White Mountain Central Railroad
White Mountain Central Railroad | |
---|---|
Reporting mark | WMCRR |
Locale | Clark's Trading Post |
Dates of operation | 1958–present |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
Length | 1.25 miles (2.01 km) |
Website | http://www.whitemountaincentralrr.com/ |
White Mountain Central Railroad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Legend
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The White Mountain Central Railroad is the short heritage railway at Clark's Trading Post in Lincoln, New Hampshire. It is notable as being one of the few places in New England with regular steam locomotive operation,[1] as well as being a very rare example of a purpose-built tourist railroad (like those found in amusement parks and theme parks) that uses 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge track instead of narrow gauge track.
Route
The entrance building to Clark's Trading Post doubles as the train station. From there, the train leaves north through the park, and then past the small locomotive shop. The railroad crosses the Pemigewasset River on a covered bridge and then heads into a wooded area. In this part, an actor playing a wild prospector named "the Wolfman" chases the train in a primitive car. Finally, the railroad goes under a ramp for Interstate 93 and terminates.[2]
Schedule and fare
The railroad operates whenever Clark's Trading Post is open, between late May and early October. There are between one and seven round trips per day, depending on the park's hours. Each trip is 30 minutes long, and the fare is included in the Trading Post admission price. During one weekend in September, Railroad Days are celebrated, with extra trains and special consists.[3]
History
Construction on the railroad began in 1955. The first train ride was on July 30, 1958. The covered bridge was moved from East Montpelier, Vermont, and was reconstructed in its current location between 1963 and 1965.[1]
Locomotive roster
Number | Type | Builder | Date | Heritage | Acquired | Operation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0-4-0T | H.K. Porter, Inc | 1931 | Koppers # 1 | 1957–1958 | Operated Railroad Days only | Smallest steam locomotive. Operated at railroad tie treatment plant, Nashua, New Hampshire. Retired 1954.[4] |
2 | Gasoline locomotive | Vulcan Iron Works | Granite quarry, Barre, Vermont | 1964 | Operated occasionally for track maintenance. | Tiny locomotive, too small for revenue service.[5] | |
4 | Heisler locomotive | Heisler Locomotive Works | 1929 | International Shoe Company | 1958 | Inoperable. Displayed during Railroad Days. | First ran in 1961. Primary locomotive, 1964–1976, secondary locomotive 1977-1984. Not powerful enough to handle 5-car trains, so operated only sporadically 1984-2006. Boiler undergoing overhaul at Boothbay Railway Village in Maine.[6] |
5 | 2-4-2T | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 11-1906 | East Branch and Lincoln Railroad, 1966-1969. Loon Mountain Ski Resort (display). | 1999 | Operated Railroad Days only | Logging locomotive for 40 years, 1906-1946. Logging mill switcher for 23 years. WMCRR debut September 26, 1999.[7] |
5 | Class B Shay locomotive | Lima Locomotive Works | 12-1917 | Woodstock Lumber Company, Franconia Paper Company | 1951–1952 | Inoperable. Displayed during Railroad Days. | 50-ton, builder no. 2958. Sold new in 1919, used as a switcher.[8] |
6 | Climax locomotive | Climax Locomotive Works | 1920 | Beebe River Lumber Company, East Branch and Lincoln Railroad | 1951 | Primary locomotive. | Bldr. number 1603. Restoration completed 1976.[9] |
1943 | GE 65-ton switcher | GE Transportation | 8-1943 | Newport Dinner Train | Primary backup. | Bldr. number 17886.[10] | |
B1 | Railbus | Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad | 1930 | Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes RR, 1930-1937. Starbird Lumber Company. | Operated Railroad Days only. | Once used for the shoulder season, but now even that is too much for the railbus to handle.[11] |
Station
Clark's Trading Post | |
---|---|
Heritage railway | |
Location |
110 Daniel Webster Highway, Lincoln, New Hampshire United States |
Owned by | Clark's Trading Post |
Line(s) | White Mountain Central Railroad |
Tracks | 1 |
Construction | |
Structure type | At-grade |
Parking | Free |
Disabled access | Yes |
The Clark's Trading Post station came from Freedomland U.S.A.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Railroad History". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Virtual Tour - Steam Train Ride". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Train Excursion Schedule for 2011". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH - Steam Loco #1". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Gas Loco #2". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Steam Loco #4". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Steam Loco #5". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Steam Loco Woodstock Lumber Co. #5". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Steam Loco #6". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Diesel Loco #1943". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Rail Bus #B1". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Coordinates: 44°03′00″N 71°41′13″W / 44.05000°N 71.68694°W