Dear Sun Spots: Was there a train, the Flying Yankee, that went through Lewiston?

Some of my teen years were in Lewiston. I was a member of the Derby Club and am now pushing 85 and live in Brunswick. I retired from motor sales at 83 and had enjoyed buying and selling cars for a lot of years. – Paul Thibodeau, Brunswick.

Answer: Sun Spots is sure there are other readers out there who also fondly recall this train and might like to share some tales with you. In the meantime, Sun Spots has learned a lot about this train. You and other fans might consider checking out the following Web sites, where Sun Spots located the information below, www.flyingyankee.com, www.boston.com, ww.nashuacitystation.com, www.faracresfarm.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Yankee.

The Flying Yankee is an 8-cylinder, diesel-powered streamliner built in 1935 for the Maine Central Railroad and Boston and Maine Corporation by Budd Company, with mechanical and electrical equipment from General Motors. It cost $280,000 and was the third streamliner train in North America after the Union Pacific Railroad’s M-10000 and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad’s Pioneer Zephyr. It was built to help bolster sagging passenger traffic.

According to www.rootsweb.com/~mecwales./traintext.html, it caused quite the stir when it arrived in Leeds Junction to turn around after its debut visit to Lewiston. The train was delivered in February 1935, and toured the BM-MEC railroad before entering service on April 1. It was christened by water from Lake Sebago. Its route was 750 miles a day that looped from Portland to Boston to Bangor and back. The schedule was kept for six days a week and Sunday’s were for maintenance.

Sad to say, railroad passenger ridership dropped in the 1950s with the explosion of car ownership as well as the beginning of the building of the interstate highway system. Besides, the Yankee was getting old. It made its last run May 7, 1957, and retired to a museum operation in Carver, Mass. It remained there for 40 years, purchased by New Hampshire businessman Robert Morrell for $200,000 in 1993. He donated the train to the state and restoration efforts began. The Flying Yankee is now owned by the state of New Hampshire and has been housed at the HOBO Railroad in Lincoln, N.H., for complete restoration since Aug. 10, 2005. The Flying Yankee Restoration Group (P.O. Box 145, North Woodstock, 603-745-3974) hopes to complete those restorations by July 2009 and raise the $2.6 million needed to pay for it.

You and other Flying Yankee fans might be thrilled to note that according to the restoration group’s site, www.flyingyankee.com, there will be a chance to enjoy a guided tour of the Flying Yankee next month. Two Rail Fans Dinner Trains are being held Sept. 8 and 15. Turkey dinners will be served and the train departs Hobo Junction at 5 p.m. To view the Flying Yankee, be sure to arrive early. You can reach Hobo Railroad at 603-745-2135.

Dear Sun Spots: I am wondering if readers might have any baseball or softball equipment that is just laying around, waiting for another chance to be used?

If so, the Lewiston Auburn Rotary Club has great news for you. We happen to know some kids, all ages, who would just love the chance to play this sport. Unfortunately they don’t have the means to buy these items. Please search in your hearts and your attics to see if you have any of these items and would like to help us help those in need.

Please contact Ed Plourde of Bates College at 786-6178, or home at 782-0194. Alternatively you may also contact me at 458-2832 or home at 582-3339. – Gary Kennedy, Chelsea.

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