Penobscot Central Railway No. 1 - Original Patton
gasoline-electric motor car with former horsecar as a trailer
on Kenduskeag Avenue, Bangor, Maine during a trial
trip in 1898. The trailer was purchased from the Bangor
Street Railway who had acquired the trailer from the
West End Street Railway of Boston.
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 Penobscot Central 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.
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- 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
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- 10.17.2018 - Maine Bicentennial - Portland Railroad History 1860-1941
Penobscot Central Railway
The Penobscot Central Railway was one of the earlier projected suburban street railways extending from the Bangor area. On April 15, 1891, the citizens of the town of East Corinth held a special town meeting to vote upon an article calling for the issuance of bonds to a roral of $16,400 with which to purchase stock in the proposed road. Other towns along the way followed suit.
Nothing was done in connection with building the road, so the 1894 town meeting at East Corinth was considered a warrant "to see if the town is willing to appoint a committee, jointly with the town of Charleston and the town of Kenduskeag, to employ counsel and, if advisable, to institute an action to recover money raised and paid by said towns to aid in the construction of the Penobscot Central Railway." It was so voted.
At the 1895 town meeting, it was voted to leave in the hands of the selectmen the disposition of money, if recovered. A proposition in 1896 to extend credit to aid in the organization of the Bangor Suburban Railroad was rejected.
So, it would appear that this chapter of Bangor's street railway system did not get off to a very auspicious start.
Articles of association for the Penobscot Central Ry (PCRwy) were approved on December 31, 1896. Capitalization was $250,000. The company proposed to build from the Bangor-Glenburn boundary through Glenburn, Kenduskeag, and East Corinth to Charleston, with a branch from Kenduskeag Villiage through Exeter to Garland, a total of about 35 miles (the Garland branch never was built).
Image from Charles D. Heseltine Collection
Approximately four-tenths of a mile of track - from a connection with the Bangor, Orono & Old Town Railway spur on Broad Street to the steamboat wharf on Front Street - was completed by August 3, 1897. It was immediately leased to the Old Town line which was planning to develop a trolley freight and express service.
The construction of the PCRwy northerly from Bangor started in the spring of 1898. The line began at a connection with the Bangor, Orono & Old Town Railway's line at Harlow and Cumberland Streets, leaving the city via Harlow, Valley, and Kenduskeag Avenues.
Two wooden covered bridges were used to cross and recross the Kenduskeag Stream on the outskirts of Bangor, both spans being substantially reinforced for the weight of the electric cars and the prospective freight business.
From the outskirts of Bangor, the road generally paralleled the present-day (1974) Route 15 through North Bangor, Glenburn, and Kenduskeag Village, the village of East Corinth, terminating about one-half mile beyond this point at a corn-canning plant.
Penobscot Central Railway to Kenduskeag
Map by Charles D. Heseltine in the
2015 publication, "The Illustrated Atlas of
Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946.
As the line was intended as a freight carrier as well as a passenger line and intended to haul standard railroad equipment, long radius curves and grades not over 5% were planned. The Railroad Commission ruled that the charter was for the line to be a street railway, with the results being grades as high as 10% had to be established. These areas would prove difficult for the first motive power for the line to negotiate.
Instead of adopting the conventional overhead trolley system, the PCRwy purchased a Patton Motor Car, a self-propelled vehicle supplied by the Patton Motor Company of Chicago, IL, This car was an innovation in the railway industry which was finding some success on the open, flatlands of the Midwest. 32 feet long, the car was divided into two compartments, one for the power plant and one for the passengers. It was equipped with a 50-hp gasoline engine driving a 30-kW direct-current generator which supplied a bank of 110 storage batteries that in turn fed two 50-hp traction motors.
The generator and motors were the products of the Walker Company of Cleveland, OH, and the car body was built by the Laconia Car Company, Laconia, NH. Christensen air brakes were installed, making it the first streetcar in Maine to have air brakes. The car weighed 56,000 pounds.
Enough of the line was completed by late in 1898, that the Patton motor with a trailer could be tested. The train set was reportedly greeted enthusiastically along the route by cheers, cannon shots, and fireworks.
While the Maine Railroad Commissioners stated: "The use of this motor does away with the powerhouses, overhead construction, and the bonding of rails, and those in charge profess to be well satisfied with its performance," there was a bit of skepticism in this conservative praise.
Indeed, the motor did not turn out to be all that it had expected of it. The 10%-grades were a considerable impediment. Gasoline engines had not been developed to peak efficiency at that early date and riding within the car itself was described as unpleasant due to the noise and vibration and fumes from the exhaust. Additionally, the engine, generator, and 110 storage batteries left little space for passengers, and most people elected to ride in the trailer, even though being yanked along in an ex-horsecar may not have been the acme of transportation comfort.
Carhouse and freight station at the end of the line in
Charleston. Image from the O. R. Cummings Collection in
the NEERHS 2015 publication, "The Illustrated Atlas of
Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946.
The certificate of safety for the 21 miles of track from Cumberland and Harlow Streets in Bangor to the railway's carhouse in East Corinth was issued on December 17, 1898. Regular service did not start until June 8, 1899. Passenger revenues for the month of June totaled $102.55. Express/freight revenues for June totaled $356.73. A Modest start to say the least.
Penobscot Central Railway from Kenduskeag to
end of the line in Charleston.
Map by Charles D. Heseltine in the
2015 publication, "The Illustrated Atlas of
Maine's Street & Electric Railways 1863-1946.
On April 7, 1900, the company decided to suspend operations and adopt the conventional overhead trolley system. $105,000 was spent on the conversion. A steam power plant was constructed in Kenduskeag Village at about the midway on the line. A second carbarn was built at Six Miles Falls in North Bangor.
Flavius O. Beal, president of the PCRwy, was also the mayor of Bangor. In more than one newspaper article of the day, the railway was referred to as "Beal's Hoodoo."
The first electric car operated over the line from Bangor to East Corinth took place on May 1, 1901, with twelve passengers on board, with Motorman Henry E. Striker in charge and W. C. Noyes as the conductor. The regular fare to Kenduskeag from Bangor was 40 cents and to East Corinth, 50 cents, and with the completion of the line to Charleston, adjusted.
As of August 5, 1902, the PCRwy owned 26.25 miles of mainline track. The running time between Bangor and Charleston was two hours with five daily trips for passenger cars. The total cost of construction of the line after completion to Charleston was reported on June 30, 1903, was $458,123.
Passenger service on the line diminished in numbers each year. Freight was the mainstay of the line. Total revenues failed to cover the cost of operation and fixed charges. It was inevitable that financial trouble would necessitate a change. Foreclosure proceedings in 1904 led to an auction. The purchaser was the Penobscot Central Railroad, which was an organization of the bondholders.
The new company did not last long. Early in 1905, control of the line passed into the hands of the Public Works Company in the form of a newly organized corporation known as the Bangor & Northern Railway, which had been chartered on March 15, 1905. For all practical purposes, it became part of the Bangor system with power being supplied from the Veazie hydro-station. The two companies were formally merged on January 31, 1905, when the line became the Charleston Division of the Bangor Railway & Electric Company.
The high water mark for passengers carried in a year and passenger revenues was during 1903 when 368,464 passengers were carried, generating $18,423. The best year for freight revenues was 1904 with $16,328.
No roster information has been found for Penobscot Central. There were two large double-truck open cars, but apparently, they were disposed of shortly after the merger; the two large double-truck closed cars went to the Waterville system where they became car Nos. 24 and 25. The remaining few cars did see some further service after the merger.
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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