Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

The Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway ran thru Maine for many years before trucks and paved roads replaced its function. The Museum for the railroad has an active volunteer staff and is a great place to see and ride behind a steam engine or ride a Model T based motor car.

They have a car shed with a number of restored cars that are sheltered from the Maine winter.

This is another two foot gauge railroad. It serviced the harbor and wharf which has made it popular with scale modelers as you have railroads, water and ships which make for great model railroads.

Enclosed water tank is on the right. Gives an idea what was needed for winter operation

Model T based motor car

This is an example of a Mason Bogie type steam engine in which the tender is a part of the main locomotive frame.

Inside the car barn

This critter is used for moving cars around the yard

Model T railcar ready for riders

This historical image shows two derelict schooners decaying away at the Wiscasset waterfront 

Steam engine doing a run around at rails end

The railcar is pivoted to change direction by the use of a hand cranked turntable which raises the car and allows it to be turned to the opposite direction using the turntable as a pivot point.

Coming into the railyard

A great day for our ride!

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum

Portland, Maine is the current home to the Maine Narrow Gauge museum. This is the home of truly narrow gauge equipment as Maine was the home of railroads that had track only two foot apart. In comparison traditional railroads we see today have rails 4 feet 8 1/2 inches apart. The 2 foot narrow gauge railroads were cheap to build and start operations.

In the next few years the museum is moving to another location about 18 miles away, but for now it is located on the waterfront of Portland, Maine. Rides are given along the shore which makes for a wonderful scenic and railroad experience.

It is interesting to see how the cars were scaled down for the two foot gauge

We rode behind a two foot gauge diesel

A railcar for times when an entire train was not required

Their restoration shop was open for viewing with a combination car in progress

USS Albacore

Near the Interstate highway in Portsmouth NH is the museum dedicated to the USS Albacore. The Albacore was a research submarine used to explore hull shapes that were optimized for underwater speed. In its day this was a revolution in underwater hydrodynamics. The development of hull shapes realized by the Albacore combined with the nuclear powerplant realized on the Nautilus led to the development of the submarines as we know them today.

There is quite the story to the creation and politics that led to this experimental vessel found on the subs website:   http://www.ussalbacore.org/

Its usefulness as a development article came to an end when the last of the engine replacement parts were no longer available. It is nice to see it preserved and open for tours.

One of several propeller combinations explored

Many of the propellers used on various trials

Notice the rudder at the aft end of the sail