Maine | Scanner Master Blog

If you like trains and railroading, like I do, bring your scanner with you the next time you take a train trip. It will give you an exciting behind the scenes look at railroading!

Downeast Scenic Railroad
Ellsworth, ME

Over my Fourth of July Vacation I spend some time camping in Bar Harbor, Maine. Where I found the Downeast Scenic Railroad. On Saturday or Sunday you may see the Black and Red 1948 diesel engine, green vintage passenger cars and red caboose running alongside you as you travel on Route 3/1 in Ellsworth, Maine.

Tickets and Boarding the Downeast!
You can pick up tickets at Cadillac Mountain Sports located on 34 High St in Ellsworth, Maine and you can board the train directly behind the store. Check Downeast Scenic Railroad website for train schedule.

Taking a ride of the Historic Calais Branch Line Along this ten mile 90 minute trip along the historical Calais Brach Line you will learn about the local manufacturing and see many forms of Maine’s wildlife from Moose to Bald Eagles, from deer to snapping turtles.

My Family and I boarded the Saturday 1:30 PM train, pulled by Engine #54 1948 General Electric Locomotive (Formerly owned by Belfast & Moosehead Railroad in Unity, Maine). Two Green Vintage Passenger cars and one open flat car completed the train set. We made our way to Ellsworth Falls then the engine switched directions on a run around track then making our way to Washington Junction the rail yard for Downeast Scenic Railroad. At Washington Junction Engine #54 made the run around again, to take us back to Ellsworth.

Great ride on a hot summer day in July, next time I’m in the Bar Harbor/Ellsworth area I will do this again for sure!

Run around at Ellsworth Falls

Run around at Washington Junction

Engine 1055 at Washington Junction

Caboose 2608, MOW Hopper Car, and Engine 53 in Washington Junction Yard

Washington Junction Yard Office and Dispatch

Sights along the line

Downeast Scenic Engine 54 heading back to Ellsworth

—

Extending the ride!
Downeast Scenic Railroad hope to one day restore the line all the way west to Brewer, Maine. – See Map

Scanning Downeast Scenic Railroad
If you’re staying in Ellsworth or railing the rails for the day, listen to all the railroad action on 160.5000 MHz.

Main Dispatch Commutations are on 160.5000 MHz [WQFL775]
They also have the following channels 161.0700, 161.2000, and 161.5200 MHz [WQFL775]

My Scanning Gear
Uniden BCD396XT with the stock antenna
Soft leather Case with Swivel

By Jonathan Higgins

Last weekend, the Higgins family took a road trip to Northern Maine to visit with family! Oh yes, cozy Maine, with its 60 plus lighthouses, 6,000 lakes, 32,000 miles of rivers, and digital communications systems. Yes, digital communications are coming to Maine! In past road trips to Maine I have that Biddeford Police used Project 25 (P25), in this trip I found more areas using digital. They are using a VHF conventional digital system:

Auburn Police – 159.1500 NAC 293
Augusta Police – 153.6275 NAC 770
Biddeford Police – 159.9450 NAC 51 (Dispatch),
and 156.2100 NAC 703 (Secondary)
Lewiston Police – 158.7900 NAC 293

Maine State Police
Soon the Maine State Police will be upgrading their Analog VHF conventional system to a new Project 25 VHF Digital trunking system called MSCommNet (Maine State Communications Network). Right now this system is in the planning stage. They hope to have this up and running by fall of 2012.

You can read more about this system on the Maine.gov website.
http://www.maine.gov/oit/services/radio/mscommnet/index.html

Handy Frequencies…
Maine Turn Pike Ops – 151.0700 CTCSS 107.2
Great channel to monitor for accidents, or lane closures. You can hear the motorist assistance trunks.

Railroad Buffs
A great place to stop anytime you’re making your way into Maine is the Seashore Trolley Museum, located in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Main Dispatch – 160.4700 CSQ
Secondary Channel – 160.5000 CSQ

Below is a photo of Wheeling Traction Co. #639
1924 Cincinnati Car Co.
Photo Taken by Jonathan Higgins
(Seashore Trolley Museum Members Day 2009)