Edaville Railroad-Massachusetts Maine Attraction Pt 1.mpg

This video was produced prior to the 1991 closing of Edaville Railroad. It follows the history of the Maine 2 foot guage railroads to when Ellis D. Atwood bought the equipment for his cranberry plantaiton. The railroad depicted in this video is a far cry from today's Edaville USA. This is the first part of the story.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Railroad
• Edaville
• Steam
• Locomotives
• Maine
• Narrow
• guage

[Mikeyb646]

Just watching vids. with my dad, George, who owned and operated Edaville for 20 years. We had never seen this great old footage before and were really pleased. My dad still dreams about Edaville all the time. He never wanted to give it up but sometime that's just the way it goes. I hope you post the second half someday. If ever you have any questions about Edaville you can message me. My dad worked there since he was 14 and Nelson Blount was his hero.

Thanks again,

Mike

[Digit654]

Mike,

Thank your for the kind words. I wish your dad and you well. I work for Comcast, and found this video in one of our closing studios. I thought I would share it with the world. I am working on the second part, just have to find the time to get it into the computer to edit it. I would like to some time do an interview with your dad about Edaville.

Gary Mitchell

[mngrr]

Originally they were only supposed to cut out 3/4 of a mile, bypassing Mr. Urann, where the houses went up. The enviro issue came up when they wanted to reconnect the loop by moving the track closer to the bogs. In todays' world you can't just lay railroad track next to cranberry bogs without an expensive environmental survey being conducted. Even then, there was no gurantee they would get the ok! Edaville chose to build the shortened loop instead because it was cheaper.

[Digit654]

Thank you,

I kind of thought there was an enviormental issue. It is certainly nothing like the old Edaville. Place left me wanting. I know I won't be back. Sorry but it's fine for kids. Us older folks who remember it from its earlier days are greatly disappointed.

[mackdetroit4life]

I still have a ticket for the Edaville Railroad from 1973.

[xveganmuffinx]

@Mikeyb646

I never got the whole story on why your father chose to put edaville up for sale... can you post or message it to me? i know he was the operations manager at the cape cod railroad for a few years and i met him there at some point in the mid 90's and got an engine cab ride with him. also, why was all the static equipment auctioned off separately? could no buyer be found for the site as a whole? i find that hard to believe.

[peterpocasset]

My grandparents lived in Carver and Edaville was a big part of our lives for years. Thanks !

[dpmaine]

cool vid....i just recently picked up and read a used copy of "the maine two footers" by linwood w. moody......an interesting book written by a narrow guage enthusiast. the book may have been a reference for this vid....the narrative sounds awful familiar....good day

[watkins23xl]

@Mikeyb646

@Mikeyb646

Mike,

Please tell your dad that Conrad (Connie) and the Cheney's from Atlanta say hello. My folks use to head up to the cape and drop me off to fire during vacation. If you know where Dave Barnes is, please let me know. Take care and thanks again for all your dad and your family did for the railroad.

Conrad Cheney

Southern Steam Program

New Georgia Railroad

Supervisor of Railroad Operations for Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad

[mngrr]

I hear ya. I loved the place when I was a kid in the 1980's. I've gone back a few times since, but there is nothing there anymore for us railroad types.