Portland's Polar Express is operated by the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, on two-foot gauge trackage along the city's Eastern Promenade. During the holiday season the trains typically operate four times daily, from Friday through Monday. These trips are very popular, and a good source of income for the museum, which needs the funds to restore and maintain its collection of historic, 2-foot railroad equipment from the Bridgton & Harrison, Monson, and Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroads.
In this view, Monson #4 hauls the Polar Express consist from the museum's headquarters to the Portland Marine Terminal, where the passengers will embark. In this consist are 6 coaches, two of which are original Maine, 2-foot equipment, and 4 are reproductions, which were built at Edaville Railroad in the 1960s. The caboose on the far end is an original Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes unit. All 7 cars of this train are outfitted to carry Polar Express patrons, and all are equipped with steam heat, for comfortable travel on frigid December days.
