Maine Eastern Railroad (MERR) Discussion

MEC407 wrote:The M420W is still in Rockland, I believe.

I was told this morning that 764 and 3573 will remain on the property until next Tues. or Wed. (I forgot exactly which day it was to be.)
The ex-Amtrak baggage cars had new wheels put under them for their move. I thought I heard something about the snowplow being sent back to Brunswick; maybe not accepted by PAR for transit beyond Rigby?

Maybe CMQ decided to buy it from them. Really gotta keep a plow onsite, I'd think. I imagine in a worst case scenario it could take multiple days for PAR to pick up a plow from their CMQ interchange and move it to Brunswick.

Snow fighters can easily be moved by truck bed and are easier to operate and maintain.

And away they go...

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... age=2&key=

Possibly the finest photo of the Maine Eastern I have ever seen Credit Paolo Roffo.

I happened upon this while looking for something else and thought it would be a suitable "signature" piece for the final days of the Maine Eastern. I would challenge everyone else to find something better passenger or freight.

CN9634 wrote:Snow fighters can easily be moved by truck bed and are easier to operate and maintain.

What's a snow fighter?

Back in the 50's my hometown [Methuen, MA] had a Walter Snow Fighter. Big rig, with plow in front and a wing plow on the side. Huge sand bin on the back.
[Salt wasn't used in those days.]

Just heard that 2 CMQ B23-7 and Three Ex. MMA B39-8's are on the way to Brunswick. Seems like alot of power for 6-10 car trains. the 2 B23-7s seem like it would of been enough.

Narrowgauger wrote:Just heard that 2 CMQ B23-7 and Three Ex. MMA B39-8's are on the way to Brunswick. Seems like alot of power for 6-10 car trains. the 2 B23-7s seem like it would of been enough.

The two B23-7s are all they're getting. The Dash 8s are on their way to LTE in Ohio, it just so happened that all five were interchanged to PAR on the same move.

Ahhh...now that makes sense.

The last two ME locomotives, (RRPX) 764 and 3573, went west this morning. They went through Warren around 10:30, so might already be in Brunswick as I post this.

The two B23-7s were parked on the siding off Cedar St in Brunswick this afternoon.

Photos by Dan Comick:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=227471" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=227470" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dont expect much to railfan If they run the Rockland branch the way they run Vermont... Actually very suprised state of maine awarded them contract. It will definitely be a step backwards as far as service frequency is concerned...

csx2039 wrote:Dont expect much to railfan If they run the Rockland branch the way they run Vermont... Actually very suprised state of maine awarded them contract. It will definitely be a step backwards as far as service frequency is concerned...

I don't think the there's a strong relationship between those two branches. The traffic frequencies on this one require roughly the same rate of service.

Great photos by Dan Comick. Caught the handoff.