FARMINGTON — A 2009 collectible mug depicting a piece of Farmington’s history is available at Sugarwood Gallery and Calico Patch.

The Farmington Historical Society’s second mug in a series of five showcases C.R. (Bob) Tyler’s artwork. This year’s picture is from the watercolor titled, “A Contrast Between Standard Gauge and Narrow Gauge Trains in Farmington Station circa 1918.” It shows standard gauge rails approximately 4 feet, 9 inches apart and the narrow gauge rails that are 2 feet apart.

The watercolor shows Maine Central Railroad engine No. 284 and the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes narrow gauge engine No. 17 at the Farmington depot, which was on Front Street. The depot was moved back from the road to its present location in the 1990s and houses small businesses and offices. In the background, the former F.L. Butler Restaurant can be seen, now the site of Western Maine Financial Services.

The Maine Central RR arrived in West Farmington in 1859 and crossed the Sandy River in 1870. A narrow gauge rail system was bought from Billerica, Mass., and installed between the Farmington depot and Phillips in 1879. By 1900, Maine had the most extensive 2-foot (narrow gauge) system in the country. The foundation of that system was the Sandy River Railroad. More than 100 miles of track was home to 10 engines, more than 300 freight cars, six coaches and two postal baggage cars.

The railroad brought goods north, as well as tourists for the famed fishing in the Rangeley Lakes area. Rail branches from  Dead River, Bigelow, Mt. Abram and Strong brought lumber and wood products south.

Farmington became the hub of rail commerce, transporting goods in to help feed the growing tourism and lumbering businesses. The rails transported farm products such as eggs, cattle, apples and corn to markets in Boston. One newspaper article states that there was “an average of 5,000 full car (standard) loads a month which required 32 men and a switching engine to handle this business at Farmington.”

The growing number of automobiles brought the Sandy River Railroad to its end in 1935. The Maine Central’s last passenger car left Farmington in April 1957. Freight service continued until 1974.

Tyler was a well-known artist with Knowlton McLeary printers for 35 years. He combined his love of history and art by creating many paintings of Farmington history. The Farmington Historical Society recognizes the support of Tyler’s daughter, Tori, and his grandson in providing the artwork for these mugs.

Mugs are $14.95 and include a card with a description of the picture as well as a short biography of C.R. Tyler. For more information, call Taffy Davis 207-778-4275 or e-mail [email protected]

The second mug in a series of five offered by the Farmington Historical Society is now available at Sugarwood Gallery and Calico Patch in Farmington. Taffy Davis displays one of the mugs featuring the artwork of C.R. Tyler.