Passengers can board trains 10 minutes before departure.
Trains must leave on schedule so please arrive at least 20 minutes before departure to park and purchase tickets.
The Common Ground Railroad Platform is right off the fair grounds commons behind the administrative buildings.
Last train for Thorndike departs MOFGA at 6:40 PM (Friday & Saturday) |
Seating is subject to space and availability at time of departure and our operation is not handicapped accessible at this time.
The Railroad reserves the right to change train equipment and schedules without advance notice. The railroad cannot be responsible for unscheduled delays.
Take our Thorndike train to the fair. This train takes roughly 10 minutes to travel between stations.
Parking
- Parking is at the Auction Hall, the first left off Mill Road. Overflow parking is down by the old grain mill further on Mill Road.
- Follow the road next to the Auction Hall to our boarding area and ticket booth next to Farwell's General Store on route 139.
Boarding
- Boarding for ticket holders is between Heirloom House and Farwell General on route 139.
Purchasing Tickets
- Tickets can be purchased online or at our facility. Our ticket booth will be located at Farwell's Store.
Direction for Thorndike Train
Set your GPS (See Note **) destination to Mill Road in Thorndike otherwise
Look for Mill Road which is the first right next to the Thorndike Post Office on route 220 as you head towards the fair. The Auction Hall Parking lot will be the first left on Mill Road. Overflow parking will be at the old grain mill further down Mill Road.
Attention: Mill Road has residences at its end. Please do not park in the narrow sections of Mill Road! There is plenty of parking in open areas along Mill Road.
** NOTE for Thorndike Travelers: Your GPS will most likely route you through Unity on your way to Thorndike. To avoid this high traffic area, please consider an alternate route such as
- If coming from points North, consider using Route 202 to Route 7. Follow Route 7 south to Brooks then west on Route 139 to Thorndike.
- If coming from points West or South, consider using Routes 137 or 202 through Albion then stay on Route 137 to Route 220.
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- Route 220 Note: If traffic is backed up to the intersection of routes 137 & 220, consider following route 137 to the bottom of the hill. Take Baily road to route 139. Then west to Thorndike.
- If using Route 1 in the mid coast area (north or south) head for Belfast and use Route 7 to get to Brooks. Then west on Route 139 to Thorndike.
Click the link "View in Google Maps" to enable driving directions
Thorndike Parking and Boarding Area |
Seating is subject to space and availability at time of departure and our operation is not handicapped accessible at this time.
The Railroad reserves the right to change train equipment and schedules without advance notice. The railroad cannot be responsible for unscheduled delays.
Take our Unity Train to the fair. This train takes roughly 15 minutes to travel between stations.
Parking
- At Envirem Organics at the end of Cornshop Road off route 220.
- Cornshop Road is just beyond the entrance to the Depot Store on route 220 if you are at the intersection of Depot Street and Route 220.
- Once parked, walk towards tracks and using our pedestrian crossing walk across tracks between the boxcar and the passenger coach undergoing restoration.
- Turn left and head for boarding platform.
Boarding
- Boarding for ticket holders is at the platform behind Cone'Z Ice Cream next to the railroad station.
Purchasing Tickets
- Tickets can be purchased online or at our facility. Our ticket booth will be located off the main hallway between Cone'Z and the laundromat.
Directions for Unity Train
Set your GPS destination to Cornshop Road in Unity. (NOTE: Older GPS may have Cornshop Road as the Hatchery Road).
Tips for For GPS Users
- Do not use our name as this will take you to our Belfast address.
- Do not select the town of Union. It will be the first "U" named town in your town list.
If coming by route 139 east to Unity, stay on route 139 until you turn left in town Unity and you join routes 9 and 202. Stay on route 9 and 202 through town and turn right on route 220. Cornshop Road will be on your right just before the Depot Store and intersection with route 139. If you turn on Depot Street (Rt 139) the Cornshop Road will be your second left beyond the Depot Store when you reach the end of Depot Street (Rt 220).
If coming by route 220 to the fair, Cornshop Road will be on your right just before the Depot Store and the intersection with route 139. The parking area is at the end of the road around the buildings. Head for the tracks and cross using the gravel road by the cabooses. Take a left and you'll find our boarding area behind the Ice Cream store and the Laundromat.
Click the link "View Larger Map" to enable driving directions
Unity Parking and Boarding Area |
Seating is subject to space and availability at time of departure and our operation is not handicapped accessible at this time.
The Railroad reserves the right to change train equipment and schedules without advance notice. The railroad cannot be responsible for unscheduled delays.
Please purchase your fair tickets in advance before purchasing train tickets!
Avoid long traffic lines and long walks!
Use our trains for convenient travel to the Common Ground Country Fair.
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We have two stations with trains running on convenient schedules.
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Our stations are only 10 to 15 minutes from the fair ground Commons!.
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Our fairground platform is right off the commons near the administrative buildings.
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We will sell train tickets as well as a limited number of fair tickets during the fair. These can be purchased at our boarding areas in Unity and Thorndike.
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Train Tickets
- Adult Train Only ($17) - Fair ticket or pass required! MOFGA members must have fair tickets!
- Child Train Only ($5) - No charge for fair but you need a child pass for the fair.
- Adult Train Weekend Pass ($30) - You can use the train for the entire weekend but fair tickets or pass are required! MOFGA members will need fair tickets.
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Fair Tickets - available at our stations during the fair
- Adult Fair Ticket ($20)
- Elder Fair Ticket ($15) - Ages 65 plus
- Youth Fair Ticket ($15) - Ages 13 to 17
- Child Fair Pass (Free) - 12 and under
Trains run all day
Use the buttons below to purchase your advanced tickets now!
We recommend that you purchase your fair tickets first then purchase our train tickets.
Note: Discounts available for early online fair ticket purchases.
Purchase Your Fair Tickets Now!
Purchase Your Train Tickets Now!
The Brooks Preservation Society and the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad welcome you to take our trains to/from the Common Ground Country Fair the 3rd weekend after Labor day in September. Our two train schedule offers convenient access from our Unity or Thorndike parking areas to our station right off the fairground commons and you avoid traffic congestion at the fair.
Your train or train-fair combo ticket is valid for any train for the day of purchase or use. This is more than a round trip ticket, this allows you travel back to your car if you forget something and get back to the fair.
Passengers can board trains 10 minutes before scheduled departure.
Trains must leave on schedule so please arrive at least 20 minutes before departure to park and purchase tickets!
Please Note:
- Our operation is not handicap accessible
- Seating is subject to space and availability at time of departure.
- All train riders who wish to disembark at our Common Ground Country Fair Station must have a Fair Admission ticket
- Valid tickets include fair tickets purchased in advance.
- MOFGA members need to purchase tickets.
The Railroad reserves the right to change train equipment and schedules without advance notice. The railroad cannot be responsible for unscheduled delays.
Questions? please contact us by email at