Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum, Maine
Railroad museumWeekend hours posted from July 2026; confirm before you go
The Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum is a young nonprofit on Main Street in Bridgton, formed in 2020 to preserve the history of the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad and the Bridgton & Harrison Railway, and to bring the town's narrow gauge railroad back to life.
- Formed in 2020
- Two-foot narrow gauge history
- Downtown Bridgton on Main Street
- Online archive and photo gallery
Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Posted from July 3, 2026: Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 5 pm, closed weekdays; confirm before visiting
- Admission
- Not posted online; email the museum
- Best for
- Narrow gauge fans and Bridgton history lovers
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address214 Main Street, Bridgton, ME 04009(opens in a new tab)
- Emailinfo@bridgtonrailroad.org
- Websitebridgtonrailroad.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Bridgton.
Rally Takes the Train
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Bringing Bridgton's two-footer back to town
The Bridgton and Saco River Railroad was established in 1882 as a two-foot narrow gauge line that linked Bridgton with Hiram, where it met the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad, later the Maine Central's Mountain Division, near the Saco River. Because the gauges did not match, freight had to be moved by hand between cars on parallel sidings. The line was an important link for Bridgton and the Lakes Region. By mid-July 1912, the Maine Central had bought a majority of its shares, less than a year after it acquired the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad, the largest two-foot line in Maine.
The museum was formed in 2020 by people who want to bring that railroad back to life. It preserves the history of both the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad and the Bridgton and Harrison Railway, collects photographs such as the William Shelley Collection of negatives, and lists restoration and land development projects on its website. It is still a young organization, so the best way to know what is on view is to ask the volunteers directly.
What to expect on Main Street
The museum is at 214 Main Street in Bridgton. Its website lists sections on historic locomotives, historic passenger cars, a photo gallery and an online archive, but it does not describe the displays in detail, so email info@bridgtonrailroad.org to ask what is on exhibit before you plan a trip around it.
Don’t miss
- The William Shelley CollectionHistoric negatives in the museum's collection include views such as the Bridgton Junction passenger station seen from the Maine Central tracks.
- The online archiveThe museum's website hosts an online archive and photo gallery of the narrow gauge line, a good way to prepare kids before a visit.
Tiny tracks, big ideas
Two-foot gauge trains are a fun idea for kids: the rails were only two feet apart, so everything about the railroad was built smaller than a regular train. The museum does not post kid programs or hands-on exhibits online, so ask by email what younger visitors can see, and pair the stop with a ride at a nearby railroad.
Plan your visit: tips for Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum
- Email info@bridgtonrailroad.org before you go to confirm hours, since the website shows more than one schedule.
- Check the museum's Facebook page for news and upcoming events.
- Memberships and a shop on the website support the museum's restoration projects.
A new nonprofit with a long memory
The Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum is a nonprofit formed in 2020. It offers memberships and an online shop, and lists a Support Us page for those who want to help its restoration and land projects. Email info@bridgtonrailroad.org to ask how to get involved.
Narrow gauge and mountain rail near Bridgton
For a ride on two-foot rails, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum in Portland is about 35 miles away. Across the New Hampshire line, the Conway Scenic Railroad is about 21 miles off and the Mount Washington Cog Railway about 34. See every train museum in Maine for more.
- Conway Scenic RailroadNorth Conway, NH · about 21 mi
- Mount Washington Cog RailwayBretton Woods, NH · about 34 mi
- Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & MuseumPortland, ME · about 35 mi
- Wolfeboro Railroad historic collectionWolfeboro, NH · about 41 mi
- Seashore Trolley MuseumKennebunkport, ME · about 46 mi
- Winnipesaukee Scenic RailroadMeredith, NH · about 48 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Rally has short corgi legs, so in our book the big train steps are too tall for him, and Dad gives him a boost. A two-foot narrow gauge railroad like Bridgton's sounds made for a dog his size. I like imagining a little train with little steps, and a corgi climbing aboard all by himself. If your kids like small trains too, here are some of our favorite train books for toddlers.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Maine: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Maine
- Halloween train rides in Maine
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Bridgton & Saco River Railroad Museum: 20 questions answered
What is the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum?
It is a nonprofit museum in Bridgton, Maine, formed in 2020 to preserve and restore the history of the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad and the Bridgton and Harrison Railway. Its stated aim is to bring Bridgton's narrow gauge railroad back to life through collections, archives and restoration projects.
Where is the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum?
The museum is at 214 Main Street in Bridgton, Maine 04009, in the town the old narrow gauge line served. The museum does not post parking details online, so email info@bridgtonrailroad.org if you have questions about where to leave the car.
What are the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum's website lists hours effective after July 3, 2026 of Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm, closed Monday through Friday. Another part of the site shows 10 am to 4 pm, so email info@bridgtonrailroad.org to confirm before you go.
How much does the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum cost?
The museum does not post admission prices online. Email info@bridgtonrailroad.org or message the museum's Facebook page to ask about any fee or suggested donation before your visit. Memberships, which support the museum's work, are offered on its website.
What was the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad?
The Bridgton and Saco River Railroad was a two-foot narrow gauge line established in 1882. It connected Bridgton with Hiram, where it met the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad, later the Maine Central's Mountain Division, near the Saco River. It was an important link for the Bridgton and Lakes Region area.
What does two-foot narrow gauge mean?
It means the rails were set only two feet apart, much narrower than the standard gauge used on most American railroads. At Hiram, freight had to be transferred between narrow gauge and standard gauge cars on parallel sidings, because the cars could not run on each other's tracks.
When did the Maine Central take over the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad?
By mid-July 1912 the Maine Central had purchased a majority of the railroad's shares and taken control. That came less than a year after the Maine Central acquired the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad, which was the largest two-foot line in Maine.
When was the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum founded?
The museum was formed in 2020. It is one of the younger rail organizations in Maine, focused on preserving the history of Bridgton's narrow gauge railroad and working toward restoration goals that it shares through news posts and project milestones on its website.
What is the Bridgton and Harrison Railway?
The Bridgton and Harrison Railway is the other railroad name the museum preserves alongside the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad, as part of the same local narrow gauge story. The museum's history pages and online archive are the best place to read more about it.
What is in the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum collection?
The museum's website lists sections on historic locomotives, historic passenger cars and its collection, along with photographs such as the William Shelley Collection of negatives. It does not describe each display online, so ask by email what is currently on view at Main Street.
What is the B&SR #9 project?
B&SR #9 is listed among the museum's project milestones on its website, along with a land development project. The museum shares progress through news posts and its Facebook page. For the latest details on the project, check those pages or email info@bridgtonrailroad.org.
Can you ride a train at the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum?
The museum does not advertise train rides. For a ride on two-foot gauge track, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum in Portland is about 35 miles away, and the Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway, New Hampshire, is about 21 miles away.
Is the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum good for kids?
Kids who love trains may enjoy the idea of a railroad built at two-foot gauge, smaller than regular trains. The museum does not list children's programs online, so email ahead to ask what younger visitors can see, and consider pairing the visit with a train ride nearby.
Is the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not post accessibility details online. If anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or stroller, email info@bridgtonrailroad.org before visiting to ask about steps, entrances and space inside the Main Street location. Volunteers can tell you what to expect before you make the drive.
Does the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum have an online archive?
Yes. The museum's website includes an online archive and a photo gallery about the narrow gauge railroad. They are a good resource for researchers and for families who want to look at old photographs of the line before or after a visit.
How can I support the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum?
The museum offers memberships and an online shop on its website, along with a Support Us section for its restoration and land development projects. To volunteer or donate artifacts or photos, email info@bridgtonrailroad.org and ask how you can help.
How do I contact the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum?
Email info@bridgtonrailroad.org or use the message form on the contact page of bridgtonrailroad.org. The museum does not list a phone number online. Its Facebook page is also active and is a good place to send a quick question or check for news.
Does the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum hold events?
The museum's website has an Upcoming Events page, but no specific recurring events are described there in detail. Check that page and the museum's Facebook page for current listings, or email info@bridgtonrailroad.org to ask what is planned.
How long should I plan at the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum?
The museum does not suggest a visit length online. Since it is a small, young museum on Main Street, many visitors will likely combine it with other stops in Bridgton. Email ahead to ask what is on display so you can plan your time.
What train attractions are near the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum?
The Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway, New Hampshire, is about 21 miles away, and the Mount Washington Cog Railway is about 34 miles. In Portland, about 35 miles away, are the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum and other historic rail exhibits.
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