Notes from the Field: Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Steam Railway

Notes from the Field

Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Steam Railway

April 24 – 25, 2026

For several years, I have been bringing Photo Walk and Photo Adventure groups to photograph the WW&F Steam Railway near Wiscasset, Maine.  This organization, comprised entirely of volunteers, has dedicated years of work, years of knowledge, and a dedicated commitment to resurrecting a defunct narrow-gauge steam railway.  The story alone is inspiring, but to be there, witnessing and photographing, is even more so.

After my last visit with a group back in February, I devised the idea to return with another class whose purpose was to document the railroad’s annual volunteer weekend and turn our images into a book that the railroad can then sell as a fundraiser.  The idea was well received by the railroad and the followers of Hunt’s Photo Education.  We had a full, busy class.

On both days, we arrived early to photograph as many details of the weekend as possible.  There was a lot.  I wanted to push the class to forget the notion of making pretty, properly executed photographs and embrace the necessity of capturing the story of the weekend in a visual essay.  I encouraged complete creative freedom – the story was more important than fundamental rules.  Watching the steam trains chugging and puffing their way up the tracks is exciting and great to photograph, but for those trains to run, the volunteers undertake an endless and difficult amount of work that goes on behind the scenes.  What they do, who they are, and the results they achieve all make for amazing creative opportunities.  We had unprecedented access to every detail.

The photographs have all been taken and are now being edited.  Soon, we will compile and curate all the fantastic work by 9 photographers into a pictorial essay book of the railroad, its incredible volunteers, and our creative efforts.  What a great, rewarding weekend this was.  I am super proud of this project.

Bravo to the WW&F Steam Railroad, and Bravo to the photographers who joined me for this worthy project!