shadyjay wrote:Boy, the NECR seems to be having a train load of problems this fall.... on the North End we've had 3 broken couplers last week, a washout over the weekend in Roxbury, and back at the end of October, some 80+ defects detected. When stuff goes wrong, it all goes wrong, apparently. Just the nature of the beast.
-Jay H.
I wish I could echo the "just the nature of the beast" but I am not so sure
about that one. I think the NEC might be slackening back on important
track work or they wouldn't be having all of these problems. The Central
Vermont in their days took excellent care of the track on both the
Southern and Northern Divisions. The Northern Division at one time rode
as smooth as silk at 59 MPH, the maximum speed as there were no
automatic block signals in use north out of White River Junction. When
the NEC bought the line they said that they were going to operate the
railroad with much less help. I suppose the high standard of the CV would
carry the NEC for a period but eventually the deferal of vital track work
would catch up with them and I suspect that has now occurred.
The Conn River and the former CV are pretty vital to the state (Vermont)
and it will be very interesting to see just what happens here in the months
and years to come. I sure hope that they can and will do better.
Noel Weaver
What a mess....but it was quite impressive watching the RJ Corman guys in action.