The Ghost Trains of Maine

[Jim Chabot]

Our trip begins at the south entrance of Baxter State Park. Home of Mt. Katahdin and the "Painted Rock!"



From there we head west on Grant Brook road about 40 miles to Kokadjo which lies to the northeast of Moosehead lake, then it's north into the Great North Woods. About 35 miles or so to the north of Moosehead we arrive at Caribou Lake, where we have a good view of Katahdin. We will cross Caribou Lake to it's connection with Chesuncook Lake then running 20 miles up Chesuncook to the Lake House where we can refuel and have lunch.



Gas is $4.99 per gallon and a sandwich lunch is $12.50 at the Lake House. Considering that there is no vehicular access and everything is dragged in by tractor and sled, the prices seem quite reasonable.

From the Lake House we will now head east about 24 miles into the woods without benefit of marked trails. We will use the lakes for navigation, crossing Chesuncook, we then jump across Umbazookus and Mud Lakes until we arrive at a large sheltered bay on Chamberlain Lake. Exiting the bay onto the lake, we will run 12 miles north to the top where we first encounter the trains.

Here we find the 1500 foot long trestle of the Eagle Lake and West Branch Railroad. The superstructure has rotted away many years back, all that is left are the cedar pilings and the rails lazily draped over the top of them.



Following the shoreline around till we reach the thoroughfare we leave Chamberlain where we encounter a couple of large steam boilers and engine and some very large gears.

Prior to the construction of the railroad, a tramway was constructed to move logs from Eagle Lake to Chamberlain



The tramway was constructed in 1901 and 1902 and consisted of two railroad tracks located one above the other. The tram was connected to a 6000 foot long steel cable. The cable was brought here by horse and skid, it arrived in two pieces and was spliced together on site.



Following the tramway route to the shores of Eagle Lake we come to the locomotives. In 1926 "King" LeCroix dragged these two locomotives in pieces to the shore of Eagle lake using Lombard logging tractors and skids. The engines were converted to oil for fire safety. In 1926 two trains of ten cars each started making the 13 mile journey to Umbazookus Lake and back. During the depression the demand for lumber subsided and the locomotives were parked in their engine house where they would remain under cover until the shed was mistakenly burnt down by the Maine Forest Service. Here they are, out in the middle of no where.

[Jim Chabot]

Still sitting on the siding are the remains of the 20 log cars. I hear that there is an effort underway to begin restoring a couple of the cars next year.



I wish that I could have gotten better pictures. All the time we were out there, I couldn't help but think that we were looking at Katahdin from the back side, a place where few people have been.



Back onto Chamberlain and I spotted this little fellow sunning himself on the ice next to the thoroughfare. Sadly without a camera with a decent telephoto lens, I was unable to get a "isn't he cute" shot, and had to settle for a "hey wait, stop, aw come on!" picture.

[Jim Chabot]

Here is a link to the Bureau of Parks and Lands website where they have more pictures and a history.

http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/history/allagash/rr.htm

[Dana Grant]

Wow, interesting!!! Thanks for sharing!!

[Cam Pence]

I am jealous of your snowmobiling escapades

[Dave McClung]

Our trip begins at the south entrance of Baxter State Park. Home of Mt. Katahdin and the "Painted Rock!"

Attachment 3757

From there we head west on Grant Brook road about 40 miles to Kokadjo which lies to the northeast of Moosehead lake, then it's north into the Great North Woods. About 35 miles or so to the north of Moosehead we arrive at Caribou Lake, where we have a good view of Katahdin. We will cross Caribou Lake to it's connection with Chesuncook Lake then running 20 miles up Chesuncook to the Lake House where we can refuel and have lunch.

Attachment 3758

Gas is $4.99 per gallon and a sandwich lunch is $12.50 at the Lake House. Considering that there is no vehicular access and everything is dragged in by tractor and sled, the prices seem quite reasonable.

From the Lake House we will now head east about 24 miles into the woods without benefit of marked trails. We will use the lakes for navigation, crossing Chesuncook, we then jump across Umbazookus and Mud Lakes until we arrive at a large sheltered bay on Chamberlain Lake. Exiting the bay onto the lake, we will run 12 miles north to the top where we first encounter the trains.

Here we find the 1500 foot long trestle of the Eagle Lake and West Branch Railroad. The superstructure has rotted away many years back, all that is left are the cedar pilings and the rails lazily draped over the top of them.

Attachment 3759

Following the shoreline around till we reach the thoroughfare we leave Chamberlain where we encounter a couple of large steam boilers and engine and some very large gears.

Prior to the construction of the railroad, a tramway was constructed to move logs from Eagle Lake to Chamberlain

Attachment 3760

The tramway was constructed in 1901 and 1902 and consisted of two railroad tracks located one above the other. The tram was connected to a 6000 foot long steel cable. The cable was brought here by horse and skid, it arrived in two pieces and was spliced together on site.

Attachment 3761

Following the tramway route to the shores of Eagle Lake we come to the locomotives. In 1926 "King" LeCroix dragged these two locomotives in pieces to the shore of Eagle lake using Lombard logging tractors and skids. The engines were converted to oil for fire safety. In 1926 two trains of ten cars each started making the 13 mile journey to Umbazookus Lake and back. During the depression the demand for lumber subsided and the locomotives were parked in their engine house where they would remain under cover until the shed was mistakenly burnt down by the Maine Forest Service. Here they are, out in the middle of no where.

That is beautiful country. One summer I saw 44 moose on one weekend. Many of them were around Kokadjo. My first hike on the AT started on the "West Branch" road.

[John Reilly]

Hi Jim, Nice photos. I saw a ghost train locomotive in Maine while on a 100 mike canoe trip on the Allagash Wilderness Waterways. Awesome. My canoe can beat your snow mobile! See you at Assembly?

[Jim Chabot]

Hi Jim, Nice photos. I saw a ghost train locomotive in Maine while on a 100 mike canoe trip on the Allagash Wilderness Waterways. Awesome.

Yes you would have gone right by them. While I've never done the allagash canoe trip, I'm familiar with the route. I'm curious, did you paddle the whole length of Chamberlain in one day or does it take two? Someday I would love to do the canoe trip, not sure if I have the stamina for it though.

If I remember right, the canoe trip terminates at a little (now closed) store/restaurant/gas station in Dickey main just past where the Allagash dumps into the St. John?

My canoe can beat your snow mobile!

That's highly doubtful. The energy requirement will beat mine though!

See you at Assembly?

You betcha! Looking forward to it!

[Jim Chabot]

That is beautiful country. One summer I saw 44 moose on one weekend. Many of them were around Kokadjo. My first hike on the AT started on the "West Branch" road.

Wish I had your stamina! Love your hiking pictures Dave. You have witnesses firsthand so much of His beautiful creation.

[Dave McClung]

Yes you would have gone right by them. While I've never done the allagash canoe trip, I'm familiar with the route. I'm curious, did you paddle the whole length of Chamberlain in one day or does it take two? Someday I would love to do the canoe trip, not sure if I have the stamina for it though.

If I remember right, the canoe trip terminates at a little (now closed) store/restaurant/gas station in Dickey main just past where the Allagash dumps into the St. John?



That's highly doubtful. The energy requirement will beat mine though!






You betcha! Looking forward to it!

Jim
Have you ridden your snowmobile to White House Landing? It is just outside the 100 Mile Wilderness. It used to be open for snowmobile season, but I understand that Bill and Linda went to Florida the past few seasons. The last I heard, they were trying to sell the camp.

I have stopped there twice while hiking the Hundred Mile Wilderness. I enjoyed my stay.

[Jim Chabot]

Jim
Have you ridden your snowmobile to White House Landing? It is just outside the 100 Mile Wilderness. It used to be open for snowmobile season, but I understand that Bill and Linda went to Florida the past few seasons. The last I heard, they were trying to sell the camp.

I have stopped there twice while hiking the Hundred Mile Wilderness. I enjoyed my stay.

Haven't been there, and judging by their web site it looks like we missed out on a great place to stay. If it's where I think it is at the northwest end of Pemadumcook Lake, then I've been by it plenty of times, on the Tirio Road. Wilderness camps are my favorite places to stay.

Here is a map of our trail system in that area.

http://www.jomaryriders.com/jomary-r...lub-trail-map/

[John Reilly]

Yes you would have gone right by them. While I've never done the allagash canoe trip, I'm familiar with the route. I'm curious, did you paddle the whole length of Chamberlain in one day or does it take two? Someday I would love to do the canoe trip, not sure if I have the stamina for it though.

If I remember right, the canoe trip terminates at a little (now closed) store/restaurant/gas station in Dickey main just past where the Allagash dumps into the St. John?



That's highly doubtful. The energy requirement will beat mine though!






You betcha! Looking forward to it!

Jim, We took two days on Chamberlain. There is a wonderful island in the middle of Chamberlain. We camped on it over night. What a beautiful view of the lake at sunset with campfire going and cooking. We did have to portage around the Allagash falls. The ranger trucked our gear for us around the Chase Rapids which are graded as class 3. We all swamped our canoes in the rapids and with life jackets on we had the ride of our life over the rocks and swells. At the end of the chase rapids is the Blue Lagoon, a peaceful and tranquil place after a very rough ride. We had to patch two canoes after the Chase rapids. We did end up at Saint John and on time after a week in the wilderness. The worst part was the deer flies on Telos Lake. We had netting but the deer flies were as big as eagles. They actually carried away one of our guys. We have not seen him since but he wasn't much of tither anyway.

[Dave McClung]

Jim, We took two days on Chamberlain. There is a wonderful island in the middle of Chamberlain. We camped on it over night. What a beautiful view of the lake at sunset with campfire going and cooking. We did have to portage around the Allagash falls. The ranger trucked our gear for us around the Chase Rapids which are graded as class 3. We all swamped our canoes in the rapids and with life jackets on we had the ride of our life over the rocks and swells. At the end of the chase rapids is the Blue Lagoon, a peaceful and tranquil place after a very rough ride. We had to patch two canoes after the Chase rapids. We did end up at Saint John and on time after a week in the wilderness. The worst part was the deer flies on Telos Lake. We had netting but the deer flies were as big as eagles. They actually carried away one of our guys. We have not seen him since but he wasn't much of tither anyway.

Now those are big deer flys.

[Dave McClung]

Our trip begins at the south entrance of Baxter State Park. Home of Mt. Katahdin and the "Painted Rock!"

Attachment 3757

From there we head west on Grant Brook road about 40 miles to Kokadjo which lies to the northeast of Moosehead lake, then it's north into the Great North Woods. About 35 miles or so to the north of Moosehead we arrive at Caribou Lake, where we have a good view of Katahdin. We will cross Caribou Lake to it's connection with Chesuncook Lake then running 20 miles up Chesuncook to the Lake House where we can refuel and have lunch.

Attachment 3758

Gas is $4.99 per gallon and a sandwich lunch is $12.50 at the Lake House. Considering that there is no vehicular access and everything is dragged in by tractor and sled, the prices seem quite reasonable.

From the Lake House we will now head east about 24 miles into the woods without benefit of marked trails. We will use the lakes for navigation, crossing Chesuncook, we then jump across Umbazookus and Mud Lakes until we arrive at a large sheltered bay on Chamberlain Lake. Exiting the bay onto the lake, we will run 12 miles north to the top where we first encounter the trains.

Here we find the 1500 foot long trestle of the Eagle Lake and West Branch Railroad. The superstructure has rotted away many years back, all that is left are the cedar pilings and the rails lazily draped over the top of them.

Attachment 3759

Following the shoreline around till we reach the thoroughfare we leave Chamberlain where we encounter a couple of large steam boilers and engine and some very large gears.

Prior to the construction of the railroad, a tramway was constructed to move logs from Eagle Lake to Chamberlain

Attachment 3760

The tramway was constructed in 1901 and 1902 and consisted of two railroad tracks located one above the other. The tram was connected to a 6000 foot long steel cable. The cable was brought here by horse and skid, it arrived in two pieces and was spliced together on site.

Attachment 3761

Following the tramway route to the shores of Eagle Lake we come to the locomotives. In 1926 "King" LeCroix dragged these two locomotives in pieces to the shore of Eagle lake using Lombard logging tractors and skids. The engines were converted to oil for fire safety. In 1926 two trains of ten cars each started making the 13 mile journey to Umbazookus Lake and back. During the depression the demand for lumber subsided and the locomotives were parked in their engine house where they would remain under cover until the shed was mistakenly burnt down by the Maine Forest Service. Here they are, out in the middle of no where.

It is sad to see all of the sites in Maine where there used to be industry that is no longer there. Even with my limited time in Maine, I have seen several "ghost" sites. Katahdin Iron works is one that comes to mind. It was once a thriving, job producing area. Now it is just a ghost site.

[Marian Schwaller Carney]

We'll be in Millinocket (on an island community there) for 5 days in August. I was wondering what special trip we might make.
I think I just stumbled onto that answer. Thanks, Jim!

[Dave McClung]

We'll be in Millinocket (on an island community there) for 5 days in August. I was wondering what special trip we might make.
I think I just stumbled onto that answer. Thanks, Jim!

If you have not visited Gulf Hagas, that is a great one day hike. You can stop by and see Katahdin Iron Works on the way in. Then you can visit "The Hermitage" -- the largest stand of old growth white pines in Maine. Then you can hike the Gulf Hagas trail.

It is about an hour south of Millinock. When you visit Gulf Hagas, you will also be visiting the "100 Mile Wilderness."

[Jim Chabot]

It is sad to see all of the sites in Maine where there used to be industry that is no longer there. Even with my limited time in Maine, I have seen several "ghost" sites. Katahdin Iron works is one that comes to mind. It was once a thriving, job producing area. Now it is just a ghost site.

I've always had a fascination with historical sites. I love to read about them and then visit and just let pictures flood through my mind of what it must have been like "back in the day." Before we made the trip out to the trains, I had been reading everything I could find on them for the three years that it took before the opportunity presented itself. It's very difficult to find riding partners who can go up and ride during the week. I was thrilled to find everything exactly as I had read about, each lake crossing put us within a few hundred feet of the path to the next lake, almost like I had been there before.

Many of the snowmobile trails in Northern Maine follow the abandoned rail lines that seem to go everywhere. Many times as I ride along them, I'll let my mind wander and think about what it would have been like to be on one of those trains now long gone.

[Jim Chabot]

We'll be in Millinocket (on an island community there) for 5 days in August. I was wondering what special trip we might make.
I think I just stumbled onto that answer. Thanks, Jim!

If you decide to drive through the park on the tote road, be sure to visit Joa and Sue at the Mattagamon Wilderness Store, they are located just outside of the park just over the bridge on the East Branch. They have great sandwiches and are generally just great people to hang out with. If you are interested in reading about the area, they have a selection of books written by a retired game warden who worked this area, I've read most of his books, they are fascinating!

http://www.matagamon.com/

http://randallprobertbooks.net/

[Dave McClung]

If you decide to drive through the park on the tote road, be sure to visit Joa and Sue at the Mattagamon Wilderness Store, they are located just outside of the park just over the bridge on the East Branch. They have great sandwiches and are generally just great people to hang out with. If you are interested in reading about the area, they have a selection of books written by a retired game warden who worked this area, I've read most of his books, they are fascinating!

http://www.matagamon.com/

http://randallprobertbooks.net/

Jim
When you mentioned the "tote road" is that the same as the "Golden Road?" I have driven the Golden Road a number of times.

Dave

[Jim Chabot]

Jim
When you mentioned the "tote road" is that the same as the "Golden Road?" I have driven the Golden Road a number of times.

Dave

No, they are different. They do run parallel to each other for quite a ways though. They part close company around Compass lake, with the Golden Road heading up by Caribou Lake, while the tote road goes up between the Togue Ponds. The park tote road stays within Baxter park and loops around to Grand Lake Mattagammon and then out the North Entrance. The Mattagammon store is just over the East branch bridge, from there the road continues to Patten and Route 11.

The Park Map shows both roads, the Golden Road runs just to the south of the park.

http://www.baxterstateparkauthority....BSProadMap.pdf

Always good to have a bunch of maps out there!

I just remembered that the road to Patten goes through Shin Pond. The Wilderness Variety Store is another great place to stop. They serve sandwiches and Scotty, the owner, used to operate a float plane service, delivering mail and supplies to wilderness camps. Lot's of stories to be had there!

[Dave McClung]

No, they are different. They do run parallel to each other for quite a ways though. They part close company around Compass lake, with the Golden Road heading up by Caribou Lake, while the tote road goes up between the Togue Ponds. The park tote road stays within Baxter park and loops around to Grand Lake Mattagammon and then out the North Entrance. The Mattagammon store is just over the East branch bridge, from there the road continues to Patten and Route 11.

The Park Map shows both roads, the Golden Road runs just to the south of the park.

http://www.baxterstateparkauthority....BSProadMap.pdf

Always good to have a bunch of maps out there!

I just remembered that the road to Patten goes through Shin Pond. The Wilderness Variety Store is another great place to stop. They serve sandwiches and Scotty, the owner, used to operate a float plane service, delivering mail and supplies to wilderness camps. Lot's of stories to be had there!

OK. I have driven that road a few miles past Katahdin Stream Campground, but not all the way to the North Gate. I love that part of the country. One never knows what kind of wild life they will see in Baxter State park.

I missed hiking in Maine the last two years. It looks like I will miss it again this year.

[Susan Unger]

I'm jealous of your snow! It's warm out here!