park on a spur in Hampden of the Bangor, Hampden &
Winterport Railway. The park opened on Jul 15, 1898, and
closed down after the 1916 season.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
Here is the newest release in the Maine Bicentennial series of electric railways in Maine. This blog post features the Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway summary/images from the book, "Bangor Street Railway" by Charles D. Heseltine, published as Transportation Bulletin No. 81 January -December 1974 through Connecticut Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society copyright 1976 Roger Borrup and Charles D. Heseltine. 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.
- 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
Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway
Like so many of these early railways in the later part of the 19th century, the names initially included in the charter, sometimes go through an adjustment or two, before settling on what the actual name of the railway is when trolleys start operating on the line. Even then, some of these lines change their names in short order after the operation of the line begins. This is such the case for what would become the Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway, which actually never went to Winterport :)
The Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway (BH&W) had its inception on March 29, 1893, when the Hampden & Winterport Electric Railway & Light Company was chartered to build electric railways and lighting plants in the towns of Hampden, Winterport, Frankfort, and Prospect.
The electric railway was to connect with the Bangor Street Railway near the "Tin Bridge" of the Maine Central Railroad. Authorization was approved capitalization for $500,000. Two years later, the incorporators secured a renewal of the charter and were authorized to operate both passenger and freight cars over the tracks of the Bangor Street Railway (BSR) into downtown Bangor. The BSR was granted equal rights over the proposed Hampden line.
Bangor and Hampden map.
Map by Charles D. Heseltine in the
2015 publication, "The Illustrated Atlas of
Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946.
Construction began during the fall of 1896. The initial incorporators of the company disposed of their interests in the company to a syndicate headed by the same group that controlled the Bangor Street Railway which meant the new line was closely allied with the BSR.
A certificate to operate was issued on December 11, 1896, for the first 1.1 miles from near the Tin Bridge to Stearns Mill in Hampden. The early trolleys were leased from BSR, who also supplied the crews to operate the cars. Charles Johnson was the first motorman and Charles Smith was the conductor. Both men were on hand for the final run when the Hampden line was closed in 1940.
Car No. 44 at Hampden Corner
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
The Hampden cars used the BSR tracks from downtown Bangor to Market Square. The company never had its own carbarn. The name of the Hampden & Winterport Electric Railway & Light Company was changed to the Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Street Railway (BH&W) on February 2, 1897.
No. 20 on Maine Street, Bangor, going to Hampden on the
new Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway before
the arrival of the line's own cars.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
On March 27, 1897, the company was authorized to build electric lines through Newburgh and Dixmont in Penobscot County, and in Monroe in Waldo County, and also to run over rails of the BSR and onto the towns of Herman, Levant, Stetson, and Exeter. None of these proposed extensions was ever built, nor did the rails ever reach Winterport.
Another 3.4 miles of track was built from Stearns Mill to Hamden Lower Corner and it was opened on November 6, 1897. No further construction was carried out by this company, although in later years the line was extended to Hamden Highlands and to Upper Corner. Power for the line was supplied by the Veazie hydro-station.
Postcard Car No. 55 in Hampden
Postcard from O. R. Cummings Collection in the
2015 publication, "The Illustrated Atlas of
Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946.
One authority on New England covered bridges believed the covered bridge over the Sourdabscook Stream was the only covered bridge built exclusively for streetcar use.
The covered bridge crossing the Sourdabscook Stream in
Hampden.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
As of June 30, 1898, the line owned 4.52 miles of mainline track, plus additional sidings and turnouts, and trackage rights in downtown Bangor. Included in the siding was a .23-mile spur into Riverside Park, a company-owned pleasure resort. The fare for passengers was 5 cents and there were two fare zones. Frost's turnout was at the end of the first zone.
The Riverside Park, built by the BH&W, opened on June 15, 1898, and soon became one of the most popular attractions in the Bangor area. An open-air theater was built into the banks of the river which formed a natural amphitheater, admirably suited for the purpose. Weekly changes in programs drew large crowds.
Riverside Park midway, Hampden, opened June 15, 1898.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
Boats were rented along the riverfront and a midway with attractions to appeal to all ages. Management prided itself on making every effort to keep the resort at a high standard.
Riverside Park midway, Hampden.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
The park proved to be a traffic stimulator, and surprisingly, it was the only trolley resort in the Bangor area. And by design, it was located slightly beyond the initial 5-cent fare limit, which doubles the company's receipts.
One account tells of the attendant at the powerhouse having to hold the circuit breakers in by hand for an hour at the end of the day when so much current was being drawn by the many cars on the line.
The cost to build the entire line, including Riverside Park, had been a modest $114,604.
The company began using its own cars following the completion of the line through Hampden Lower Corner, though, in the summer months, cars from BSR were borrowed for the increase in riders for Riverside Park.
An early type of patented transfer ticket with an error as
delivered from the printer (the first plus sign should have
been a minus sign). The conductor was supposed to punch
the age, type of beard, and gender of the transfer recipient
as well as the date, time, and line requested. This
was to avoid fraudulent use of the transfers. This
type of transfer readily fell into disfavor with both
the conductors and the public.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
Snow seems to have been the bane of the Hampden line. During 1899, the line was tied up for several weeks and crews had to use picks and shovels to make way for the plow, even resorting to ice chisels to break out the rails.
Snowdrifts were a common occurrence along the Hampden
line. Here is a car that had to be dug out by hand in 1899.
Car No. 1 of the Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway.
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
The Bangor, Hampden & Winterport Railway, at the time of consolidation with Bangor Railway & Electric Company on June 30, 1905, had 4.52 miles of mainline track. The high watermark for passengers carried and passenger revenues in 1903, with 512,144 passengers carried and revenues being $26,345.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We continue the restoration work on the 1912, Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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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