Sandy River Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Sandy River Railroad was built to serve the towns of Strong
and Phillips
in the Sandy River
valley upstream of Farmington. The Sandy River Railroad was the first narrow gauge common carrier
railroad built in the State of Maine.
, a baggage car
, a coach, a combination car
, and 2 box cars
rebuilt from open excursion cars. In 1883 the railroad purchased 2 coaches from Laconia Car Company and a third locomotive in anticipation of additional traffic to be generated by the Franklin and Megantic Railroad (F&M) being built from Strong
to Kingfield
. In 1890 the railroad sold locomotive #2 to the Phillips and Rangeley Railroad
(P&R) being built from Phillips
to Rangeley, and purchased 2 new locomotives to deal with the additional traffic from that line.
In 1893, the Sandy River Railroad purchased a larger 2-6-0 mogul locomotive to carry bridge traffic from the connecting F&M and P&R railroads, and purchased a baggage
-RPO
car for the Farmington-Rangeley passenger trains it operated jointly with the P&R. Locomotive #3 was sold to the Wiscasset and Quebec Railroad in 1894. The Sandy River Railroad had 16 box cars
and 13 flat cars
in 1894, and ordered 4 box cars
and 8 flat cars
from the Portland Company
that year. Portland Company
delivered 10 more box cars
and 10 more flat cars
in 1897. The Sandy River Railroad had Jackson & Sharpe
build the parlor car "Rangeley" in 1901 for wealthy tourists traveling to Rangeley via narrow-gauge passenger trains. It was the only 2-foot gauge parlor car in the United States.
Sandy River management obtained a controlling interest in the F&M in 1898; and Sandy River locomotive #5 became a regular feature on F&M freight trains. In 1900, the Sandy River purchased a mogul 2-6-0 locomotive and 6 flat cars
formerly owned by the Laurel River and Hot Springs Railroad of North Carolina. The mogul started pulling F&M freight trains, and locomotive #5 became the regular passenger train engine on the F&M. American Car and Foundry Company
built 3 passenger cars for the Sandy River and the F&M in 1903. A coach and combination
were lettered for the F&M while a second coach was lettered Sandy River #8. Following delivery of these cars, the standard F&M passenger train became a combination
and a coach. Seating in the combination
was designated a smoking car for passengers who wished to use tobacco.
The Sandy River Railroad began building its own freight cars in the Phillips
shop in 1902. Ten box cars
and 44 flat cars
were built through 1903. The railroad then built caboose
#12 in 1904 from the hardware of a P&R coach burned at Green Farm on the Eustis branch that year. Caboose
s #10-11 were built the following year to a different design. The Sandy River and the F&M renumbered their locomotives in 1905 to avoid confusion. Sandy River moguls #2-3 became #6-7 while F&M engines #1-2 moved into the #2-3. Sandy River locomotive #8 had been delivered in 1904. It was the first 2-foot gauge 2-6-2 locomotive in Maine, and was intended to pull the long trainloads of lumber being delivered to the Sandy River from the large sawmills in Bigelow on the F&M and Madrid Junction on the P&R.
Sandy River management began purchasing defaulted bonds of the P&R and its subsidiary Madrid Railroad and Eustis Railroad; and put the P&R into receivership in 1905. Sandy River management then forced auction of the properties to satisfy the defaulted bonds, purchased the P&R and Madrid Railroad at that auction, and merged them with the F&M and Sandy River as the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad
in 1908. The Eustis Railroad was leased until it joined the merger in 1911.
Strong, Maine
Strong is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,259 at the 2000 census. Strong is home to the annual Sandy River Festival.-History:...
and Phillips
Phillips, Maine
Phillips is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 990 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad, a heritage railroad.-History:...
in the Sandy River
Sandy River, Maine
Sandy River Plantation is a plantation in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 93 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the plantation has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
valley upstream of Farmington. The Sandy River Railroad was the first narrow gauge common carrier
Common carrier
A common carrier in common-law countries is a person or company that transports goods or people for any person or company and that is responsible for any possible loss of the goods during transport...
railroad built in the State of Maine.
History
The railroad was built from Farmington through Strong to Phillips in 1879 using rolling stock of the recently abandoned Billerica and Bedford Railroad. The original Billerica and Bedford equipment consisted of 2 locomotives, 6 flat carsFlatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
, a baggage car
Baggage car
A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
, a coach, a combination car
Combine car
A combine car in North American parlance, most often referred to simply as a combine, is a type of railroad car which combines sections for both passengers and freight....
, and 2 box cars
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
rebuilt from open excursion cars. In 1883 the railroad purchased 2 coaches from Laconia Car Company and a third locomotive in anticipation of additional traffic to be generated by the Franklin and Megantic Railroad (F&M) being built from Strong
Strong, Maine
Strong is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,259 at the 2000 census. Strong is home to the annual Sandy River Festival.-History:...
to Kingfield
Kingfield, Maine
Kingfield is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 census. Kingfield is the principal gateway to Sugarloaf, a major ski resort, and is headquarters to Maine Huts and Trails.-History:...
. In 1890 the railroad sold locomotive #2 to the Phillips and Rangeley Railroad
Phillips and Rangeley Railroad
The Phillips and Rangeley Railroad was a gauge narrow gauge common carrier railroad in the State of Maine.It connected the towns of Phillips and Rangeley and was built to serve the forestry and resort industries of Franklin County. This railroad pioneered the use of large 2-foot gauge rolling...
(P&R) being built from Phillips
Phillips, Maine
Phillips is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 990 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad, a heritage railroad.-History:...
to Rangeley, and purchased 2 new locomotives to deal with the additional traffic from that line.
In 1893, the Sandy River Railroad purchased a larger 2-6-0 mogul locomotive to carry bridge traffic from the connecting F&M and P&R railroads, and purchased a baggage
Baggage car
A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
-RPO
Railway post office
In the United States a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to...
car for the Farmington-Rangeley passenger trains it operated jointly with the P&R. Locomotive #3 was sold to the Wiscasset and Quebec Railroad in 1894. The Sandy River Railroad had 16 box cars
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
and 13 flat cars
Flatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
in 1894, and ordered 4 box cars
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
and 8 flat cars
Flatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
from the Portland Company
Portland Company
The Portland Company was established 10 November 1846 by John A. Poor and Norris Locomotive Works engineer Septimus Norris as a locomotive foundry to build railroad equipment for the adjacent Portland terminus of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad connection between Portland, Maine and...
that year. Portland Company
Portland Company
The Portland Company was established 10 November 1846 by John A. Poor and Norris Locomotive Works engineer Septimus Norris as a locomotive foundry to build railroad equipment for the adjacent Portland terminus of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad connection between Portland, Maine and...
delivered 10 more box cars
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
and 10 more flat cars
Flatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
in 1897. The Sandy River Railroad had Jackson & Sharpe
American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of ACF and ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri...
build the parlor car "Rangeley" in 1901 for wealthy tourists traveling to Rangeley via narrow-gauge passenger trains. It was the only 2-foot gauge parlor car in the United States.
Sandy River management obtained a controlling interest in the F&M in 1898; and Sandy River locomotive #5 became a regular feature on F&M freight trains. In 1900, the Sandy River purchased a mogul 2-6-0 locomotive and 6 flat cars
Flatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
formerly owned by the Laurel River and Hot Springs Railroad of North Carolina. The mogul started pulling F&M freight trains, and locomotive #5 became the regular passenger train engine on the F&M. American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of ACF and ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri...
built 3 passenger cars for the Sandy River and the F&M in 1903. A coach and combination
Combine car
A combine car in North American parlance, most often referred to simply as a combine, is a type of railroad car which combines sections for both passengers and freight....
were lettered for the F&M while a second coach was lettered Sandy River #8. Following delivery of these cars, the standard F&M passenger train became a combination
Combine car
A combine car in North American parlance, most often referred to simply as a combine, is a type of railroad car which combines sections for both passengers and freight....
and a coach. Seating in the combination
Combine car
A combine car in North American parlance, most often referred to simply as a combine, is a type of railroad car which combines sections for both passengers and freight....
was designated a smoking car for passengers who wished to use tobacco.
The Sandy River Railroad began building its own freight cars in the Phillips
Phillips, Maine
Phillips is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 990 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad, a heritage railroad.-History:...
shop in 1902. Ten box cars
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
and 44 flat cars
Flatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
were built through 1903. The railroad then built caboose
Caboose
A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
#12 in 1904 from the hardware of a P&R coach burned at Green Farm on the Eustis branch that year. Caboose
Caboose
A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
s #10-11 were built the following year to a different design. The Sandy River and the F&M renumbered their locomotives in 1905 to avoid confusion. Sandy River moguls #2-3 became #6-7 while F&M engines #1-2 moved into the #2-3. Sandy River locomotive #8 had been delivered in 1904. It was the first 2-foot gauge 2-6-2 locomotive in Maine, and was intended to pull the long trainloads of lumber being delivered to the Sandy River from the large sawmills in Bigelow on the F&M and Madrid Junction on the P&R.
Sandy River management began purchasing defaulted bonds of the P&R and its subsidiary Madrid Railroad and Eustis Railroad; and put the P&R into receivership in 1905. Sandy River management then forced auction of the properties to satisfy the defaulted bonds, purchased the P&R and Madrid Railroad at that auction, and merged them with the F&M and Sandy River as the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad
Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad
The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that operated approximately of gauge railroad in Franklin County, Maine.-History:Josiah L...
in 1908. The Eustis Railroad was leased until it joined the merger in 1911.
Locomotives
| Number | Name | Builder | Type | Date | Works number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dawn | Hinkley Locomotive Works Hinkley Locomotive Works Hinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F... |
0-4-4 0-4-4 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-4 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles... Forney locomotive Forney locomotive The Forney is a type of tank locomotive patented by Matthias N. Forney between 1861 and 1864. Forney locomotives include the following characteristics:* An 0-4-4T wheel arrangement, that is four driving wheels followed by a truck with four wheels.... |
1877 | 1251 | Formerly locomotive Ariel of the Billerica and Bedford Railroad. Scrapped in 1912. |
| 2 | Echo | Hinkley Locomotive Works Hinkley Locomotive Works Hinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F... |
0-4-4 0-4-4 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-4 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles... Forney locomotive Forney locomotive The Forney is a type of tank locomotive patented by Matthias N. Forney between 1861 and 1864. Forney locomotives include the following characteristics:* An 0-4-4T wheel arrangement, that is four driving wheels followed by a truck with four wheels.... |
1877 | 1261 | Formerly locomotive Puck of the Billerica and Bedford Railroad. Sold to the Phillips and Rangeley Railroad Phillips and Rangeley Railroad The Phillips and Rangeley Railroad was a gauge narrow gauge common carrier railroad in the State of Maine.It connected the towns of Phillips and Rangeley and was built to serve the forestry and resort industries of Franklin County. This railroad pioneered the use of large 2-foot gauge rolling... ; scrapped in 1912. |
| 3 | H. K. Porter, Inc H. K. Porter, Inc H. K. Porter, Inc. manufactured light-duty railroad locomotives in the USA, starting in 1866. The company became the largest producer of industrial locomotives, and built almost eight thousand of them... |
0-4-4 0-4-4 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-4 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles... Forney locomotive Forney locomotive The Forney is a type of tank locomotive patented by Matthias N. Forney between 1861 and 1864. Forney locomotives include the following characteristics:* An 0-4-4T wheel arrangement, that is four driving wheels followed by a truck with four wheels.... |
1883 | 565 | Sold to Wiscasset & Quebec RR Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway The Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway is a gauge railway which operated from Wiscasset, Maine to Albion and Winslow, Maine. It was operated as a for-profit company from 1895 until 1933... |
|
| 4 | Portland Company Portland Company The Portland Company was established 10 November 1846 by John A. Poor and Norris Locomotive Works engineer Septimus Norris as a locomotive foundry to build railroad equipment for the adjacent Portland terminus of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad connection between Portland, Maine and... |
0-4-4 0-4-4 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-4 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles... Forney locomotive Forney locomotive The Forney is a type of tank locomotive patented by Matthias N. Forney between 1861 and 1864. Forney locomotives include the following characteristics:* An 0-4-4T wheel arrangement, that is four driving wheels followed by a truck with four wheels.... |
1890 | 616 | Became Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that operated approximately of gauge railroad in Franklin County, Maine.-History:Josiah L... #5 |
|
| 5 | N.B.Beal | Portland Company Portland Company The Portland Company was established 10 November 1846 by John A. Poor and Norris Locomotive Works engineer Septimus Norris as a locomotive foundry to build railroad equipment for the adjacent Portland terminus of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad connection between Portland, Maine and... |
0-4-4 0-4-4 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-4 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles... Forney locomotive Forney locomotive The Forney is a type of tank locomotive patented by Matthias N. Forney between 1861 and 1864. Forney locomotives include the following characteristics:* An 0-4-4T wheel arrangement, that is four driving wheels followed by a truck with four wheels.... |
1891 | 622 | Became Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that operated approximately of gauge railroad in Franklin County, Maine.-History:Josiah L... #6 |
| 6 | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
2-6-0 2-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This arrangement is commonly called a Mogul... tender |
1893 | 13733 | Built as 2nd #2. Renumbered #6 in June 1905. Became Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that operated approximately of gauge railroad in Franklin County, Maine.-History:Josiah L... No. 18 |
|
| 7 | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
2-6-0 2-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This arrangement is commonly called a Mogul... tender |
1892 | 12964 | ex-Laurel River and Hot Springs Railroad; purchased in 1900 as 2nd #3. Renumbered #7 in June 1905. Became Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that operated approximately of gauge railroad in Franklin County, Maine.-History:Josiah L... No. 16 |
|
| 8 | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
2-6-2 2-6-2 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels and two trailing wheels.Other equivalent classifications are:... tender |
1904 | 23874 | Became Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that operated approximately of gauge railroad in Franklin County, Maine.-History:Josiah L... #19 |