7 Charming Old Railroad Towns In Maine
The Maine Central Railroad is an important part of the state’s history and heritage, and one of the main attractions for tourists. While the railroad is currently defunct, it remains a pillar of Maine's past. Maine has multiple scenic rail experiences, such as the Downeast Scenic Railroad from Hancock and the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad's excursions, plus several other proposed and developing plans along the Rockland Branch. Some routes cross through places like Belfast, with its renowned farmers' market, and Rockland, with its art markets and creative districts. These old railroad towns are great destinations for train and history enthusiasts, and sure to create a few new admirers as well.
Belfast
The lovely small town of Belfast is home to the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad, which ran from 1871 until 2007 and now operates as an excursion track, helping sustain the railroad and fund many preservation and restoration projects around Belfast.
When off the tracks, residents and tourists can catch a show at the historic Belfast Maskers theater and meet vendors at the United Farmers Market of Maine, the state’s largest farmers’ market. Visitors can also ditch the train altogether and hike the Belfast Rail Trail, built as a companion trail to the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad.
Ellsworth
The Downeast Scenic Railroad is one of Maine’s premier scenic railways. Riders will board at the Hancock Station just outside Ellsworth and take a 90-minute return trip aboard a vintage train car that travels through forests, rolling fields, and across waterways. Beyond the rails, guests can fish in Graham Lake, swim in Branch Lake, explore 200 acres of wildlife in the Birdsacre-Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary and Homestead, and glimpse into the past in Ellsworth’s Woodlawn Museum, Telephone Museum, and historic Courthouse Gallery of Fine Art.
Rockland
The Rockland Branch railroad was once a part of the Maine Central, running for 56 miles between Brunswick and Rockland. Now, the old railroad and train provide excursion services and a way to see the state unlike any other. Rockland’s community is incredibly strong and connected, hosting events such as the Maine Lobster Festival and the annual Maine Boat & Home Show. Sweet and full of culture, Rockland is also a great place to view artwork in the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. A picture is worth a thousand words, and every inch of Rockland has a story to tell.
Boothbay
The railroad industry is ingrained in Maine’s history, and no town honors that history more than Boothbay. The Boothbay Railway Village is not only a museum housing a collection of preserved buildings, narrow-gauge railways, antique automobiles, and recreations of mid-19th-century railways, but also a place where guests can ride in antique, vintage steam or diesel locomotives. The Boothbay Lights Festival lights up the winter landscape, while the Windjammer Days festival is a great way to spend the day sailing and catching the boat parade in Boothbay Harbor.
Brunswick
The railroad system across Maine is like a spider’s web, intersecting and crossing through small towns. This weaving rail system is what makes Maine so fascinating and rich with industrial history. The Brunswick Branch is one of many railroad lines that were once operated by the Maine Central Railroad and intersects with the Rockland Branch. Brunswick even has a modern rail system, the Amtrak Downeaster, connecting it to Boston. Tourists can also venture beyond the tracks to visit the beautiful Bowdoin College, founded in 1794, in the heart of the town, or catch a show at the Maine State Music Theater.
Waterville
Waterville was originally home to the Maine Central Railroad, Maine’s primary railroad for decades. The track remains, and the state has transformed its many branching paths into tourist excursions and adventures. Waterville is still a central part of Maine’s railroad history, being one of the three towns featured in the Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway, which has since become a museum. Visitors should venture beyond the connecting railroad to the iron-cable-suspended Ticonic (Two Penny) Bridge, built in 1901. The Discovery Museum, with educational exhibits for children, and the Kennebec Valley along the Kennebec River, make for even more outdoor adventuring.
Alna
Known as the railway of “big dreams and little wheels,” the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway originally stretched for over 50 miles into the heart of central Maine and remains one of Maine’s greatest railroad attractions. The railway stands as a museum, hosting special events and tours, but it’s not the only thing to do in Alna. Despite its extremely small population, less than 800, destinations like the Narrow Gauge Museum, built at the old Sheepscot Station, hold even more of Maine’s railroad history, while Sheepscot River and Bass Falls offer an abundance of inviting, scenic walking trails.
No Better Way To Travel in Maine
Railroads are foundational to Maine. They led to industrial growth, connected distant regions with lower populations, and created early tourism. The historic, preserved, and refurbished railroads offer grand excursions along the Downeast Scenic, Rockland Branch, and the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad through sweet, inviting small towns like Ellsworth, Hancock, and Belfast, among many others waiting to impress new eyes. There truly is no better way to travel in Maine than by rail.
