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PHILLIPS — The Wild West, guns a-blazing, is coming to the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Region Railroad the weekend of July 15 and 16.
On that Saturday and Sunday, a gang of desperadoes will attempt to rob the train in an event that will recall Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, only without the dynamite.
Some of those participating will be from Old Wild West Back East, a group of re-enactors.
Train riders that weekend can expect an attempt to rob the train, though whether the U.S. marshal and his posse will arrive in time to thwart the attempt is less certain, according to a news release from the organization. And will it happen at Sanders Station? Maybe too many witnesses. At the rail yard? Not likely because of too many rail workers. Possibly somewhere in the woods in between? Who knows?
And why the Wild West in Phillips, Maine? As the group says, “We don’t believe that, just because you live in the eastern United States, you can’t recreate the life of the pre-1900 American West. Through re-enacting and living history, we experience some of the lifestyles of the men and women who became immortalized in fact, fiction and lore.”
Trains run on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Fares are $6 for those age 13 and up, $1 for those under 13, and children 5 or younger ride for free. And if you care to, feel free to wear your Stetson and spurs.
The SR&RLRR is an all-volunteer organization whose aim is to share the love for historical preservation. To do that effectively – and to preserve what remains of a remarkable and colorful past – the group needs help running trains, maintaining equipment and giving visitors a brief tour and overview of the railroad’s history. The organization welcomes anyone who would like to help. Women are especially welcome to bring their perspective on preservation efforts, the group said.
For more information on how to volunteer or become a member, visit www.srrl-rr.org. 
