By Dakota Doyle
Top photo: Train at Scarborough Beach Station, circa 1900. Photo of Scarborough Historical Society.
In the mid-1830s, the Maine legislature established the Portland, Saco, & Portsmouth Railroad (PS&P). Spanning over 50 miles, the route connected Southern Maine (including the town of Scarborough) to surrounding areas, and met up with the already established Eastern Railroad. When the route opened in 1842, it allowed people from towns like Scarborough to have improved access to cities like Boston. Before the railroad, the only means of travel included riding horseback, taking a ship, or a stagecoach. Railroad stops in Scarborough could be found from the beaches to well-known areas like Oak Hill, allowing for easy travel across the town.
Growing Tourism
As the PS&P line was fully established, the connection between areas like Boston to Scarborough allowed for the growth of tourism. As the beautiful beaches of Scarborough, including Pine Point, gained immense popularity among the New England population, a trolley system was implemented to transport tourists from the railroad stations. The trolley allowed the public transportation in the area to thrive, and because of this Scarborough grew as a booming summer location from the beaches to the peninsula of Prouts Neck–and it remains one to this day.
Railroad Locations: Scarborough Historical Society
Even though the land and terrain of Scarborough have shifted greatly since the development of the railroad, one can still find lost bits of the railroad around town. One of the most significant reminders is the Scarborough Historical Society. One of the historical society’s buildings on Route 1 in Dunstan Village was constructed in 1911 by the Portland Railroad Company as a substation that provided power to the trolleys. It was acquired by the historical society in 1961. In 1991, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. To this day, the words “Portland R.R.CO. 1911” can be seen when visiting the Scarborough Historical Society.
Railroad Tracks: The Eastern Trail
The largest reminder of the railroad is the Eastern Trail. Running through Scarborough, the Eastern Trail is a connector between Old Orchard Beach, South Portland, and so many more––much like the railroad from the past. With people biking, running, and walking along the trail, it serves as a true piece of history. The name itself, the Eastern Trail, is an ode to the Eastern Railroad that partnered with PS&P to connect Massachusetts to Maine. Similar to the Scarborough Historical Society, it was the people living in Scarborough in the 1990s who established the trail along the abandoned railroad tracks, allowing the memory of the route to be saved.
Long-lasting Effects
Even though the railroad has long disappeared, it is essential to the Scarborough of today. The railroad allowed for the town to grow economically and rise as a perfect summer destination. As Route 1 returns to its busy glory every summer, with roads packed and traffic slowing, locals every year question how it can be improved. Could there be a solution to cafes with full parking lots and hectic beach locations? The return of public transportation could be a solution, with a trolley bringing tourists around Scarborough, the town could truly flourish as a place to have a perfect summer day.
Dakota Doyle is a Scarborough High School student with an interest in both English and history; both of which she hopes to study in college.
