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Name: Maine's Two-Footer Railroads
Brand: Mike Torreson
SKU: 9781467109376
Price: 18.74 USD
Availability: InStock

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Maine's Two-Footer Railroads

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

History of Maine Railroads, A

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Maine to Cape Horn

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Lost Maine Coastal Schooners

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Maine's Steamboating Past

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Bath Iron Works

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Around the Kennebec Valley

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Historic Shipwrecks of Penobscot Bay

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Down East Schooners and Shipmasters

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The Wreck of the Circus Ship Royal Tar

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Stories from the Maine Coast:

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Boatbuilding on Mount Desert Island

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

York County Trolleys

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Vinalhaven Island's Maritime Industries

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Vessels of Camden

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Great Shipwrecks of the Maine Coast

$14.95 $11.21 Save 25%

Freeport through the Years

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Maine's Two-Footer Railroads

9781467109376

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Beginning in 1932, Linwood W. Moody (1905–1983) documented in photographs and collected artifacts of Maine’s two-footer railroads. A pioneer of railroad photography, his work led to articles in numerous publications such as Railroad Magazine and later culminated in Linwood’s 1959 publication The Maine Two-Footers. Among his personal effects at the time of his death in 1983 were hundreds of photographs of three of the Maine two-footers—the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway; the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad; and the Monson Railroad. The state of Maine was unique in regards to its narrow-gauge railroads. Most railroads in the United States have a width of four feet, eight and one half inches between the rails, known as standard gauge. Due to the efforts of George Mansfield, a railroad promoter of the late 1800s, a very narrow gauge of two feet between the rails was successfully developed in the state of Maine.

History of Maine Railroads, A

9781467145299

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Maine is populated with intriguing characters who set in motion a fascinating, compelling story of railroads and the unique communities they helped to build. One of the first states to build railroads and trolleys in the United States, Maine at one point had more than ninety communities with trolleys. Standard-gauge and “two-footers” crossed the state, including the St. Lawrence & Atlantic and the Bangor & Aroostook. From an international electric trolley to the attempted World War I dynamiting of a railroad bridge between the United States and Canada, the state is home to a rich rail heritage. Join Bill Kenny as he takes you on a journey from the first tracks made of wood to today’s high-speed Downeaster Amtrak train.

Maine to Cape Horn

9781467150057

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Cape Horn conjures up images of wind-whipped waters and desperate mariners in frozen rigging. Long recognized as a maritime touchstone for sailors, it marks the spot where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet in one writhing mass. "Doubling" Cape Horn became the ultimate test, earning a prominent place in Maine maritime history. At the end of South America, it shares longitude 67° west exactly with Cutler, Maine, a direct north-south line of seven thousand miles. Maine Cape Horners were recognized by a golden earring. If they did not survive this most difficult journey in the world, the earring covered the costs of their funeral, should the body ever be found. Maritime historian Charles H. Lagerbom traveled to the end of the world to help research this exciting story of bold Mainers and their exhilarating and oftentimes deadly dance with danger.

Lost Maine Coastal Schooners

9781596299566

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Large, wooden-hulled schooners graced the seas of coastal Maine for more than a century as vessels of trade and commerce. With the advent of steam-powered craft, however, these elegant four-, five- or six-masted wooden ships became obsolete and vanished from the harbors and horizons. The Edward Lawrence, the last of the six-masters, became her own funeral pyre in Portland Harbor, burning to ash before everyone's eyes. The Carroll A. Deering washed ashore with no trace of her crew, empty as a ghost ship except for three cats and a pot of pea soup still cooking on the stove. In this testament to the beauty of the Maine coastal region, maritime history enthusiast Ingrid Grenon tells the story of these magnificent relics of the bygone Age of Sail and celebrates the people who devoted their lives to the sea.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads

9780738511795

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The narrow gauge railroad arrived in the United States in the late nineteenth century. Based on the Welsh two-foot gauge, the American narrow gauge was expanded by railroad engineers to a three-foot gauge that became the standard track width for narrow gauge railroads in the United States. Maine, however, adopted the two-foot gauge that was developed by George E. Mansfield in Massachusetts. The narrow track width was ideally suited to the mountainous terrain, and the maneuverability of the trains proved highly beneficial to companies and passengers traveling to remote locations. The narrow gauge railroad served Maine for over fifty years until the early 1940s.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads is a comprehensive pictorial record of the history of the narrow gauge railroad in Maine. From the one-hundred-twelve-mile Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad to the five-mile Kennebec Central, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroads features the toylike miniature trains of Maine as they appeared at different stages in their history. The Bridgton and Harrison Railroad, the Monson Railroad, and the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway lines are documented within, as well as the current restoration projects that are under way.

Maine's Steamboating Past

9780738549644

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Maine steamboats existed in two different arenas: the ocean steamers that traveled up the coast and the inland steamers, which are the focus of this book. The Maine wilderness once witnessed an enormous movement of people, goods, and mail through steamboat traffic. Originally freighters provided supplies and merchandise for the lumber industry and, with the lack of roads, they were the only dependable transportation to many sporting lodges and resorts. Boat traffic also delivered indispensable goods to lakeside villages and outposts. Eventually sportsmen and vacationers discovered the beauties of the lakes and mountains, and steamboat companies formed early in the 19th century to serve the growing numbers of visitors and businesses. Thousands of families trekked from the southern cities to the interior to delight in a popular Northeast pastime. Getting to places was a chore as well as an adventure, and the railroads and the steamboats did the job. At one time, they facilitated the cycles of life in the Maine woods.

Bath Iron Works

9780738510590

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Bath Iron Works was established by Gen. Thomas Hyde in 1884 and launched its first ship in 1891. This collection of shipbuilding photographs brings to life the proud history of Bath Iron Works.

Since then, the shipyard on the Kennebec River has built dozens of luxurious yachts, hardworking freighters, tugs, trawlers, lightships, and more than two hundred twenty warships for the U.S. Navy. Today, Bath Iron Works continues a shipbuilding tradition that began nearly four hundred years ago when the first ship built in America was constructed just a few miles downriver from Bath. Bath Iron Works showcases a unique collection of photographs that provides a rare view inside one of the nation's great shipyards. The book shows the yard's origins in a few simple buildings, its expansion into a modern shipbuilding facility, and its rapid growth into an industrial powerhouse during World War II. During these years, Bath Iron Works produced famous ships such as the America's Cup defender Ranger, the yachts Aras and Hi-Esmaro, the record-setting destroyer USS Lamson, and fully one fourth of all destroyers built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Bath Iron Works gives an insider's view of these great vessels and many others, as skilled craftspeople turn raw materials into complex ships, each uniquely suited to its purpose.

Around the Kennebec Valley

9781467108744

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Fans of Gay M. Grant's Along the Kennebec: The Herman Bryant Collection will enjoy these more than 200 newly released images taken by gifted South Gardiner photographer Herman Bryant (1858-1937). Now part of the collections of the Maine State Museum, Bryant's work documents late-19th- and early-20th-century life in the Kennebec River region during its industrial heyday. New information about Bryant and his family reveals fascinating stories about the people and places captured in his photographs. From Augusta downriver to Bath and the coastal islands, Bryant's lens captured the mills, factories, icehouses, and other ventures that once lined the river's banks. Vessels of all types that once made the river the artery of the region's life and economy can be seen along with images of the railroads that revolutionized travel. Bryant's poignant portraits, photographs of homes, and even images of beloved pets bring to life the industrious Maine people who built thriving communities.

Historic Shipwrecks of Penobscot Bay

9781626190917

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Thousands flock to the beautiful coastline along Penobscot Bay every year, but the dark sea has often turned treacherous. Temperamental skies become stormy without notice; violent gales challenge even the most seasoned captains. Craggy rocks can be virtually invisible to oncoming vessels, like the Alice E. Clark, which simply strayed off course in good weather. Other ships, like the Governor Bodwell and Royal Tar, were destroyed by fire. But not all of the ships were a total loss--some were repaired and resumed life under different names. Local author Harry Gratwick explores some of Penobscot Bay's most historic and dramatic shipwrecks, from what caused the wrecks to what happened during those fateful moments when the ships were going down.

Down East Schooners and Shipmasters

9781609495145

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Nothing is more iconic of Maine than the image of a majestic vessel, masts raised, gliding through the fog on the dark North Atlantic. From the early days of the search for a Northwest Passage to the quest for the mysterious and illusive Norumbega, the history of Mount Desert Island, Hancock, Bar Harbor and the rest of the Down East area has always traveled on schooners. Now, in the twenty-first century, these ships and their heritage are being preserved, and Mainers are sailing aboard them once again. In this collection, author Ingrid Grenon presents the most important and incredible stories from the decks of Down East's schooners, revealing how these remarkable vessels and Down East Maine are tied together.

The Wreck of the Circus Ship Royal Tar

9781467158510

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Lost in the Flames

On October 21, 1836, a bustling crowd gathered at the docks in Saint John, New Brunswick, to witness an extraordinary spectacle. The steamship Royal Tar was embarking on yet another voyage from New Brunswick to Portland, Maine, laden with a cargo of peculiar passengers. For this fateful voyage, the Royal Tar had been transformed into a circus ship. Onlookers watched as cages slowly rolled past—exotic birds in one, two lionesses in another and the regal striped Bengal tiger in a third. Then the star of the show slowly made his way across the gangplank. Mogul, the mighty Asian elephant, took his spot on the upper deck of the ship as it steamed out of the port.

After four days of stormy weather, a devastating fire engulfed the ship. The ensuing chaos left thirty-two people dead, and many of the animals were pushed overboard into the frigid waters of Penobscot Bay in a last-ditch effort to save them. The rest died in their cages. Jane Parks Gardner reveals how this tragic event left an indelible mark on Maine’s maritime history.

Stories from the Maine Coast:

9781609492496

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The history of Maine has always been inextricably tied to its coastline. The sea first brought settlers, and the rich fishing and shipbuilding industries sustained growth. The Atlantic also connected Mainers to the rest of the world. Goods and ideas traveled the maritime routes that originated in populous Portland and more isolated places like Carver's Harbor and Deer Isle. From Searsport's sailing masters to the burning of Royal Tar, author Harry Gratwick relates the adventures of the skippers and their crews. Read about the search for the Smithy Boat and other tales from Maine's shipping lanes.

Boatbuilding on Mount Desert Island

9781467118682

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Mount Desert Island possesses a rich and diverse history of boatbuilding. Chester Clement was the first of the "lobsteryacht" builders, and Bunker and Ellis elevated the concept. Henry Hinckley started on an old boat-repair wharf and built a world-class brand. Members of the Rich family produced everything from gleaming yachts to rugged workboats, while Sim Davis and Bink Sargent were considered the experts for big draggers. Author Laurie Schreiber highlights the histories of some of the major players in Mount Desert Island's boatbuilding community.

York County Trolleys

9780738501376

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Until hard surface, all-weather thoroughfares were constructed and private automobiles became numerous, residents of York County depended on trolleys for local transportation. Many people commuted regularly to and from work on the electric cars, which also carried children to school from September through June. In the winter, when streets, roads, and highways were buried under deep drifts, powerful snowplows swiftly cleared the street railway tracks after severe storms so the trolleys could get through. Maine's York County boasted more than 100 miles of trolley lines from 1907 through 1922. The World War I years were difficult for street railways throughout the United States. Soon after the conflict ended, automobiles began rolling off the assembly lines at progressively more attractive prices. As the nation entered the "Roaring Twenties," more and more residents of York County acquired motorcars and no longer needed the trolleys that had served them so faithfully through the years. York County Trolleys takes us on a visual journey from Kittery to Old Orchard Beach, from Old Orchard to Portland, and inland to Eliot, South Berwick, and Sanford.

Vinalhaven Island's Maritime Industries

9781467122542

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Vinalhaven Island has been the home port of a productive commercial fishing fleet for over 200 years. By 1819, Vinalhaven vessels were fishing for cod and herring from Seal Island all the way to Labrador waters. By 1878, Carver's Harbor was lined with docks, fishhouses, a sail loft, a net factory, and the Lane & Libby fish plant. Throughout the 19th century, boats brought bait, salt, and supplies to Vinalhaven and returned with fish and granite from the island's quarries. Lighthouses at Brown's Head, Heron Neck, Saddleback Ledge, Goose Rock, and Matinicus guided mariners through storms. In Vinalhaven shops, boatbuilders constructed small dories, peapods and double-enders, masted schooners, and lobster boats, as well as the 365-ton Margaret M. Ford. Passenger ferries played an important role as the primary link between Vinalhaven and the mainland. The island has long been a successful center of maritime economic activity, so it is no surprise that islanders call it "the center of the universe."

Vessels of Camden

9780738500140

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The care and craftsmanship in the art of building wooden vessels has become a thing of the past. Replaced by the fiberglass boats of today, wooden vessels are a reminder of the way things were done in an earlier America. Discover the beauty of these vessels and the history behind them in Barbara Dyer's Vessels of Camden, a unique and engaging tribute to a shipbuilding community. Along with Bar Harbor, Maine, Camden is one of only two towns on the eastern seaboard where the mountains meet the sea. Tourists have been attracted to this picturesque
town since its incorporation in 1791, and its coastal
location has had a great influence on the town's industries. Shipbuilding played a prominent role in the development of Camden, a development that can be traced through carefully preserved historic photographs. The images in this collection depict approximately 100 years of vessel craftsmanship in
Camden, from 1863 to 1963. The charm and elegance of
these maritime gems is sure to take hold of the reader's imagination and elicit visions of sailing the open seas.

Freeport through the Years

9781467127349

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Like other towns in coastal Maine, Freeport was settled in the 18th century by residents of the southern part of the state–Massachusetts, which it was a part of until 1820. The Harraseeket River provided mill power and transportation, enabling growth and separation from North Yarmouth in 1789. The arrival of the railroad in 1849 led to a late-century economic boom fueled by entrepreneur E.B. Mallet. Piggybacking on the established industrial infrastructure, L.L. Bean and other retailers prospered in the next century, forming the core of activity at the heart of Freeport Village today. South Freeport was sustained by shipbuilding that ebbed and flowed through the 20th century, and largely because of that industry, it remains a historic village to this day. Because of Freeport's rapid growth and a number of downtown fires, historic buildings have been lost, moved, or altered over time, though the historical society has advocated for preservation and maintains a broad collection of photographs that visually record these changes.