Hi Folks,
I'm happy to report that B&SR flanger #40 has once again taken up residence to Bridgton, Maine.
At 7:00am a truck from Stewart's Heavy Hauling of South Portland, Maine arrived at the Maine Narrow Gauge museum and backed up to the ramp track. Bridgton volunteers Tim Cook, Chris McDaniels and his son, and Bill Shelley joined forces with MNG volunteers Lincoln Good and Tony DeVito to load the flanger onto the flatbed trailer in the driving rain. The rails on the Lindall, roll-back trailer were laid to facilitate the unloading process in Bridgton.
With the flanger loaded and carefully tied down, the small procession then made its way north on Route 302. At the Bridgton town line the convoy picked up a police escort that preceded it for the remainder of the journey.
When the convoy reached the flanger's new display track in front of the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce on Route 302 it was greeted by a crowd of roughly 50 supporters. These folks were tipped about the coming procession by an article in the Bridgton News and waited in the pouring rain to welcome the flanger home. The event was captured on film by Lakes Region TV and was also attended by a reporter from the Bridgton News. Traffic was halted on Route 302 while the track on the detached trailer was mated up with the display track and the car was winched into place.
Despite the pouring rain, it was a festive and historic event, accompanied by a tremendous outpouring of local support. Given the local response to the effort, many folks are hoping that the flanger's return will also mark the beginning of an even more extensive Bridgton narrow gauge resurgence.
A formal welcoming ceremony is currently being planned for mid-August and I will post further information on this event when it becomes available.
Best Regards,
Glenn
