Does anyone have any sources of information on the operations systems (i.e. Waybills, lists, etc) that were used in the heyday of the Maine two-footers?
Not sure how helpful any of this is , but a little light reading anyhow!
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2018/09/futuristic-nostalgia-maines-two-footer-railroads.html#:~:text=At%20their%20peak%2C%20the%20Maine,railroads%20in%20the%20United%20States.
http://www.narrowgauge.iform.com.au/mainhist.html
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
My dad was a young enthusiast for the Maine Two Footers. I'll try to look for some of his books on the subject and see if there is anything of help.
B and H No. 7 by Edmund, on Flickr
SR_RL_558 by Edmund, on Flickr
Strong_ME_7_1935 by Edmund, on Flickr
Good Luck, Ed
Narrow gauge and Shortline gazette, Dave faerie ( autocorrect refuses to let me spell his name right). Is a big modeler of Maine 2 foots. He has a huge archive so look for articles from him. I do believe some are here. He might have a web page not sure.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Probably thinking of Dave FRARY. He has a You Tube channel under "The Trackside Modeler".
Most of the content is about scenery.
I believe that the operation was TT&TO. There are several books on Maine 2 footers also.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
You might have to do a bit more digging than just through the 'net.
This article talks about an interesting set of books by an Author called Rioux:
https://www.sunjournal.com/2020/11/27/author-of-franklin-county-locomotive-history-books-finishes-last-volume/
I'm sure there are other good books out there...
Simon
There is two. Dave Frary. They both grew up in the same town and have been friends since they were kids. It does it make it confusing. The Dave that does the Sandy River and Rangley lakes even commented on that confusion in an Allen Keller vid
Shane
He might be in the NMRA. Contact a fellow modeler list
Since the only difference is gauge, most operating forms like waybills and switchlists are going to be similar to the forms used on the standard gauge lines of the era.
The larger, more extensive lines will have, as Dave said, TT&TO operation akin to what the large standard gauge lines would have. The small one or two engine short lines probably more of an ad hoc operation. Just the same has found on small standard gauge short lines. Especially in the waning years.
Jeff
Look here for info and links.
https://maineon2faq.wordpress.com/
oldline1
There is an active narrow gauge tourist line associated with a museum in Portland, ME.
Their museum is the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum.
Oddly, when I first saw this thread I looked down and I was wearing my Billerica and Bedford Railway sweatshirt with a picture of the country's first two-footer. That railroad only lasted a couple of years, starting 1881. The right of way remains as an unpaved rail-trail in Massachusetts. It starts a few houses down from where I used to live, so I rode that trail on my bicycle (mountain bike) quite frequently.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.