The cover of Volume One, No. Ten, Feb-Mar 1939 issue
of The Maine Electric Transiteer - the newsletter
of the Portland Division of the Electric Railroaders Association (ERA)
PWM
I was seeking clarification on dates for an electric railway fan trip on the A & K (Androscoggin and Kennebec Railway) electric railway system in the Auburn/Lewiston area in the later 1930s.
Within the O.R. Cummings Collection of photos at Seashore Trolley Museum, there are a series of photos that are not dated and have no descriptions. Some are clearly of an ERA (Electric Railroaders Association) railfan trip sponsored by the Portland (ME) Division of the ERA. Some images have Car No. 120 with an ERA banner on its dasher. There are several other images in the series that also seem they be of a railway fan trip, but on a different car (No. 190) that is not sporting a banner.
I reached out to several Seashore members and to the ERA. The ERA admin for the online social site replied to my request promptly and replied there are very few Maine-related archives in the central offices, but that they would conduct a search. I did receive an email from longtime Seashore member, Kevin Farrell, earlier this week stating a "package" was on its way to me with contents that would help clarify the A & K railway fan trip in 1938. On July 28, 2023, I received Kevin's package :)
Thank you, Kevin!
Two, of the several items in the package, are very early issues of a newsletter from the Portland Division of the ERA. I personally had not heard of this publication before; The Maine Electric Transiteer.
In the April 1938 issue, the detailed schedule for the Portland Division of the ERA's railway fan trip on the A & K on April 19, 1938, is included. There also is a short history of the A & K Railway. along with several other electric railway-related topics. A fun read for sure - looking back 85 years ago!
(Over the next couple of years, July 2023 - February 2025, I would be searching for more issues of the Maine Transiteer newsletter. In newspaper archives and in the Maine Historical Society's Robert Melcher Collection, I was able to find great evidence to clarify April 19, 1938, A & K Excursion and what was initially scheduled to be the Patriot's Day, April 19, 1939, A & K Excursion that was postponed to Memorial Day, May 30, 1939)
On August 1, 2023, I received this copy of the Feb-Mar 1939 issue that I purchased on eBay. It just so happens, to highlight the upcoming railway fan trip on nearly 60 miles of A & K (Androscoggin and Kennebec) Railway on Pariot's Day, April 19, 1939. The future research allowed me to update and clarify that the Excursion was postponed to Memorial Day, May 30, 1939.
Click Here: for the post - March 1938 (The Very First Issue) (MET) Maine Electric Transiteer Newsletter
Click Here: for the post on the April 1938 MET newsletter
Click Here: for the post on the May 1938 MET newsletter
Click Here: for the post on the June 1938 MET newsletter
Click Here: for the post on the July 1938 MET newsletter
Click Here: for the post on the Aug/Sept 1938 MET newsletter
Click Here: for the post on the Dec 1938/Jan 1939 MET newsletter
In this post is the Feb-Mar 1939 issue. There is a short history of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban and a poem. An update on the Aroostook Valley Railroad, and other electric railways, streetcars being scrapped from the Portland (ME) Railroad, and many other tidbits.
Francis Monahan did the sketch on the cover of this issue of
the Transiteer newsletter. The trolley on the cover is No. 40, one of
the Portland-Lewiston Interurban large passenger cars. Not one
of the interurbans, but one of two large passenger cars used for
more local stops along the PLI beginning in 1915. In this photo,
No. 40 just departed the Deering Junction in Portland and is
heading to Lewiston on the PLI ROW.
O. R. Cummings Collection at the Seashore Trolley Museum
2009_2_27_081
The detailed schedule of the initially scheduled, April 19, 1939,
A&K Railway Excursion that was postponed to Memorial Day,
May 30, 1939.
Detailed schedule for the A&K Excursion that would actually
take place on Memorial Day, May 30, 1939.
Sun Journal - March 13, 1939 - page 12
The schedule for the A&K Excursion that ended up taking place
on Memorial Day, May 30, 1939, began with A&K No. 190
picking up ERA participants at the Grand Trunk Railroad Station
in Mechanic Falls. It then traveled through Minot, Auburn, and to
the Lewiston Carhouse. There ERA fans boarded A&K No 120 to
continue the Excursion. Photo from the Robert Melcher Collection
the Brown Research Library.
The schedule for the A&K Excursion that ended up taking place on
Memorial Day, May 30, 1939. The ERA fans had boarded A&K No. 120
at the Lewiston Carhouse to continue the Excursion. Here No. 120 is
on the turnout near "Crooked Bridge." Photo from the Robert Melcher
at the Brown Research Library.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We continue the restoration work on the 1912, Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts
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.
Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban
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.
Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project
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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