The beginnings of the Maine Central Railroad start with the charter of the Androscoggin & Kennebec Railroad to connect Danville and Waterville in 1845 (this happend to be at the same time as the Atlantic & St. Lawrence Railroad). A second charter was issued for the Penobscot & Kennebec later in 1945 to extend the line from Waterville to Bangor. Because the only interchange at the time was the Atlantic & St. Lawrence at Danville, the rail line to Bangor was built with the matching "Portland Guage" track width of 5 feet, 6 inches. The railroad reached Waterville in 1849 and Bangor in 1855. Since the two railroads operated together a merger was attmepted in 1856, but due to stipulations required by the State of Maine on the merger the Androscoggin & Kennebec ended up leasing the Penobscot & Kennebec Railroad. The two finally merged in 1862, with the new company being called the Maine Central Railroad. With increasing interchange traffic for Boston and the rest of New England, the railroad converted to standard guage in 1871. The Maine Central served northern New England until 1981 when it was purchased by Guilford Transportation Industries.

Predecessor Railroads • Corporate Timeline • Routes and Stations • Digital Collection

Predecessor Companies by Name Change, Reorganization or Merger

Sebasticook and Moosehead Railroad Company

1886 to 1911, Merged

Somerset Railway Company

1904 to 1911, Merged

Washington County Railway Company

1903 to 1911, Merged

Knox and Lincoln Railway

1891 to 1901, Merged

Leeds and Farmington Railroad Company

1865 to 1874, Consolidated

Portland and Kennebec Railroad Company

1862 to 1874, Consolidated

Somerset and Kennebec Railroad Company

1848 to 1874, Consolidated

Androscoggin and Kennebec Railroad Company

1845 to 1862, Consolidated

Penobscot and Kennebec Railroad Company

1845 to 1862, Consolidated

Timeline

Click on the icon for source information.

April 1, 1856

Maine Central Railroad Company incorporates by private act of the State of Maine.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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October 28, 1862

Androscoggin and Kennebec Railroad Company and Penobscot and Kennebec Railroad Company consolidate to form Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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May 10, 1871

Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad Company property is leased to Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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November 16, 1874

Leeds and Farmington Railroad Company consolidates with Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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November 16, 1874

Portland and Kennebec Railroad Company consolidates with Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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November 16, 1874

Somerset and Kennebec Railroad Company consolidates with Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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October 25, 1888

Maine Shore Line Railroad Company is sold to Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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December 13, 1888

Dexter and Piscataquis Railroad Company is leased to and operated by Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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May 1, 1890

Upper Coos Railroad (New Hampshire) property is leased to and operated by Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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February 20, 1901

Knox and Lincoln Railway merges with Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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May 1, 1907

Portland and Rumford Falls Railroad property is leased to Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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September 13, 1910

Sebasticook and Moosehead Railroad Company is sold to Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

Close

July 1, 1911

Sebasticook and Moosehead Railroad Company merges with Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

Close

July 1, 1911

Somerset Railway Company merges with Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

Close

July 1, 1911

Washington County Railway Company merges with Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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August 19, 1911

Androscoggin Railroad Company is sold to Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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October 27, 1914

Rangeley Lakes and Megantic Railroad Company is sold to Maine Central Railroad Company.

Citation

×

United States, Interstate Commerce Commission. "Maine Central Railroad Company." In Interstate Commerce Commission Reports: Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, 357-513. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1931.

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December 10, 1980

Maine Central Railroad Company and wholly owned subsidiary Portland Terminal Company are acquired by U.S. Filter Corporation.

Citation

×

Ron Johnson. "1960-1984 An Important Bridge Route." In Maine Central Railroad Mountain Division, 153-196. South Portland, ME: 470 Railroad Club, 0.

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June 16, 1981

Maine Central Railroad Company and wholly owned subsidiary Portland Terminal Company are acquired by Guilford Transportation Industries, Inc.

Citation

×

Christopher T. Baer. "1980-1989." A General Chronology of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company its Predecessors and Successors and its Historical Context. 4-0-2015. http://www.prrths.com/newprr_files/Hagley/PRR1980.pdf.

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1987

Guilford Transportation Industries, Inc. leases its Maine Central Railroad Company and Portland Terminal Company properties to Springfield Terminal Railway Company.

Citation

×

Christopher T. Baer. "1980-1989." A General Chronology of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company its Predecessors and Successors and its Historical Context. 4-0-2015. http://www.prrths.com/newprr_files/Hagley/PRR1980.pdf.

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Routes and Stations

• 1917
• 1919
• 1927
• 1928
• 1929
• 1933
• 1938

List of All Maine Central Railroad Company Stations

Images and Artifacts

768 items found, showing 8 of 768.

External Links

These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or approval of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual.

• Maine Central Railroad Historical Society
• Pan Am Railways