Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 10 : Fall 2011 | Page 28

were powered in the 550 to
660 volt range. Doubling
the AVRR’s power was
intended to provide electric
muscle for the dreamed of
freight service to Quebec.
Most
railroads
made money on the freight
business and lost money on
the passenger business. The
AVRR was no exception.
Having Granville Allen as
the all- around passenger
employee, reduced platform
costs.
Granville
Allen
was the public face of the
company. Mr. Allen’s work
place was in either car No.
70 or 71. For twenty-five
years, he ran the interurban
cars. From his post behind
the massive controller, he
was the motorman. At car
stops, as the conductor, he
boarded passengers and
lifted tickets. When there
was express to be handled,
he was the baggage man. At
switches, he was the switch
tender.
This work was
28 Our Railroad Lives FALL 2011

performed in his all purpose
uniform of overalls and cap.
hen passenger service
W
ended August 7, 1946,
the passenger car’s future
looked like a trip to the
scrapper. A year later, Nos.
70, 71 and baggage-express
car No. 52 were purchased
by the Seashore Trolley
Museum. They were taken
to the Billerica Shops
of the Boston & Maine
Railroad for storage until
1959. Then they returned
to their home state and
safety in Kennebunkport.
No. 70 has had an exterior
restoration and displays
a shiny Canadian Pacific
Railroad maroon paint
job.
The interior is a
work in progress to say the
least. Earlier, No. 70 was
used in an annual Ghost
Trolley operation, due to
the deteriorated interior
condition. With the exterior
work near completion,
attention is being focused
on the interior.