Many states have something abandoned – a factory, an amusement park or even an entire town. But, Maine has something that’s just a bit more unique and unlike any other state. Sitting quietly in the North Woods are a pair of locomotives that feel a bit forgotten. Here’s the story of what they are and why they’re there, along with directions for how to find them!
Getting to these strange, abandoned locomotives isn’t easy.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
They’re located about two hours north of Millinocket, accessible primarily via rough and tumble logging roads.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
In addition to navigating the logging roads, you need to check-in near Allagash and pay a fee to continue.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
When the road ends, you’ll need to walk about an hour to the locomotives.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
But it’s a beautiful walk!
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
You’ll know you’re close when you spot the train tracks in the middle of the forest.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
You’ll begin seeing more signs of the former locomotives, such as these wheels.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
This is how logs were transferred back when this area was operational.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube If you look closely, you can see the spikes that stuck into the wood to attach it to the wheel system.
In addition to the hidden locomotives, you’ll also see the remains of an early 1900s steam engine system.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube This was used to operate the system that moved the logs from Eagle Lake to Chamberlain Lake.
Continue on and you’ll find the hulking pieces of metal, waiting to be discovered.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
During the early 1900s, this area of Maine was supplying about 20% of the country’s paper and wood products.
John Lutz / Flickr
The rivers in the area were used to help transport the logs by acting as their own roadway.
John Lutz / Flickr
The trains came in when lumber needed to move South into nearby towns.
John Lutz / Flickr Sadly, when the Great Depression hit the lumber business in Northern Maine was ruined - the trains were no longer needed, but the cost to remove them wasn’t worth paying. So, they sit in the North Woods waiting for intrepid explorers to visit and remember an important part of Maine’s history.
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
Thanks to Dylan Magaster for the fascinating photos and information included here. Check out the full video of his exploration below:
Dylan Magaster / YouTube
If you look closely, you can see the spikes that stuck into the wood to attach it to the wheel system.
This was used to operate the system that moved the logs from Eagle Lake to Chamberlain Lake.
John Lutz / Flickr
Sadly, when the Great Depression hit the lumber business in Northern Maine was ruined - the trains were no longer needed, but the cost to remove them wasn’t worth paying. So, they sit in the North Woods waiting for intrepid explorers to visit and remember an important part of Maine’s history.
These trains aren’t the only interesting abandoned spot in Maine. Check out this article on beautiful Swan Island in the Kennebec River.
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