b&m 1566 wrote:I'm very surprised to see that Monadnock Paper, also received a copy of this filing from M&B. This has nothing to do with them, or does it? I personally believe there's a bigger chip involved here.Monadnock's covered by MBRX's trackage rights, even though they haven't ever been served since the shortline took over from Guilford. The reason they got a copy is that if MBRX went out of business because of the damage PAR's action causes, the mill would never again have the option for rail because PAR's adverse filing does not include any of the track miles past the quarry conveyor belt. That 15 miles would be without an operator, and most likely abandoned after a period of NHDOT holding it out-of-service.
Monadnock has long said they like having the option of rail access, though they've never stuck their necks out and outright asked for it. It's a small mill; the carload potential is awfully small for the 15 miles of extra running. It would cost PAR more than it would return in revenue to send NA-1 that far out and can it every single day. For MBRX it would've been very attractive when Wilton Scenic was still encouraging regular maintenance of all that track, but first time there's a major repair bill due it would challenge the shortline's ability to make a consistent profit on those Monadnock loads. So I kind of doubt that's much of an influence. The mill's remoteness and small size is a buzzkill for either carrier's margins.