A drawing by Francis Monahan promoting the First Annual
State of Maine Trolley Fan Excursion and Convention
in Portland (ME). From the Robert Melcher Collection in
Maine Historical Society archives in Portland, ME, at
Brown Research Library.
Front cover of the August-September 1938, Volume l,
Number 6, issue of the Portland (Maine) Division of
Electric Railroaders Association
(ERA) newsletter, The Maine Electric Transiteer.
You may recall that last summer (2024), I was conducting research for additional materials on people and places during the late 1930s as I was developing posts about the Seashore Trolley Museum's 85th Anniversary. I subscribed to the Portland Press Herald so that I could access the online newspaper archives. Had great success with locating many great articles. In particular, clippings that featured the Portland (Maine) Division of the ERA (Electric Railroaders Association), their members, activities, fan trips, etc.
Seeing how several of the members lived close to the greater Portland area, and in Charles D. Heseltine's case, for some time, he worked for the Maine Historical Society (MHS) in Portland. I reached out via email to the research department at MHS. Gave some background on what I was up to and asked for help on a couple of topics...Charles D. Heseltine and the Portland Division of the ERA, and in particular, the Maine Electric Transiteer newsletter.
I first learned about the Portland (ME) Division of the ERA Maine Electric Transiteer newsletter when longtime member of the Seashore Trolley Museum, Kevin Farrell, mailed two copies to me in the summer of 2023. They were terrific! They were the second and third issues from 1938, the first year the newsletter was issued. I was able to acquire issue Number 10 soon after. I was always on the lookout for additional issues.
I received a prompt reply to my email to the Maine Historical Society from Mia Sigler, Reference Librarian at the Brown Research Library. She provided a list from the Charles D. Heseltine Collections, and yes, there were five original issues of the Transiteer newsletter. Three that I did not have. Mia shared the process and costs related to the scanning of the items. We moved ahead, and I received all three copies on June 19, 2024.
I thanked Mia 😊 I looked forward to planning a time to spend checking out the Charles D. Heseltine Collections at the Maine Historical Society :)
As I read those "new" issues of the Transiteer newsletters, I began to become more aware of Robert Melcher being very active in the ERA. I used the newspaper archives to search for more background on Robert Merlcher. I learned how awesome he was in his research on Maine electrics and how great he was in taking photos of railway systems, interviewing employees, developing friendships, and writing and cataloging about railways. Just a terrific guy. I released a blog post about Robert...and learned from Mia at the Maine Historical Society has a large collection of Robert's archives.
Click Here: for the post on Robert Melcher
On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, I spent five hours at the Maine Historical Society's Brown Research Library reviewing the items in the Robert Melcher Collection. Five hours wasn't enough time to look through every scrapbook, or all of Robert's files, nor read the large amount of written correspondence. Robert created a wonderful collection. Over time, I will be releasing some posts that include some of Robert's materials. To begin, his collection did have two more Maine Electric-Transiteer newsletters that I had not seen yet.
This post shares the first of the two "new" Maine Electric Transiteer newsletters from Robert's Collection at the Maine Historical Society. I added a few photos and newspaper clippings with references to text in the Transiteer newsletter.
I have made an appointment to look through the Charles D. Heseltine Collection in the archives of the Maine Historical Society...Wednesday, February 19. And also to look through some Electric Railway-related archives of the Central Maine Power Company at the Maine Historical Society...on Wednesday, February 20...I'm really looking forward to those back-to-back days of research!
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 Dec 1938/Jan 1939 MET newsletter
Click Here: for the post on the Feb/Mar 1939 MET newsletter
Click Here: for the post with newspaper clippings - Portland Division of the ERA 1937/1938
Click Here: for the post with newspaper clippings - Portland Division of the ERA 1939-1940
The quality of some of these pages for reading the text is challenging...reading some of the text might be difficult. The physical size of each page of this particular issue is also larger than any of the other issues I have seen. As with some previous issues...I will mention the key topics on each page...enjoy!
Updates on the Portland Railroad relocating a couple of lines.
Rumor of Berlin, NH to lose its street Railway.
The Portland Division of the ERA almost had a trolley
from the Biddeford and Saco Railroad. The ERA didn't
have the $$ to have it transported to Portland. It was one
of the early, single-truck cars, which was updated to be
operable as a one-man car (Nos. 10 and 14 were not
"retired" until 1939. So, perhaps it was one of those two
that were built in 1899?)
The interior of B & S RR No. 10 after it was "retired" in June
1939. The air compressor is in the aisle. The color of the
"plush seats" mentioned above is red.
O. R. Cummings Collection at the Seashore Trolley Museum
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Here is No. 14 outside of the B&S RR carbarn on Beach Street
in Saco, Maine, circa 1939. Both Nos. 10 and 14 were single-truck,
18-foot "box" cars built in 1899 by the J. G. Brill Company.
O. R. Cummings Collection at the Seashore Trolley Museum
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Arrangements Completed for the First Annual State of
Maine Trolley Fan Excursion and Convention at Portland, ME.
The schedule is described. Portland Railroad car No. 502
was used for the day. It was estimated that the excursion would
take seven hours. Johnny Campbell was the operator.
The cost to participate in the Excursion was $1.25.
Evening Express - August 31, 1938 - page 18
PRR No. 502 was used for the 7-hour Excursion.
No. 502 in front of the Grand Trunk Depot. No. 502 was the
largest and fastest car in the Portland system. Built by the
Wason Manufacturing, Springfield, MA, 1915, was used
occasionally over the Portland-Lewiston Interurban.
O. R. Cummings Collection at the Seashore Trolley Museum
2009_2_35_073
Trolley Memories by the 470 Railroad Club Members, Bill Robertson and Bob Melcher:
"The Excursion in this month's picture page is of a trip sponsored by this organization, over lines of the Portland Railroad Company, September 5, 1938. The routes covered from Monument Square in Portland to Thornton Heights, Cash Corner, South Portland, Legion Square, Pond Cove, Grand Trunk Station, Riverton, Highland Square, Westbrook, Rosemont, East Deering, Pearl Street, Monjoy Hill, Stroudwater, terminating at the St. John Street Carbarn.
The car used was car number 502, which had the newest carbody on the railroad. It replaced a "Saco type" car that had burned, the trucks of which were used on this car."
Seashore Trolley Museum.
Click Here: for the post featuring the St. John Street Carbarn and Shop
Another department within the Transiteer office will be moving
to join other departments. Portland Railroads - "800s,"
completed their annual shop "tour." Railway news on NJ, PA,
and NYC. The Transiteers welcome the first woman member to
staff, Miss Elenore Rafter.
Portland Railroad No. 805 in downtown Portland, c 1935.
One of the "800s" mentioned above. Nos. 800-805 were the last
cars purchased by the Portland Railroad. The six double-truck Birney
Safety cars were purchased in 1922 from the Wason Company.
O R Cummings Collection at the Seashore Trolley Museum
2009_2_39_061
A description of activities taking place during the Portland
Excursion and Convention are explained.
Portland Press Herald - September 6, 1938 - page 11
This page describes railroad and electric railway fans
helping their railroads and railways.
First page on the history of the Portland Railroad
Click Here: for the post - Portland Railroad - History of Public Transportation in Portland, ME 1860-1941
1957 and 1959 combined
publications on the Portland
Railroad. He thanks numerous
individuals for providing him
with materials to use in the book
including former Portland
Division ERA members. PWM
The Portland Railroad History continues, with a write-up
about Free Trolley Car Rides Promo
1982 Publication by former Portland Division ERA member, Edwin B. Robertson
of the Portland Railroad. He lists those who provided help with the book, including
other ERA members and O. R. Cummings. PWM
Edwin gives a description of his memories of the
Portland Railroad - PWM
Page one of the two-page map of the PRR Excursion route
Page two of the two-page map of the PRR Excursion route
These Changing Times - Comments - Why PRR should consider
a 5-cent fare in Portland's Central Service Zone.
Comments - Why Railways Fail Today
A couple of "Yokes."
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Updates on some Railways in the U.S.
Statement on why the Transiteer is refusing to accept
subscriptions in the future.
More Updates/Comments on Railways/Railroads in the US.
Story of a trolley trip on the Berlin, NH line
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Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View
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 first 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!
Click Here: Donation Options
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
Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive
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