Developer Forces Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad to Close Until April

The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad has been a huge success ever since it came to Portland's waterfront. It's a well-known tourist attraction during the summer and it transforms itself into the Polar Express as Christmas approaches. Now developers have told the railroad that they have to pull up tracks and close for three months.

Developers vs Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad

A developer is building a new condo and hotel that requires the railroad tracks to be dismantled and moved closer to the waterfront along with the Eastern Promenade trail all to make room for yet another development in Portland.

Originally the railroad was told that it would be a two-week closure and the board of directors for the Narrow Guage agreed to it. Then things got out of hand.

In an update on the closure on the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad website, Executive Director Griffin Bourassa said that the developer sent a letter telling the railroad that they would be closed for three months "whether we like it or not." He went on to say that that was at least how he read it.

READ MORE: Watch How The Conway Scenic Railroad Clears Snow From Their Tracks

So What Happens Next?

Needless to say, the railroad isn't happy about this. After a break in January, they are back up and running trains in February, but now they have to wait until April. The only good news is that this didn't happen during the dates the Polar Express was running.

My opinion is that this company is bullying the railroad. Either that, or it's a game of he said she said and the two sides should sit down and try and work this out if they can. In the meantime, can we just give building stuff in Portland a rest for a while?