Alna Center was the WW&F's second station on the line, after Sheepscot Station. Like Sheepscot, this station was also a flag stop, servicing the center of town, about a half mile to the east. The station here was built to greatly resemble the Sheepscot station, a simple one-room building. The station was thought to be originally located in another location, further north. It was then moved to the location it was known to be at in later years, milepost 6.4, on the east side of the tracks. Some time after abandonment the station was moved again to the western side of the right-of-way, possibly by area children.
Although hard to find in the summer time, the right of way between Humason Brook Trestle and Alna Center is clearly defined. Recent clearing of the roadbed has made it possible to hike from Sheepscot to Alna Center easily, although the hiker must be careful of washouts between the Trestle and Alna Center. The area where the station was used to be a field many years ago, next to the town road. Parts of the road and field have grown in with trees since then, but the right-of-way still passes through a good sized field right to the north of the original site.
| Looking south toward Wiscasset. The old station was just to the left of the walking people. |
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| Looking north toward Albion. The station was behind the photographer. The roadbed runs straight through the field toward the big tree; a careful observer at the site can make out the old ditches. |
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Beyond Alna Center, the railroad continued north for approximately another half mile before reaching the area known as "Carleton's Grade" or "The Mountain." The Mountain was the WW&F's ruling grade, consisting of a 4 to 5 percent grade for about a mile where the railroad descended from the tableland of Alna back down to right alongside the Sheepscot river. Often trains had to get a good run to get up the hill. Others doubled the hill, taking part of the train up, sticking it on a siding at the top, and coming back for the rest. The right-of-way between the foot of Carleton's Grade and Alna Center is in very good shape. Hiking up the grade is quite easy, as the roadbed's been used in the past as a logger's road, although there are a few spots that haven't been cleared and those are tough walking at times.
| Looking south, upgrade on "The Mountain." |
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North of The Mountain, the roadbed crosses Carleton's Stream, over which ran a trestle that was the sight of the "Mason's Wreck." North of that, the roadbed crosses Rt. 218 and follows the river into Head Tide.
Go back to Sheepscot to Whitefield Map (Map 2).
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