maines forgotten railroad

Coming off Chamberlain Lake onto the final stretch through of woods to the trains, you will see, on your left, two boilers and a steam engine. These made up a steam driven tramway that was built in 1902. It transported logs over ground from Eagle Lake to Chamberlain Lake. The boilers were built by E. Hodge Co., East Boston, Mass., in 1901. During the six years the tramway was in operation, it is estimated to have hauled 100 million board feet before its use was discontinued.

The entire round trip excursion to the locomotives totals 144 miles from Millinocket and 162 miles from Greenville.
Driving your sled alongside immense steam locomotives that are over a century old is something few snowmobilers will experience. This all but forgotten railroad is a rare piece of American history unknown by most and it will not be found in history books.

Having the opportunity to visit these trains, this remote area of Maine and share this experience and history with my son and daughter is an experience I will never forget.
This is the essence of why we snowmobile, producing fun and exciting family experiences we will cherish for a lifetime.

For more info about the Eagle Lake and West Branch Railroad, visit the Maine Department of Conservation website, www.maine.gov. Learn more about the Chesuncook Lake House at www.chesuncooklakehouse.com and view its webcam and blog to find out the latest trail news. Get more info about Chesuncook Village at http://chesuncookvillage.com.

The Engine's history

Locomotive No. 1 was built in June 1897 at Schenectady Locomotive Works, Schenectady, N.Y. and stamped No. 4552, for the Chicago, Hammond & Western Railroad No. 109. It also served as the Indiana Harbor Belt No. 109 then in 1912 as Potato Creek No. 8 and on the Grasse River RR in upstate New York as No. 63, before being purchased by LaCroix for work in the Maine woods.
Locomotive No. 2 was built in 1901 in Dunkirk, N.Y. by the Brooks Locomotive Works and stamped No. 4062. It was built for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern RR, as No. 780 for hauling freight. It later became the New York Central No. 5780 and operated in Ohio until it was purchased and moved to northern Maine.
This locomotive became the primary engine, with the Schenectady locomotive as a backup. They were built to burn coal, but were converted from coal to oil to prevent the start of forest fires caused by escaping burning embers from the coal-fired boiler.
All of the oil was transported in 50-gallon drums by truck from Greenville, Maine, to Ripogenus Dam, then by barge to the terminal end at Umbazooksus Lake.