Throwback photos: Portland’s train history across the decades

Apr. 28—Maine’s history with railroads dates back to the mid-1800s.

In Portland, the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth Railroad started running in 1942.

Fast forward to 2002. This was the year passenger service was restored, when Amtrak’s Downeaster started running from Portland to Boston, with stops in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Here are five photos that show Portland’s rich train history across five decades, starting with the ’30s.

See more photos of life in Maine from our archives here.

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