The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum is a narrow gauge railway, located in Portland, Maine, United States.
History Operating out of the former Portland Company Marine Complex, the organization was founded in 1993. The collection consists of passenger and freight equipment, as well as artifacts from the narrow gauge railways that ran in the state of Maine in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
The organization operates a long railroad that runs along the waterfront of Casco Bay and parallels Portland's Eastern Promenade. Historic steam and diesel locomotives and a variety of restored coaches are used to run passenger services on the railroad.
In 2014, the railroad planned to move their equipment and relocate to Gray, Maine with a brand new depot and engine house building planned to be built; however, the plan never came to fruition and the museum decided to remain in Portland.
In 2021, several of their steam locomotives were on long-term loan at the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway.
In mid-January 2025, the railroad was shut down for several months as tracks were ripped up for "Portland Foreside", a $660M luxury neighborhood development project, featuring a hotel, restaurant, condos, apartments, as well as an indoor market and public plazas. MNGX originally expected the railroad to be down for two weeks while the tracks were removed and replaced following construction; Foreside claimed the construction was planned to minimize disruption.
The Polar Express train Each year beginning in November and continuing until Christmas, the Maine Narrow Gauge operates The Polar Express excursion train based on the 2004 film The Polar Express and the book of the same name. The train is the largest fundraiser for the nonprofit train museum. In 2023, 23,000 passengers rode The Polar Express train. The train ride includes a visit from Santa and chefs serving hot chocolate and cookies.
Equipment Locomotives +Locomotive detailsNumberImageTypeModelBuiltBuilderStatus 1 Diesel 23-ton switcher 1949 General Electric Operational 3 Steam 1912 Vulcan Iron Works (Wilkes-Barre) Operational 4 Steam 1918 Vulcan Iron Works (Wilkes-Barre) Disassembled, awaiting overhaul 4 Railcar Railbus 1925 Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad Operational 7 Steam 1913 Baldwin Locomotive Works Operational 8 Steam 1924 Baldwin Locomotive Works Stored, awaiting restoration 11 Diesel DDT 10-ton switcher 1975 Plymouth Locomotive Works Operational 14 Diesel CL-2 4-ton switcher 1923 Plymouth Locomotive Works Out of service 16 Diesel CL-2 4-ton switcher Unknown Plymouth Locomotive Works Out of service
Visiting locomotives +Visiting locomotive detailsNumberImageTypeModelBuilderBuiltStatusNotes 5 Diesel 25DM42a 1950 Whitcomb Company Out of service On lease from the Edaville Railroad
Rolling stock +Rolling stock detailsNumberImageTypeBuiltBuilderStatus 9 Passenger car 1901 Jackson and Sharp Display 15 Passenger car 1882 Laconia Car Company Under restoration 16 Passenger car 1903 Jackson and Sharp Operational 19 Passenger car 1890 Billmeyer and Small Stored, awaiting restoration 22, 23, 24, 25 Passenger cars 1958-1987 Edaville Railroad Operational 14 Combine car 1890 Billmeyer and Small Operational 15 Combine car 1890 Billmeyer and Small Operational 12 Combine car 1958 Edaville Railroad Operational 102, 105 Open-air cars 1960s Edaville Railroad Operational 50, 52, 56, 57, 60, 62, 70 Boxcars 1889-1905 Portland Company Operational Bridgton and Saco River Tank Tanker car 1903 Portland Company Stored 101 Caboose 1882 Laconia Car Company Display 553 Caboose 1904 Sandy River Railroad Operational 557 Caboose 1913 Maine Central Railroad Display 40 Flanger 1913 Maine Central Railroad Stored 2 Snow plow 1900 Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Stored, awaiting restoration
Gallery
References
Further reading
External links
Official website