About Us

Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust

The mission of the Trust is to celebrate and preserve the railroad history of Downeast Maine. Our immediate and primary goal is to develop the Downeast Scenic Railroad for the education, enlightenment, and enjoyment of future generations.

“There are very few heritage railroad projects—new or existing—which have the strengths and potential that the Downeast Scenic Railroad has.” John Hankey, Former Curator, B & O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, Maryland.


Analysis of the DRHPT’s potential by Stone Consulting, Inc. shows that upon the start of full operations from Ellsworth to Green Lake, the Downeast Scenic Railroad is projected to:

– Generate $5M per year for the local economy
– Create approximately 200 combined direct and indirect jobs
– Become self-sustaining after the second year of full operations
– Have ridership totals of approximately 72,000 people per year

The Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. All donations to the DRHPT are tax-deductible to the extent the law allows. Our office is located in Bar Harbor, Maine.

The Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust, Inc., does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

New England Steam Corp.

New England Steam Corporation (NESCo) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration and operation of Maine Central steam locomotive #470. As an education-based organization, NESCo strives to revive vanishing trades and skills through on-the-job training and distribution of technical knowledge. Safety and quality work are NESCo’s top priorities in getting #470 back to running on the rails.

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