Hi Folks!
I just received the following announcement from James Shea, President of the group "Friends of Bedford Depot Park."
With help from the good folks at the Maine Narrow Gauge Museum in Portland, ME., the group operated locomotive Monson #3 in Bedford, MA to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Billerica & Bedford RR - America's first two foot gauge common-carrier. The turnout for that weekend was large enough to get the attention of many including the Bedford Town Selectmen.
ALL of them will be at this presentation!
The town owns a big chunk of continuous ex-B&B right-of-way (3 miles, every inch of the former B&B within the town limits) and the group has been doing great work with community outreach. If you can attend this presentation, your support would send a very positive message!
If the turnout fills the hall (capacity 200), amazing things could result?
Sincerely,
Glenn Christensen
"An Illustrated History of the Billerica & Bedford Railroad"
Presented by Arthur Ellis and Friends of Bedford Depot Park
Sunday, March 23, 2003, at 3:00 P.M.
Bedford Town Hall Auditorium -- Mudge Way, Bedford, Massachusetts
On August 31, 1877, the diminutive locomotives "Puck" and "Ariel" first led trains filled with merry passengers through the woods of Bedford and Billerica and the nation's first two-foot-gauge railway was born.
On the 125th anniversary of this novel enterprise, Arthur Ellis will present
an illustrated history of the Billerica & Bedford Railroad using vintage photos, maps, documents and a working diorama. Mr. Ellis has studied the B&B since the 1960s, and has amassed a wealth of fascinating information about the railway. Recent research findings will be part of his talk.
Prior to the lecture, officials from the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc., will present Friends of Bedford Depot Park with the 2003
H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award. This $10,000 grant is to be used to re establish a segment of two-foot-gauge track on the B&B's original roadbed. The track will be an interpretive display and possibly be used for special "live steam" operations in the future.
Be part of this history-making event! It's free and all are welcome. You'll receive a complimentary copy of the 1878 publication "Places and Views of
Attraction on the Line of the B&B."
For any last-minute information, please visit FBDP's web site:
www.BedfordDepot.org.
