Transportation question

[Erik W]

What type of non rail transportation was most seen in the rural US around 1920 (Maine specifically)?  Horses, horse and carriage, ox teams, autos, trucks, etc?  I'm trying to figure out what type of transport would bring products to load onto railcars.

Thanks,
Erik

[3rdrail]

Depends on what you're transporting. Horse and wagon was still fairly common. I had a Christmas card that my mother copied as a painting of a Monson 2 footer loading Christmas trees. These came to the railhead using a crude horsedrawn sled. Logs were generally dragged on the ground by teams of oxen. But, trucks were fairly common even in 1920.

[wm3798]

Here on the Eastern Shore it would have been boats.  Flatboats up in the marshes, steam boats in the rivers and bay.






There were a number of places where rail met water, usually at a wharf with a warehouse of some sort.
These would be surrounded by seafood packing houses, and the businesses that supported them.

Lee

[Chris333]

Erik,

I have many plans and books on the 2 footers if you need anything. Also you may want to contact Gary Kolher: http://www.maine2footquarterly.com/

The KCRR had steam powered schooners that brought coal to their dock. I also have photos of trucks backed up to their station platform with a boxcar waiting. Horses and carts would work as well.

The Monson would get their loads by crane at their quarries. They also had a combine that would be loaded at the station. The other side of the line was pretty much just a transfer from standard to narrow gauge.

Whatcha buildin' ?

[Ian MacMillan]

Depends on time of year also.

Most towns in NH (up until the late 30's) when snow fell it was packed down with a mechanical roller on the roads so sleighs could be used.