WW&F - Milk Traffic

 

I found this interesting today you might want to check it out on Facebook "The Milk Train Journal". The beginning of the article reads below...George Dutka

'Wiscasset Waterville & Farmington Railway Dairy Operations – Turner Centre Dairying Association' (Part One)

By Robert Wallace and the Albion Historical Society, Inc.

During the life of the WW&F narrow gauge railroad, one of the most consistent freight categories was the transport of cream and milk. From 15 pick up points along the line milk was hauled to the Turner Centre Dairy factory located in Wiscasset. This endeavor used dedicated dairy cars (reefers) that ran on both the morning and afternoon trains between Albion and Wiscasset.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum

I saved these photos and the comments below of a Facebook post awhile back that I though I would share with you. It is very good...George Dutka

Check out these stunning historic photos from the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway (today's Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum).

Photographer and early railfan Hugh G. Boutell visited Wiscasset, Maine on August 17, 1925 and captured photos of the activities at the WW&F - including these views of their #7 engine putting together a 9-car mixed train at Wiscasset and awaiting departure northbound.

A close inspection reveals numerous interesting details, the station building at Wiscasset, and attempts by Mr. Boutell to get that "perfect" consist shot - notably by venturing down to the salt flats at Wiscasset and placing himself on the trestle in front of the engine!

These "slice of life" photos from over 100 years ago show a Maine narrow gauge railroad still in its heyday, long before abandonment and subsequent revival efforts.

We are proud to continue the tradition of Maine narrow gauge railroading with our friends from WW&F and other preservationist groups throughout the state!

*Photos by Hugh G. Boutell, part of the Allan Socea Collection, shared in "Two Feet to Tidewater: The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway" by Robert C. Jones and David L. Register.

B&H No. 8

This postcard was a handout at the last narrow gauge show I attended. It is B&H no. 8 in 1940 taken by Ellis Spears.

 

Feed Storage Structure - A Second Look

There is a bit of a stoop added with a ladder at the doorway. A bill box is added which is a HO scale detail. The loose piping is an Otter Valley offering as pipe loads for bulkhead flats but work well in O scale too.

Here are a couple of close up looks at the finished feed storage structure...George Dutka.  

The box on the sacks is a O scale FOS offering that one folds up and applies a label. So ground foam and weeds are also glued to the lower areas. 

Feed Storage

This is my new O scale structure I finished back in early spring. The details are mainly cast plaster. A styrene roof is made with a tarpaper covering. All the signs are from my past build files. Most got a bit of weathering.

I purchased this structure for a couple of bucks in O scale. I am working on a On30" shelf layout that this might work well on. The structure is scratch built in styrene that needed finishing and bracing to the interior. 

I used a number of different stains, powders and acrylics. It is a metal structure that was fun to weather and detail. All the details are glued to the structure making it a drop in scene. I also added a awning over the main doorway. The same door got a ladder added...George Dutka

How it looked when I purchased the structure.

Some signs are applied and weathering is happening.

The paints used to color the doors and windows.

This is the backside which I did not apply any details to.

Berham Jct. - Turntable

Berham Jct 1915. SRRL No. 16 

Another photo purchase from the Springfield train show 2025. This photo is marked from Bob Jones. Maybe used in his book or from his collection. Looks like the balance maybe was off while turning the engine..,George Dutka   

SR&RL - Pulpwood Yard

 

Not sure of the location but a pulpwood loading area on the SR&RL. Photo by Caswell from prints purchased at the Springfield 2025 train show.