The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum is raising funds to build a new storage facility in Portland, Maine, after its previous shop building was demolished by developers.

The nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of Maine’s famed 2-footers is looking to raise $100,000 for the new structure. Construction will begin once the money has been raised and the museum receives the final permits from the City of Portland. The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad has called the Portland waterfront home since the 1990s, when the historic collection of narrow gauge equipment came “home” after a half-century at Massachusetts’ Edaville Railroad. New developments along the waterfront, however, have affected the railroad museum.

Because the railroad does not have an easily accessible storage facility, it is unable to operate its largest steam locomotive, Bridgton & Saco River 2-4-4T 7, very often; it must either be wrapped up to protect it from the elements or stored off-site. Donations for the new building can be made online at mainenarrowgauge.org/buildingsteam.

The locomotive will, however, be running in early May as part of a weekend of steam-powered events across the state of Maine. In Portland, locomotive 7 will lead excursions on May 9 and 10. Meanwhile, at the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum in Alna, Monson 0-4-4T 3 will be taking part in a photographer’s special the afternoon of May 9. The WW&F’s own locomotive, 0-4-4T 9, will also be under steam. Tickets for the WW&F events can be purchased at WWFRy.org, while those for the excursions in Portland will be at MaineNarrowGauge.org. Proceeds from the events in Portland and Alna will go toward the restoration of two other Maine 2-foot gauge locomotives: Monson 4 and B&SR 8, both owned by Maine Narrow Gauge.

—Justin Franz