Welcome to the Aroostook Valley Model Railroad.
A little history
The Aroostook Valley Model Railroad (AVMRR) is based on its namesake, Aroostook Valley Railroad (AVRR) that operated in Northern Maine from 1919 to 1996. The line was based in Presque Isle, Maine and ran northwest to Washburn, then turned northeast to Carson, where a branch line went north to New Sweden. At Carson, the main continued into West Caribou, for a total distance of 32 miles. It began as a passenger trolley line that had freight capabilities and operated “under wire” until 1946 when it was dieselized with two GE 44 tonners and became totally a freight line.
The era modeled.
It’s all the color of the Fall of 1967 in Presque Isle, Maine. The past couple of years have seen bumper potato harvests, the mainstay of the local mixed farms. As the potato crop goes, so goes the area. On good years like this; farm equipment dealers can’t keep up with the demand for new tractors; automobiles are shiny and new; banks have been paid for the seed & fertilizer loan; the fertilizer plant is in the black, the Sears and Roebuck store is planning for a busy Christmas season and the railroad will haul carloads of potatoes from the 80 potato sheds on the line. Also benefiting from the bumper crop are the starch plants that buys the culls of the crop. This is an immediate cash bonus as the farmers usually store most of their table crop until the price goes up in the New Year. The city has also had a good year, reflected by a new coat of chip seal on Parsons Street.
My Layout
The AVMRR now consists of an 8 foot long X 2 1/2 foot wide HO module built to NMRA standards and part of the modular display of the Saint John Society of Model Railroaders.
Enjoy your visit.
Bob Henry
Comments and suggestions welcomed at:
bob,[email protected]