Finally! Wheelz in Maine – Part Three

The hunt would end for cars to write about in Maine eventually, I just knew it. Little did I know it would be at the Boothbay Railway Village in Boothbay, ME. Transportation tends to group itself together and this gem brought forth exactly that. Finding it was like discovering a diamond in the rough.

The quaint and unassuming Boothbay Railway Village boasts a hearty mission,

“The Mission of the Railway Village Museum is to conserve, display and interpret artifacts, authentic period structures and technologies utilized in Maine during the historical period of the Mid-19th through the Mid-20th Centuries.” railwayvillage.org 8/26/22

Nestled in the back of the property, behind period buildings brought to the museum from all around Maine, lies #23 on the Boothbay Railway Village exhibit map. Titled “Antique Auto Museum”, it is reached by train or by foot. We chose by train on the way up, on foot for the way down stopping briefly to admire the sights and goats. Yes, goats.

Tydol wasn’t the only petrol pump that greeted us as we entered #23. Red Crown, Blue Sunoco, Mobilgas, Texaco Fire-Chief, and another tall orange Tydol dotted the landscape as we strolled the metal mecca. Insulated to the hilt, due to the frigid Maine winters, the children were nestled all snug in their beds. The cool, cloudy Maine day allowed for the main door of the building to remain ajar and beckoned us to enter.

Many of the pumps looked as if they were candidates for styling the modern day car lover’s rec room, garagemahal or tricked out man-cave. Imagining them in front of a “Radiator Springs” gas station seemed easy.

On loan from Robert Oasterman, Essex, MA, this 1921 Studebaker was definitely “Special”!

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” starring Steve Martin and John Candy was one of my favorite movies and having all three in one place in Boothbay came as a delight. The John Hughes film is pure comedic genius. Click the link if you haven’t seen it yet!

From an open air 1902 Rambler to planes on the ceiling, eye candy was everywhere for the classic car/transportation enthusiast to indulge upon.

Model Ts were well represented as this lineup of “station wagons” filed into the middle of building #23.

Lurking in a dark corner was this gorgeous 1928 Maxim Fire Truck courtesy of the Newcastle, ME Fire Department. Not sure why it was carrying a piano on the end…maybe a parade was in mind!

A few years ago I did an interview with our neighbor and friend Dan Jarrett highlighting his Cadillac, fondly named Cadzilla (click here to read that story). What better picture to take and send to him than this 1940 Cadillac Series 75 7 Passenger Limousine! Be sure to read the information card to garner all the details about this beauty!

Last but not least the epitome of glamour and sporting one of the most unique hood ornaments I’ve ever seen, stands the 1938 Packard Club Sedan. On loan, this New Hampshire antique car is only one of seven remaining out of the 244 originally produced. It’s unique color and that hood ornament drew my eye. Maybe it will draw yours too. The Cormorant bird was taken from the top of the Packard family crest. (Packardclub.org 8/30/22)

Now, with the Boothbay Railway Village cars under our belt, I will close this chapter on Maine. Maybe you’ve been tuning in all along and have read Wheelz in Maine Part One and also Wheelz in Maine Part Two, if you haven’t just click these links to catch up!

Going to Maine with fifty senior citizens by charter bus isn’t for everyone, but the friends we made and the good time had by all sure makes for stories to tell and thoughts of another trip possible. Senior travel can be very interesting, and rewarding.

Give it a try!

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