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By LYNN ASCRIZZI
Staff Writer 10/06/2007

enlarge Staff photo by David Leaming

PEOPLE POWER: Passengers push on a handle to rotate a turntable to align a locomotive to pull passenger cars for a fall foliage trip aboard the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad out of Unity.

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Staff Writer

On a hazy late-September day, about 70 tourists and railroad enthusiasts of all ages gathered at Unity Depot.Coming from distant towns in Maine and as far away as West Palm Beach, Fla., they were in Unity to hop on board the first, fall foliage rail excursion of the season, operated by the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad Preservation Society.

The two-hour, 30-mile, historic-nostalgic train ride was set to depart from the depot, chug on down the line to Burnham Junction, and then, head back to the station.

In pleasant weather, the open car offers the best, camera's-eye view of scenery. Except for the charming depot, located fittingly enough on Depot Street, most of the excursion is not tourist-brochure glamorous.

Instead, what passengers get is the real deal -- a true-to-life train ride that takes you back to the '60s and earlier, complete with whistle blasts, the rhythmic swaying and clickety-clack of heavy cars rolling over rails and strong whiffs of diesel fuel.

Also, the relatively flat terrain along the line does not offer breathtaking views of distant mountains and valleys. Rather, you'll see scenic glimpses of Lake Winnecook, including the backyards of several camps set along its shoreline and a long stretch of wetlands dotted with bright patches of water, dead trees and swamp maples afire with autumn reds and golds.

Overall, the virtually litter-free scenery has a hobo-like beauty, all the more pleasing because of its unspoiled authenticity.

The reconstructed train station and its original depot, now offers visitors a railroad museum and gift shop.

Inside, while a large model train rolls overhead on a circular track mounted near the ceiling, visitors can peer at a gleaming collection of vintage railroad lanterns, Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad (B&MLRR) train schedules, ticket punches, and more.

Idling noisily down the track that afternoon was old No. 50, a late 1940's, GE 70-ton diesel -- one of two workhorse engines to pull cars.

"Stay back on this side of the line," said conductor Bernie Mccaslin of Winslow, with a smile, as he gestured to a few passengers to move to the other side of a yellow line painted on the boarding platform.

Mccaslin, 75, a retired Waterville insurance agent, has been conductor on the railroad tours for eight years. Dressed in his black conductor's vest, black pants and conductor's cap, his easy-going, professional manner made him perfectly cast for the role.

"This vest -- my wife made it," he said, of Norma Mccaslin. "It's a real conductor's cap. Want to touch it?" he said jokingly.

Deanna and Thomas King of Shawmut were taking their 2-year-old granddaughter, Elizabeth, on her first train ride.

"Have you read the book on Thomas the train?" Mccaslin asked the little girl.

"Oh, I should read her the story!" said Deanna King of the classic children's book, "Thomas the Tank Engine."

Before passengers got on board, Mccaslin gave a turntable demonstration in front of the station.

"The turntable can be turned by hand. Appropriately, its called an 'Armstrong Turntable.' The turntable must be perfectly balanced. It's mounted on a ball bearing the size of a grapefruit," he said.

After No. 50 slowly rumbled onto the turntable, volunteers, including a couple of children, pushed against a wooden turnstile at one end of the track. Amazingly, it took only a few people to push the roughly 140-ton engine in a circle and reverse its direction.

TRAIN BUFFS

Taking the tour were 12 members of the Muskie Center/Senior Spectrum in Waterville and 12 members of VFW Auxiliary No. 9429 of West Enfield. And, there were at least a dozen or so young children.

"I've been looking on the Internet for a train ride," said Susanna Rice of Whitefield, toting her 2-year-old son, John.

"Twain wide! Bye-bye!" said John, waving.

"I haven't been on a train since 1954," said Muriel Spearin, 86, of Howland, as she got on board.

Kippy Rolfe of Winter Harbor had donned a striped engineer's hat.

"I'm a big train fan. I have HO-size model trains. This is the third time I've taken the trip," he said. With him that day was Neal Horning of Cincinnati and Winter Harbor.

"It's a real nice train," said Horning, also on a repeat visit. "As a train buff, I like the old engines. It's kind of unique -- to see the real thing -- engines built in that era."

The two diesel engines on this trip were slated to do a push-pull operation. They were coupled to each end of the string of heated and air-conditioned cars, which included two passenger cars, a dining car and an open, fenced car fitted with picnic tables. The dining car sold hot dogs, chips, soda and wine. No smoking is allowed anywhere on the train.

"I love the sound of those old engines," said Horning, standing in the open car near the engine. From his vantage, he had a perfect view of the cab and its engineer at the throttle.

Lynn Ascrizzi -- 621-5731

lascrizzi@centralmaine.com

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