Conway Scenic Railroad (CSRX) discussion thread

They probably don't, but MaineDOT is saying it'll cost $20.1 million just to pull up the track and turn it into a stone dust trail, so perhaps the idea is that MaineDOT would use that money on track repair instead of track removal.

That's the problem, the state wants to finish the rail trail, so while the price is the same to upgrade the tracks with no trail, the state is choosing to remove the tracks and build the trail. Building the trail alongside the tracks would cost even more and that's not even including rail rehab.
So, the proof is in the pudding, the state is choosing the trail over the rail, and it has nothing to do with money, they just want the trail more. So much for buying it to keep it for future rail use, that logic has gone out the window.

According to the letter submitted to the legislature by Bruce Sleeper of Trainriders Northeast (which is also available on the legislature's web site), the state "packed" the Mountain Division Reuse Advisory Committee with pro-trail / anti-rail folks, and he claims that's why the committee voted 11-to-1 to remove the rails and go trail-only.

CN9634 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 6:47 pm Proposals need to be viable and self-sustaining... CSRX might want to do 100 things but they need $$ and a ROI to make it work.

MaineDOT purchased the ROW 40 years ago... I've seen several proposals over the years but no one has made anything stick. You can't save every rail line and the currently active SLR line, which mirrors the old MEC, is only running 2 days a week.

This. I am by no means pro-trail but the infrastructure has been sitting there for how long? If another operator could connect the dots it would have been done. The Conway Scenic already does not run regular service over the entirety of their trackage (which is far more scenic than into Maine IMHO).

Is it at least being railbanked?

MEC407 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 4:55 am They probably don't, but MaineDOT is saying it'll cost $20.1 million just to pull up the track and turn it into a stone dust trail, so perhaps the idea is that MaineDOT would use that money on track repair instead of track removal.

Well it'll take the trail folks some time to secure funding so that gives all you 'idea' people time to counter-sue, present their proposals and secure their own funding for the RR.

But lets say we had the $20M to spend on a RR or a trail today.... so what has the most public benefit and interest? You aren't pulling trucks off the road with the CSRX proposal, and $20M is just the ticket to entry to get you a 10MPH mainline... the operation has to be profitable to be sustainable. Trail folks unfortunately have a stronger argument given the lack of real rail potential

Hopefully they will not be as stupid as the geniuses who set up the Presidential Rail Trail, which is totally shut off from thru hikers and fit only for marathoners and long distance bikers.

If it doesnt work out for the Mtn Div, hopefully this at least gets the ball rolling on the Conway Br.

It's a much shorter distance to go from Conway to Ossipee than Fryeburg to Portland. Plus, I could easily see a secondary scenic opportunity running fall trains from Rochester to Sanbornville if NHN would allow.

Sounds like the 470 Club has an upcoming traction motor replacement within a few weeks for the 72/1741. They hope to get all four reinstalled over the winter. Considering the unit already fires up, they're making great progress.

Doesn't look there are any events upcoming this fall on the Redsone branch like there have been in the past, unless the 470 trip in late October will include it? Really unfortunate that they don't make more use of that piece of track.

The 470 trip is going to Conway, not redstone.

6 MoW hoppers (MEC stenciled/MKT heritage) and a bulkhead flat being dropped by SLR at Groveton tonight.

New additions to the fleet.

The much-anticipated ballast hoppers, now all they need to do is open the line up to Coleman's pit in Madison for direct loading.

I missed them, should be arriving on property shortly.

Bulkhead flat is BM 2767, hoppers are MEC 1340/1346/1347/1349/1358/1366.

Has anyone heard anymore of the rumors that they were getting parts of the Pan Am wreck train?