Coaches, 1; Excursion, 2; Combination, 1; Box, 1; Flat, 6.
Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes R. R.
Sandy River R. R. chartered 1879, built 1879. 18 miles.
Franklin & Megantic R. R. chartered 1884, built 1884. 15 miles.
Kingfield & Dead River, chartered 1893, built 1894. 16 miles.
Phillips & Rangeley R. R., chartered 1889, built 1890-91. 29 miles.
Madrid R. R. chartered 1903, built 1903. 11 miles.
Eustis R. R. chartered 1903, built 1903. 19 miles.
The 1908 Consolidation of these roads formed the S. R. & R. L. system, and including logging branches it gave the new company approximately one hundred and twenty miles of line, of which the forty-seven mile Farmington-Rangeley road, the thirty mile Strong-Bigelow line, and the ten mile Eustis Branch had scheduled passenger trains.
The S. R. & R. L.—or just plain Sandy River as it always stayed in the hearts of Franklin County—deserves a book in itself. Its history and pictorial display would fill a big one. But here are the scantiest of facts: With the Consolidation this new company inherited a galaxy of equipment; whether or not all these units were renumbered into the new S. R. & R. L. roster, or if some older ones were scrapped, is (and ever will be, probably) a moot subject among railroad fans. I’ve spent hours—yes, months, trying to track it down and willingly admit that I’m bewildered and as uncertain as before. I admit, too, for the benefit of serious fans who believe they’ve identified these old engines and cars, that some logical and chronological sequences look pretty convincing; and that’s all. There’s no proof, no positive evidence. I’m not extending my neck. Here’s an all-time roster of motive power as complete as I can find indisputable records to substantiate it.