from NH to Portland and onto the Androscoggin and Kennebec valleys was implemented in 1916.
End of the line north, for Atlantic
Shore Railway was at Biddeford City
Hall. The open car seen here is on
the Biddeford & Saco Railroad line
on Main Street, Biddeford. The
car on the left is on Adams Street.
It is an express car of the ASRwy.
On October 1, 1915, with a deficit of $122,000 accrued to June 30th of that year, the ASL defaulted on payment of interest on an issue of bonds. this triggered a request for a receiver to be appointed. Late in 1916, the restructuring of the various railway properties began. This dismantling took place over a few years.
A car that will depart for Kennebunk is at York Beach Square.
For many years, first, the ASLRwy, followed by the ASRwy,
had through trips from Rosemary Junction in Eliot, through
York Beach, to Town House Junction in Kennebunkport.
The 33-mile-one-way trip would take about two hours.
On March 17, 1923, operations were suspended for the trackage served by the former Portsmouth, Dover & York lines. Tracks were pulled up and along with most cars, scrapped.
York Corner Circa 1920.
O. R. Cummings Collection
An Atlantic Shore car on Admas Street with the Biddeford
City Hall is on the right in this image.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The highwater mark for passengers carried on the ASL was 1915, year-end June 30, when 4,814,907 passengers were carried on just over 90 miles of mainline trackage.
Early in 1922, the bondholders of the trackage of the Atlantic Shore Railway reorganized, and on February 1, 1923, the ASL was sold to a newly incorporated company, York Utilities Company.
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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