the Portland-Lewiston Interurban 

[click images to enlarge]

Photo: Portland Lewiston Interurban car #10 bound for Portland at the Grand Trunk Lewiston Branch crossing at Littlefields, (Auburn). Richard E. Trask (Conductor?), Arthur F. Buchanan, Motorman. Approximately 1932, near the end of the Interurban's operation. (Photo: George King Jr. /O.R. Cummings collection. Published in book "Grand Trunk 713 and the Lewiston Branch" by Robertson And Davis, 1994.)

Many today perhaps feel that an efficient, clean and relatively speedy, (up to 60 mph), mode of transportation such as this, built almost a century ago, was a mistake to abandon...

I started on this little project because of an interest in aerial and satellite photography, passenger transportation, and abandoned infrastructure.

I had heard of the Interurban, but knew very little about it. It might be predictable that I took an interest since I was also born in Lewiston and now live in Portland, not far from the old Interurban terminus. (Both the Lewiston and Portland terminals have recently been renovated for reuse.)

What I find interesting about aerial and satellite photography is how things often reveal themselves from the air that one can't see from the ground.

When I started perusing Google satellite maps, (actually thru the more responsive Flash Earth ), the route started revealing itself...

Enjoy an old cartoon reel featuring an Interurban;
The Toonerville Trolley. It even features a passenger with a New England accent. (circa 1935)
( Video running time 7:31 )