Touch-A-Train Event Today In Rockland

The event will be held at the railroad’s Rockland train station (4 Union Street, Rockland, ME 04841) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 

The Touch-A-Train event will be a rare opportunity for the public to explore the equipment of an operating railroad. The event is family-oriented, and children are encouraged to come and enjoy the sights and sounds of American railroading. Visitors may climb aboard and explore the cab of an FL9 passenger diesel locomotive (built in 1957), recline in the comfortable seats of a 1940s Maine Eastern passenger coach, and learn about railroad snow removal operations while standing inside the Maine Eastern’s 1942-vintage snowplow. Volunteers from New England Steam Corporation will be aboard the equipment to share its history and answer any questions.

The railroad’s dining car will also be on site, with a variety of hands-on exhibits inside from the New England Steam Corporation, Maine Operation Lifesaver, the Boothbay Railway Village, the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, and the Barlett Roundhouse Preservation Society. The WW&F will also have their Turner Centre Dairying Association Car #65 on site.

Admission to the Touch-A-Train event at the Rockland station will be free. However, the non-profit New England Steam Corporation will be collecting donations towards the restoration of Maine Central steam locomotive #470, which is currently on display in Waterville, ME. Any and all donations, no matter how small, can make a difference in the speed and success of #470’s restoration. An ice cream truck provided by Darling’s Auto Group will also be on site, with the proceeds of all sales also going to New England Steam Corporation.

The Maine Eastern’s Touch-A-Train event coincides with the Maine Rail Group’s first annual Maine Rail Conference, being held on the same date at the nearby Owls Head Transportation Museum from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Visitors, families, and rail enthusiasts are encouraged to visit both events and experience all aspects of Maine railroading.

The Trackside Station restaurant, located within the historic 1917 Rockland train station, makes a perfect place to stop for lunch in between visiting “Train Day” at Owls Head and the Maine Eastern’s open house. The restaurant will open at 11:00 AM on the day of the event, allowing hungry visitors to dine on local Maine cuisine in the 97-year-old passenger station waiting room.