Family Adventure - Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum

I try to make our adventure days truly fun for the entire family.  What better place for the whole family to enjoy than Portland, Maine.  We have actually been to Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad twice this summer and have combined the beautiful and scenic train trip along the Eastern Promenade with the wonderful Foodie and Microbrew scene in the Old Port and East Side. 

J and Little M ready to board the train

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum - Portland, ME
 
Entrance fee: Train and Museum

• Under age 3 free
• Ages 3 -12 $6
• Adults $10
• Ages 62+ $9

Location and Parking:
The museum is a little hard to find and not visible right off Fore St.  You have to drive past some warehouses to find the location.  There are only a couple of designated Museum parking spots but you can pick up a parking pass for the parking lot when you purchase your museum/train tickets.

Food and Drink: 

Gift shop has waters and sodas as well as packaged snacks for sale.  On those hot summer days water is appreciated.

Bathrooms: 

Two small bathrooms in the back corner of the museum.  One has a diaper changing station.

Gift Shop: 

Great train and Maine themed books, toys and educational materials for sale.
 

 

Accessibility:

Museum itself is handicap accessible.  You are able to take a closer look at engines and coaches but need to be able to go up steps in order to access.  My favorite was the Parlor car with its plush swivel seats and restroom was a bit of a climb and a little hard to maneuver once inside but really gives you a clear understanding of what it would have been like to travel by rail at the turn of the century.

 

To ride the train you also have to be able to make the steps up to the passenger train cars.

 

Little M and I climbing up to checking out the interior of the engine.

Exhibits:

I will be honest . . . . . the exhibits are not the main attraction here.  However, as an introduction to trains and the history of narrow gauge railroads in Maine the exhibits tell a great story.  Plus, how often are you going to be able to climb in and touch a early 1900's parlor car?

 

Narrow Gauge track and train on left verses traditional on the right. 

  

Some of the exhibits including a map of the railroad system in Maine.  I also enjoyed the talking on the railroad exhibit which went over all the different hand and whistle signals.  Now I want to check out to see if they are accurately used in movies and film.

  

Programs and Event:

There are so many great programs and events at the Museum.  Here are just a few:

• Story Time - every Thursday at 10:30am
• Ice Cream Train - select Friday evenings throughout the summer
• Pumpkin Train - select weekends in October (decorate a pumpkin and drink hot apple cider)
• Polar Express - Select weekends beginning in November - Enjoy hot coco and cookies while listening to a reading of the famous book, journey on the train to meet Santa, sing carols on the trip back.

Highlights:

• The train ride itself is the biggest highlight.  The conductor gives a brief history of city of Portland and of the Museum while you enjoy a short scenic ride along the waterfront. 
• There is a great station for imaginative play at the museum.  There is a coloring table, two train tables, a station house with dress up clothes and a caboose set up as a reading room. 
• Little M was able to go up in the engine and toot the horn on the train ride.

The main attraction is the 30-40 minute train ride along Casco Bay.

 

Museum has a wonderful imaginative play area including train tables and reading caboose. 

Tips:

• Trains departs on the hour.  We like to get to the museum a little after the train has departed (say 10:05) so that we can enjoy the exhibits and play space while it is relatively quiet, then board the following train.
• Make sure to sit on the water side of the train cars for the best view.



Little M and CB explored the kid sized play train in the Museum.



Conductor gives a brief history of the city of Portland and the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum.  Make sure to sit on the ocean side of the train to get the best view.



What adventures does your whole family enjoy together?