Community Calendar

The Maine Eastern Railroad has previously announced a public Touch-A-Train open

house event on Saturday, April 12, 2014, which doubles as a fundraiser for New England

Steam Corporation’s restoration of Maine Central steam locomotive #470. The event,

originally slated to occur at the Maine Eastern’s roundhouse in Rockland, has now been

moved to the railroad’s Rockland train station (4 Union Street, Rockland, ME 04841) due

to safety concerns at the roundhouse. The relocated event will be open to the public at

the Rockland station from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Touch-A-Train event will be a rare opportunity for the public to explore the equipment

of an operating railroad. The event is family-oriented, and children are encouraged to

come and enjoy the sights and sounds of American railroading. Visitors may climb

aboard and explore the cab of an FL9 passenger diesel locomotive (built in 1957), recline

in the comfortable seats of a 1940s Maine Eastern passenger coach, and learn about

railroad snow removal operations while standing inside the Maine Eastern’s 1946-vintage

snowplow. Volunteers from New England Steam Corporation will be aboard the

equipment to share its history and answer any questions.

The railroad’s dining car will also be on site, with a variety of hands-on exhibits inside

from the New England Steam Corporation, Maine Operation Lifesaver, the Boothbay

Railway Village, and the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum.

Admission to the Touch-A-Train event at the Rockland station will be free. However, the

non-profit New England Steam Corporation will be collecting donations towards the

restoration of Maine Central steam locomotive #470, which is currently on display in

Waterville, ME. Any and all donations, no matter how small, can make a difference in the

speed and success of #470’s restoration. An ice cream truck provided by Darling’s Auto

Group will also be on site, with the proceeds of all sales also going to New England

Steam Corporation.

The Maine Eastern’s Touch-A-Train event coincides with the Maine Rail Group’s first

annual “Train Day,” being held on the same date at the nearby Owls Head Transportation

Museum from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Visitors, families, and rail enthusiasts are

encouraged to visit both events and experience all aspects of Maine railroading.

The Trackside Station restaurant, located within the historic 1917 Rockland train station,

makes a perfect place to stop for lunch in between visiting “Train Day” at Owls Head and

the Maine Eastern’s open house. The restaurant will open at 11:00 AM on the day of the

event, allowing hungry visitors to dine on local Maine cuisine in the 97-year-old

passenger station waiting room.

For more information on the Maine Eastern’s April 12

th Touch-A-Train event, please visit

www.MaineEasternRailroad.com/touch-a-train

Download iCal