White Mountain Central Railroad

White Mountain Central Railroad

Climax Locomotive of 1920
Reporting mark WMCRR
Locale Clark's Trading Post
Dates of operation 1958–present
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length 1.25 miles (2.01 km)
Website http://www.whitemountaincentralrr.com/
White Mountain Central Railroad
Legend
I‑93
Pemigewasset River
Roundhouse
(not open to public)
Roundhouse
(not open to public)
 Clark's Trading Post

The White Mountain Central Railroad is the short heritage railway at Clark's Trading Post in Lincoln, New Hampshire. It is notable as being one of the few places in New England with regular steam locomotive operation,[1] as well as being a very rare example of a purpose-built tourist railroad (like those found in amusement parks and theme parks) that uses 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge track instead of narrow gauge track.

Route

The entrance building to Clark's Trading Post doubles as the train station. From there, the train leaves north through the park, and then past the small locomotive shop. The railroad crosses the Pemigewasset River on a covered bridge and then heads into a wooded area. In this section of the railroad, an actor playing a wild prospector named "the Wolfman" chases the train in a primitive car.[2] Finally, the railroad goes under a ramp for Interstate 93 and terminates.[3]

Schedule and fare

The railroad operates whenever Clark's Trading Post is open, between late May and early October. There are between one and seven round trips per day, depending on the park's hours. Each trip is 30 minutes long, and the fare is included in the Trading Post admission price. During one weekend in September, Railroad Days are celebrated, with extra trains and special consists.[4]

History

Construction on the railroad began in 1955. The first train ride was on July 30, 1958. The covered bridge was moved from East Montpelier, Vermont, and was reconstructed in its current location between 1963 and 1965.[1][5]

Locomotive roster

Number Type Builder Date Heritage Acquired Operation Notes
1 0-4-0T H.K. Porter, Inc. 1931 Koppers # 1 1957–1958 Operated Railroad Days only Smallest steam locomotive. Operated at railroad tie treatment plant, Nashua, New Hampshire. Retired 1954.[6]
2 Gasoline locomotive Vulcan Iron Works Granite quarry, Barre, Vermont 1964 Operated occasionally for track maintenance. Tiny locomotive, too small for revenue service.[7]
4 Heisler locomotive Heisler Locomotive Works 1929 International Shoe Company 1958 Inoperable. Displayed during Railroad Days. First ran in 1961. Primary locomotive, 1964–1976, secondary locomotive 1977-1984. Not powerful enough to handle 5-car trains, so operated only sporadically 1984-2006. Boiler undergoing overhaul at Boothbay Railway Village in Maine.[8]
5 2-4-2T Baldwin Locomotive Works 11-1906 East Branch and Lincoln Railroad, 1966-1969. Loon Mountain Ski Resort (display). 1999 Operated Railroad Days only Logging locomotive for 40 years, 1906-1946. Logging mill switcher for 23 years. WMCRR debut September 26, 1999.[9]
5 Class B Shay locomotive Lima Locomotive Works 12-1917 Woodstock Lumber Company, Franconia Paper Company 1951–1952 Inoperable. Displayed during Railroad Days. 50-ton, builder no. 2958. Sold new in 1919, used as a switcher.[10]
6 Climax locomotive Climax Locomotive Works 1920 Beebe River Lumber Company, East Branch and Lincoln Railroad 1951 Primary locomotive. Bldr. number 1603. Restoration completed 1976.[11]
1943 GE 65-ton switcher GE Transportation 8-1943 Newport Dinner Train Primary backup. Bldr. number 17886.[12]
B1 Railbus Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad 1930 Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes RR, 1930-1937. Starbird Lumber Company. Operated Railroad Days only. Once used for the shoulder season, but now even that is too much for the railbus to handle.[13]

Station

Clark's Trading Post
Heritage railway

Clark's Trading Post
Location 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Lincoln, New Hampshire
United States
Owned by Clark's Trading Post
Line(s) White Mountain Central Railroad
Tracks 1
Construction
Structure type At-grade
Parking Free
Disabled access Yes

The Clark's Trading Post station came from Freedomland U.S.A., after that park closed in 1964.[14]

See also

Other locations with historic trains in a non-historic setting:

References

  1. 1 2 "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Railroad History". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  2. ↑ Duckler, Ray (2009-04-17). "Clark's Wolfman looks for successor". Concord Monitor. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
  3. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Virtual Tour - Steam Train Ride". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  4. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Train Excursion Schedule for 2011". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  5. ↑ Marshall, Richard (1994). "CLARK'S BRIDGE - New Hampshire Covered Bridges". Retrieved 2015-06-02.
  6. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH - Steam Loco #1". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  7. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Gas Loco #2". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  8. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Steam Loco #4". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  9. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Steam Loco #5". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  10. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Steam Loco Woodstock Lumber Co. #5". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  11. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Steam Loco #6". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  12. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Diesel Loco #1943". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  13. ↑ "WMCRR Steam Train in NH USA - Rail Bus #B1". Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  14. ↑ McGrath, Garrett (2013-03-22). "Freedomland Forever!". Retrieved 2015-06-02.

Coordinates: 44°03′00″N 71°41′13″W / 44.05000°N 71.68694°W / 44.05000; -71.68694

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