Jonathan Wells and the WN&P Division
Jonathan Wells, Pan Am locomotive engineer, spoke at the April 13, 2019 meeting of the B&MRRHS. Staff photo.
Lowell, April 13, 2019 — Pan Am locomotive engineer Jonathan Wells presented an illustrated talk on the B&M’s Worcester, Nashua & Portland Division at the Society’s meeting at Rogers Hall, Lowell, today. Jonathan explained that the division was the outcome of a plan by the Portland and Rochester Railroad to outflank the Boston & Maine and the Maine Central Railroads.
Jonathan’s talk combined antique views of the WN&P Division in its active days with modern day shots of the former right of way. The latter abounds with physical remnants of the B&M, predecessors Portland and Rochester and Worcester, Nashua & Rochester, and successor Sanford and Eastern. At its high point there were over 158 train movements a day over the WN&P.
Mr. Wells, who resides in Ocean Park, Me., has seen service in Portsmouth, on the Billerica switcher, on the old Newburyport Branch, and PO-3 and LA-1 locals out of Portland and Lawrence respectively. He is involved with the group that purchased and restored the former Sandown, N.H. depot. This country station is now a museum that commemorates the entire WN&P Division.
Our next membership meeting will take place in Plymouth, N.H. on May 11, when noted New England railway photographer and historian, Robert Willoughby Jones, will show and discuss color slides featuring the B&M RR from the 1930s onward.
