Intervale Station

                        researched and written by Scotty Mallett

Intervale Station, located 64.4 miles from Portland, Maine, was originally named Intervale Junction. It was a junction point between the Maine Central and Boston and Maine Railroads. The information on the beginning and operations of this depot are sparse to say the least.

However, what is known is that the Intervale Station was the crew change point for the famed “Mountaineer” that came up from Boston to Intervale. Once the train crews swapped, the B&M crew would stay in a caboose on a sidetrack waiting for the return of their equipment.

Here is some more information from Dwight Smith, former owner of Conway Scenic Railroad: "The railroad station at Intervale, NH was served by both the Maine Central and Boston & Maine Railroads.

The final Maine Central passenger train was on the date the MeC discontinued rail passenger service between Portland, ME and St. Johnsbury, VT. (1958)

I’m not sure when the B&M ended service to Intervale, but the final B&M passenger train from Boston to North Conway was a RPO/Express/Coach Budd-liner about 1960.  (What's a Buddliner, you ask?  Picture at right)

​

The MeC and B&M occasionally interchanged freight cars at Intervale, which included tank cars of petroleum products that originated in Portland, destined to Conway, NH.

With the establishment of Conway Scenic RR (1974) and until the end of Maine Central service to Intervale (1958) second-hand passenger and freight cars plus carloads of coal were interchanged from the MeC to the CSRR.

Today (2019) Passenger Trains of Conway Scenic Railroad running between North Conway and Bartlett, Crawford Notch, Fabyans, and the MeC bridge over the Saco are utilizing former Maine Central RR tracks that passes through Bartlett and makes connections to the former B&M tracks at “Mountain Junction” in Portland Maine."

​

The sidings at Intervale could hold a maximum of 41 cars. There was also a freight house next to the station. The freight house is now located at the Kearsarge Cemetery, functioning as an equipment shed.  The station closed on August 17, 1958. It survived as a private dwelling and in the late 1980’s it was moved off site and incorporated into a 2 storied private home in the Intervale area.

P.S. We know that the Intervale Depot was located on the North Conway side of Intervale but as it was in throwing distance of the Bartlett town line and it was the first depot to be built after the year hiatus in building the line, we thought we would throw this in for free.

​

Additional Information:  MOUNTAIN DIVISION RAIL STUDY REPORT ON POTENTIAL USES AND IMPLEMENTATION COSTS