The Atlantic Shore Line (ASL) was an electric trolley line providing passenger and freight service to many towns in York County, Maine, in the United States. The ASL was the second-longest trolley line in Maine, encompassing over 87 miles (140 km) of track.
A charter for the Atlantic Shore Line Electric Railroad was first issued in March 1893 by the Maine legislature. The charter allowed for the building of an electric railroad from Biddeford, through the towns of Kennebunkport and Wells, to York Beach.[1] In October 1899, articles of association were filed for the Atlantic Shore Line Railway by a group which included officers of the Mousam River Railroad and the Sanford & Cape Porpoise Railway. The charter of the railroad was approved on February 9, 1900, following a hearing at the State House in Augusta.[2]
Route
From the Town House Square carbarn in Kennebunkport (the site currently across the street from the Kennebunkport Historical Society), ASL trolley service connected Cape Porpoise, Kennebunkport, Biddeford, Kennebunk, Alfred, Sanford, Springvale, Wells, Ogunquit, York, York Beach, Kittery, Eliot and South Berwick. The line also connected with Dover, New Hampshire, through South Berwick and with Portsmouth, New Hampshire, via ferry service from Kittery (the ASL ferry "Kittery" was built in Kennebunkport in 1900).
Electricity was provided from a power plant at Kittery Point, which was originally built by the Sanford Power Company.[3]
Operations
Electric freight service continued until June 1949, when a small diesel locomotive replaced the electric locomotives.[4]
In 1939 the Seashore Electric Railway was formed with the intent to preserve electric cars for future operation.[5]
4 miles (6 km) of the ASL right-of-way between Town House Square and Biddeford off Log Cabin Road in Kennebunkport have been preserved by the Seashore Trolley Museum. The museum has developed its demonstration railway upon 2 miles (3 km) of the old right of way. The museum has also completed the restoration of electric locomotive ASL #100, the only remaining original piece of rolling stock[6] from the Atlantic Shore Line Railway system.
^Seashore Trolley Museum. . Archived from the original on 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
References
Cummings, Osmond Richard (1957). Atlantic Shore Line Railway: Its predecessors and its successors (pdf). National Railway Historical Society Inc. (Connecticut Valley Chapter). OCLC 20950874.
Cummings, Osmond Richard (1966). Atlantic Shore Line Trolleys (Bulletin no. 2 New England Electric Railway Historical Society). New England Electric Railway Historical Society. OCLC 14209608.
External links
Atlantic Shore Line Railway car, South Berwick, c. 1910
Atlantic Shore Line Railway locomotive, South Berwick, 1906
February 09, 2023
atlantic, shore, line, railway, confused, with, atlantic, coast, line, railroad, atlantic, shore, line, electric, trolley, line, providing, passenger, freight, service, many, towns, york, county, maine, united, states, second, longest, trolley, line, maine, en. Not to be confused with Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The Atlantic Shore Line ASL was an electric trolley line providing passenger and freight service to many towns in York County Maine in the United States The ASL was the second longest trolley line in Maine encompassing over 87 miles 140 km of track Atlantic Shore Line RailwayTypeTransportationIndustryInterurbanPredecessorMousam River Railroad Sanford and Cape Porpoise Railway Portsmouth Kittery and York Street Railway Portsmouth Dover and York Street Railway FoundedFebruary 9 1900 122 years ago 1900 02 09 Atlantic Shore Line locomotive 100 is preserved at the Seashore Trolley Museum Contents 1 Beginnings 2 Route 3 Operations 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 External linksBeginnings EditA charter for the Atlantic Shore Line Electric Railroad was first issued in March 1893 by the Maine legislature The charter allowed for the building of an electric railroad from Biddeford through the towns of Kennebunkport and Wells to York Beach 1 In October 1899 articles of association were filed for the Atlantic Shore Line Railway by a group which included officers of the Mousam River Railroad and the Sanford amp Cape Porpoise Railway The charter of the railroad was approved on February 9 1900 following a hearing at the State House in Augusta 2 Route EditFrom the Town House Square carbarn in Kennebunkport the site currently across the street from the Kennebunkport Historical Society ASL trolley service connected Cape Porpoise Kennebunkport Biddeford Kennebunk Alfred Sanford Springvale Wells Ogunquit York York Beach Kittery Eliot and South Berwick The line also connected with Dover New Hampshire through South Berwick and with Portsmouth New Hampshire via ferry service from Kittery the ASL ferry Kittery was built in Kennebunkport in 1900 Electricity was provided from a power plant at Kittery Point which was originally built by the Sanford Power Company 3 Operations EditElectric freight service continued until June 1949 when a small diesel locomotive replaced the electric locomotives 4 In 1939 the Seashore Electric Railway was formed with the intent to preserve electric cars for future operation 5 4 miles 6 km of the ASL right of way between Town House Square and Biddeford off Log Cabin Road in Kennebunkport have been preserved by the Seashore Trolley Museum The museum has developed its demonstration railway upon 2 miles 3 km of the old right of way The museum has also completed the restoration of electric locomotive ASL 100 the only remaining original piece of rolling stock 6 from the Atlantic Shore Line Railway system Footnotes Edit Cummings 1957 p 10 Cummings 1957 p 11 Cummings 1957 p 11 12 Cummings 1957 p 34 Cummings 1957 p 35 Seashore Trolley Museum Atlantic Shore Line Railway 100 Archived from the original on 2016 11 03 Retrieved 2016 11 02 References EditCummings Osmond Richard 1957 Atlantic Shore Line Railway Its predecessors and its successors pdf National Railway Historical Society Inc Connecticut Valley Chapter OCLC 20950874 Cummings Osmond Richard 1966 Atlantic Shore Line Trolleys Bulletin no 2 New England Electric Railway Historical Society New England Electric Railway Historical Society OCLC 14209608 External links EditAtlantic Shore Line Railway car South Berwick c 1910 Atlantic Shore Line Railway locomotive South Berwick 1906 Seashore Trolley Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Atlantic Shore Line Railway amp oldid 1110172358, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
