The accident ended it all. The front end of No. 90 dangles
over the Mousam River after the car derailed on the Mill
Square bridge, February 6, 1947. Operator Stanley Cram
stands on a small islet in the river after he jumped from the
trolley. Some 17 passengers scurried to safety through the
rear door. This picture appeared in newspapers all over the
world, taken by Michael Shalhoup, Sanford Tribune photog.
Regular passenger service ended less than two months later.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The Last Electric Railway Company to Operate in Maine
Here is the newest release in the Maine Bicentennial series of electric railways in Maine. This blog post features the York Utilities Company 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
- 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
- York Utilities Company
Early in 1922, the bondholders of the Atlantic Shore Railway instituted reorganization proceedings, and after a series of conferences and hearings, an agreement was finally reached among all parties and a new operation of a railway system was to be created, with some prospect of success.
The reorganization took place on February 1, 1923, when the Atlantic Shore Railway was sold to a group of bondholders who, on the same day, incorporated the York Utilities Company.
From the start, the management was faced with almost insurmountable obstacles in being able to continue as a viable railway operation. Automobiles were increasingly popular, and the era of restlessness following WWl was leading travelers to destinations away from the local beaches.
No. 50 at Central Square in Sanford circa 1925. No. 50 was
a two-operator car when in service with the Atlantic Shore
Railway. Once No. 50 was with the York Utilities Company,
it was converted to a one-operator car.
O. R. Cummings Collection
One-man trolley operations were introduced in an attempt to pare the expenses, but earnings continued to decrease. The condition of the properties was suffering due to a lack of funds to invest in the proper maintenance of facilities and trackage.
Rebuilt semi-convertible No. 56 - one of nine cars rebuilt
to being a one-operator car by the York Utilities Company.
Folding steps, air-controlled doors, and dead-man controls
were installed. photo from Harold Forsyth in
the O. R. Cummings Collection
In order to promote better service between Sanford and Springvale, a new line was built on Main Street which opened in December 1923, This new line provided a loop service between the two communities, but serving as a loop was limited to evenings and Sundays only.
York Utilities Company map of operations in
the Sanford-Springvale area - not to scale.
sketched by R. Borrup in O. R. Cummings Coll.
The first line to be abandoned was the Kennebunk-York Beach line, which was suspended on March 31, 1924, after a lifespan of only 17 years, nearly all of which were unprofitable. The rails and overhead were removed in the fall. That same year, bus operation was started over a new route between Sanford and Springvale.
In 1925, bus service replaced the trolleys on the Town House-Cape Porpoise and the Town House-Kennebunkport lines. The tracks were retained for freight service. Bus service also began between Sanford and Biddeford via Alfred.
Early in 1927, rail service between Sanford and Biddeford was reduced to four trips a day, with the trolleys operating every two hours between West Kennebunk and Biddeford. later that year, the company received permission to operate buses from Biddeford to Kennebunk and Kennebunkport; and on September 15, all rail service outside of Sanford and Springvale was discontinued. The Town House carbarn was closed and the repair shops were moved to Sanford where a new frame carhouse had been built earlier.
Interurban bus No. 209 - an early type used
on the line from Sanford to Biddeford.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The six miles of track saved when the Town House -Biddeford track was torn up in 1929 was used to re-lay more than 80 percent of the trackage on the two lines between Sanford and Springvale. This relaid rail was carefully bonded and heat-treaded. The new overhead wire was also installed, along with many new poles and ties, and the shops were rebuilt and modernized.
Birney safety car No. 82 of YUCo at the Sanford
carbarn on June 21, 1935. The paint scheme was
blue with aluminum trim. This car and its mate,
No. 80, was transferred to Seashore Trolley
Museum for historic preservation in 1946. These
two cars were originally Nos. 1 and 2 from the
Denver & South Platte (CO) in 1919. Converting
these two cars to handle standard-gauge tracks
of the YUCo was one of the last jibs undertaken
in the Town House shop in Kennebunkport.
No. 80 is currently under restoration at Seashore
Trolley Museum. It is being restored to
be No. 1, the representative of the Denver
& South Platte Street Railway. No. 82 will
be restored to be the Birney Safety car
representative of the York Utilities Company.
O. R. Cummings Collection
On August 19, 1935, the last trolleys operated on Main Street with buses taking over the next day. River Street trolley passenger service continued for twelve more years. Operations being reduced to one car, providing a 30-minute headway along with regular freight service.
Sanford Village bound is No. 88 or 90 on Pleasant Street,
at George Street, Springvale on May 30, 1946. Trolley
operations on River Street had less than a year left.
O. R. Cummings Collection
The final regular trolley passenger trip was made on April 1, 1947, by No. 88, although there was a special farewell excursion run on April 27 for the Boston Division of the Railroad Entusiasts, Inc.
At the time it discontinued service, the York Utilities Company was operating the only passenger trolley car service in the State of Maine, and the last small city rail operation in New England.
Trolley passenger service between Sanford and Springvale
villages ended April 1, 1947, but on April 27, a special
farewell excursion was run for the Railroad Enthusiasts.
Here is No. 88 in Springvale. No. 88 was the last trolley
car in Maine to carry passengers during a public operation.
No. 88 was acquired by Seashore Trolley Museum for
historic preservation. It awaits the funding needed to
have its turn to be restored. O. R. Cummings Coll.
On April 1, 1949, the newly formed Sanford & Eastern Railroad, which previously had purchased the route of the former Portland & Rochester Railroad, bought the Sanford-Springvale freight line. In June, once a newly ordered diesel locomotive arrived, the trolley locomotive, No. 100 was replaced.
1906 electric locomotive No. 100 was originally purchased
for use by the Atlantic Shore Line Railway, then used by the
Atlantic Shore Railway, and ended its public freight service
life in 1949 with the York Utilities Company. No. 100
was used to haul coal from the Cape Porpoise pier to the
mills in Sanford; hauling tree-length lumber harvested
along the right-of-way between Kennebunkport and
Biddeford (where Seashore Trolley Museum operates
its Heritage Railway), also for hauling railroad boxcars
to and from mills in Kennebunk, West Kennebunk, Alfred,
Sanford, and Springvale to connections with various
railroad terminals. No. 100 was acquired by Seashore
Trolley Museum in 1949 for historic preservation.
No. 100 was thoroughly restored from 2006-2009.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Former U. S. Mail and Express car No. 108 was purchased in 1904
for use by the Portsmouth, Dover & York Street Railway. It served
as an overhead line maintenance work car for YUCo. No. 108
was acquired by Seashore Trolley Museum in 1949 for historic
preservation. No. 108 underwent exterior restoration work
in the early 1980s, returning it to its U. S. Mail service
look. No. 108 is in need of additional major restoration.
O. R. Cummings Collection
A YUCo bus is sandwiched between the disabled No. 90,
left, and No. 88 at the Sanford carbarn in March 1947. The
body of No. 90 was sold to a private party and became part of
a summer cottage in Moody Beach, Maine.
O. R. Cummings Collection
Five pieces of electric railway equipment and a small baggage car were acquired by the New England Electric Railway Historical Society (NEERHS dba: Seashore Trolley Museum). The organization also negotiated a trade of services to acquire some track, overhead wire brackets, and other line-related materials. York Utilities Company continued on as a passenger carrier utilizing their buses.
Trolley No. 88 is transferred to Seashore
Trolley Museum - YUCo general
manager, Albert Moineau (left) and
Theodore Santarelli de Brasch, vice-
president and general manager of
Seashore Trolley Museum, shake hands
as No. 88 makes its "farewell" run
on Sunday, April 27, 1947. Photo
by Michael Shalhoup, Sanford, ME.
Seashore Trolley Museum has ten historic Maine railway vehicles in its collection that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. One addition to the historic Maine collection was made in 1991, No. 60, from the Waterville, Fairfield & Oakland Street Railway.
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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