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The Jackman Railroad Station is a historical landmark located in the center of  town. It  housed the agent’s office, customs and immigration office, a waiting room, custom house brokerage company, storage room, bathrooms, and a second story apartment for the agent and his family.

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have many fond memories of sitting in the railroad station waiting room, waiting for the Via Rail passenger train that traveled through Jackman late at night. We could  hear the agent sending telegraphs, and then the train whistle blowing announcing its arrival. Once aboard the Via passenger train, the conductor would collect our tickets for our scenic journey in the glass “dome” on top of the cars, to our Canadian destination. The dome cars allowed passengers to enjoy a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

In the past, the station was very busy. The train orders were conveyed to the operator via telegraph or telephone. He would copy  the order on onionskin multiple copy forms, and stand on the dock  holding a special hoop with the written orders. The engineer would stick his hand through the hoop, and receive his written orders via a message fastened to a string, as the train went by slowly. By the 1970’s it was carried primarily by two-way radio.  Later railroad signals were also used to communicate train movement and safety information. (Photo of delivering orders with a special hoop and unloading).

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The train was the  lifeline for those living by the tracks, as they brought their food, mail, and supplies. They ordered from the Sears and/or  Montgomery Ward catalogs to order merchandise, and the train delivered the items. Quirion Store (shown in picture above) would take orders and the train would deliver to nearby railroad section houses where railroad families lived. Hunters used the railroad cars to send their game to their home.           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valuable cargo continues to be transported daily via the  Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad (CPKC). The tracks go through Jackman, across the State of Maine, connecting Quebec to New Brunswick. Jackman is the first town to enter the United States; therefore, customs are required to inspect the railroad cars as they enter our country. Canada and the United States are connected by rail and by car. We are only 16 miles from the border by car and approximately 28.3 miles by rail. (To Boundary P.Q.) (Old photo of VW buses being transported). ​

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Jackman has always been a “railroad town.” Our ancestors were born and raised by the tracks. In emergencies such as childbirth, trains could be stopped with small caps of explosive on the tracks called “torpedoes,” to request a doctor. Depending on how quick the doctor would arrive, many babies were delivered by midwives, and the doctor would just need to sign the birth certificates. 

 

Living close to the tracks had a lot of noise from the trains passing through, and could be a nuisance; however, after a short while it wouldn’t be noticeable. Many of the local men worked for the railroad until they retired, as it was one of the main sources of employment in the Jackman area.

      

Our non-profit organization wants to preserve our railroad station that means so much to us. Once restorations are completed, our goal is to have a Railroad Museum with memorabilia collected over the years, which include pictures, conductor uniforms and articles of the railroad on display, that we have collected  over the years. There are so many stories to share and tell.

 

The public rode the last vintage steam-powered passenger train in 1989. It passed through Maine in observance of the 100th anniversary of CP service between Montreal and Saint John New Brunswick. (Photo of our local special train ride.)

                              

 

 

 

    

 

                                 

 

 

 

 

 

Our ancestors would be honored to have future generations appreciate the past history of the Jackman Railroad and station. 

 

Our non-profit organization, our volunteers and the townspeople feel this project is a very worthy project; therefore, we are looking for monetary assistance to obtain our goal.