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  • Need info on Odgenburg aka Lamolie Valley line from Portland ME to Saint Johnsbury to Swanton

  • Discussion relating to the pre-1983 B&M and MEC railroads. For current operations, please see the Pan Am Railways Forum.
Discussion relating to the pre-1983 B&M and MEC railroads. For current operations, please see the Pan Am Railways Forum.

Moderator: MEC407

 #1608471  by NHV 669
 
The line through Littleton was the B&M Berlin Branch, the last train was sometime between 1995 and 1997. The tracks were taken up from Woodsville to Littleton shortly after, and from Littleton to just east of the Bethlehem town line a few years ago.

The former MEC Mountain Division from Portland to St. Johnsbury last saw end to end service in September 1983. Twin States RR (NHV) was the last carrier, serving between Whitefield, NH and St. J until the closure of the Simpson Paper mill at Gilman, VT, towards the end of 1999.

Service to the former paper mill in Groveton ended sometime before the Simpson closure.
 #1608515  by NHV 669
 
As an addendum, the last train on the LVRC was the move that brought everything to Whitefield from Morrisville, etc. that could be moved. That train ran November 6, 1994, pulled by NHV 669.
 #1608657  by shadyjay
 
If you're looking for info on the history of the StL&C/Lamoille Valley, or the last days of the Lamoille Valley and the lines around Littleton, Whitefield, and out to Berlin/Groveton, Jim Jones has a couple great DVDs. They include anecdotes from former employees, local townspeople, railroad historians, etc, still images and videos, right up to the final days.

StJ&LC: Vermont's Lamoille Valley Railroad dives into the history of the St J to Swanton line.
B&M at Twilight: Background, along with the final years of not just the LVRC but the NH&VT when it ran down to White River and up to Whitefield/Groveton/Berlin, and also the Montpelier & Barre/Washington County Railroad.

https://vermontmadevideos.weebly.com/
 #1608702  by NHV 669
 
And there's a Facebook group covering most of the area featured in that film:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2930293 ... ?ref=share

Dave Poor, who contributes quite a bit for that movie, is one of the moderators and a frequent poster. Lots of great info to be found on that page as well.

I haven't been down in the woods in a minute, but the last two LVRC hoppers stenciled for SJL, are likely still rotting away just west of the Route 116 crossing coming down into Whitefield.