By Gail Geraghty

Staff Writer

The Narrow Gauge Railroad will be taking back possession of the two train cars now stationed in front of the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce building on Portland Road. Railroad Executive Director Donny Carroll told the chamber the cars will be removed on Friday, July 11, between 7:30 and 8 a.m., and taken to their new museum, located in Gray.

The cars were installed on loan in front of the chamber office with much fanfare in 2009 by Bill Shelley, the primary backer of a movement to convince the Narrow Gauge Railroad to relocate their Portland operation to Bridgton. Shelley believed Bridgton was the best choice because the Narrow Gauge line once went through Bridgton, with a depot on Depot Street at the former Memorial School, that includes a long stretch of the original rail bed, still intact.

Narrow Gauge officials will also be bringing a “track guy” to remove the rails the train cars are sitting on, said Chamber Executive Director Sue Mercer. “This will be an historic event!” she said. Mercer added that once the cars are gone, the chamber plans to landscape the area out front.