Portland/Lewiston Maine Interurbans

Maps and Details on the Interurbans Systems in New England

Maine is well known among New England's interurban enthusiasts for its four major traction systems - (1) the Atlantic Shore Line Railway, (2) the Portland Railroad, (3) the Lewiston, Augusta and Waterville Street Railway and (4) its famous Portland-Lewiston Interurban.

In addition, the Pine Tree State had a number of small trolley lines, none over 15 miles in length, which were either contiguous to the larger systems or operated by themselves. Most of these had disappeared or had been shallowed by the bigger companies by 1924 when the map below was created.

The Atlantic Shore Line was an electric trolley line providing passenger and freight service to many towns in southern Maine. It connected York Beach, Cape Neddick, Bald Head, Ognnquit, Webhannet, Wells Beach, Elms and Kennebunk, and was the second-longest trolley line in Maine, encompassing over 87 miles of track.

The Portland–Lewiston Interurban was considered the finest interurban railroad in the state of Maine. It connected Maine's two largest cities from 1914 to 1933. Providing the best in passenger and freight transportation for nearly 20 years, it was abandoned only when steadily increasing highway competition made continued operation financially impossible. Both limited and local service were offered, with cars leaving each terminus every hour during the day. Speed, comfort and safety was the slogan of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. Like other railways in Maine, the Portland-Lewiston Interurban developed a profitable express and freight business. In the best years of the line’s existence, there were two daily round trips for freight between Portland and Lewiston.

Portland/Lewiston Area Map

Pan and zoom in and out on the map below for a detailed understanding of the various trolley companies in service in 1924.

Interurban Timelines - Predecessors/Mergers/End of Life

All Interurban timeline info sourced from the highly informative chicagorailfan.com site:
Interurban Railways in Maine

Further Details

• Ninety Communities in Maine had Electric Railway Service
• Trolley Travel in Maine
• History in Motion: The Era of the Electric Railways
• The Trolley Parks of Maine
• Narcissus Restoration Project
• Portland-Lewiston Interurban
• Portland-Lewiston Interurban
  by Osmond Richard Cummings
• Route of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban 1914-1933
• Short History of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban
• Atlantic Shore Line Railway

Source/Credits

The Electric Interurban Railways in America by George Woodman Hilton, ‎John Fitzgerald

David Rumsey Historical Map Collection - 1924 - Maine

 back to interactive Maine State map