Rockland Branch Discussion

[doublestack]

Is anything freight-wise happening on the branch???

Yup, steel for BIW into the Harding Plant in Brunswick.
Latest load spotted here thanks to drc390 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkL8ZoyB8dE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[690]

Plus the usual cement and perlite. A few new(er) cement hoppers have been added to the pool, so you'll probably see the older NAHX ones being phased out here.

[Dick H]

I was on the noon "Lighthouses and Shipyards cruise today in Bath. (10/5).
As we approached BIW, the CMQ job to Rockland with five covered
hoppers was passing over the Carleton Bridge. The boat Captain
noted that this a "once a week occurrence".

[MEC407]

Video by drc930:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNZcW0Yyvg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[gokeefe]

I was on the noon "Lighthouses and Shipyards cruise today in Bath. (10/5).
As we approached BIW, the CMQ job to Rockland with five covered
hoppers was passing over the Carleton Bridge. The boat Captain
noted that this a "once a week occurrence".

Lucky you! Seeing a train cross that bridge from the water is a rare sight indeed.

[MEC407]

From Village Soup:

A proposed schedule for the pilot Downeaster Amtrak passenger train service to Rockland is being developed, with the first trains possibly pulling into the Union Street station in May.
. . .
Quinn said Tuesday, Nov. 14, that the pilot program is still in the exploratory stage. The next steps are to check the tracks between Brunswick and Rockland to see if they meet the needs of the equipment.

Between mid-December and mid-January, the Rail Authority will hold forums in communities where the trains will stop -- Rockland, Newcastle, Wiscasset and Bath -- to gather public feedback.

Possible schedules are still being developed, but the current proposal is for the service to run May through October on weekends. The tentative schedule calls for a train to leave Boston at 5 p.m. Friday and reach Rockland at 10:30 p.m. The train would then return to Brunswick, where it would stay overnight.

Read the rest of the article at: https://knox.villagesoup.com/p/downeast ... ay/1703997" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kilroy]

The Maine Eastern excursions moved at a good clip so I would think the tracks are still in fairly good shape. I don't think it will take too much to get them up to Amtrak standards,

[gokeefe]

Agreed.

Great article from Village Soup.

I am very happy indeed to see the Rockland seats projected to be sold on the 5pm departure out of Boston. That will be a very strong market indeed.

[Dick H]

#685 sold out leaving Boston just about every Friday during the summer into the fall this year.
Rockland passengers better buy their tickets early in the week or even earlier.

[deathtopumpkins]

The next steps are to check the tracks between Brunswick and Rockland to see if they meet the needs of the equipment.

Didn't Amtrak run a train up to Rockland recently? Like within the last year or two? I thought that was essentially an 'inspection trip'.

The train would then return to Brunswick, where it would stay overnight.

Didn't we previously establish that there was a layover space in Rockland? I wonder why they would be deadheading all the way back to Brunswick instead. That seems like an awfully expensive deadhead compared with just laying over in Rockland.

[gokeefe]

It was a visal inspection for VIPs, not track geometry and/or defect detection.

There is no suitable layover site in Rockland. Furthermore the trainset would be out of position for the next day's work and isolated from mechanical support. They want the trainsets to be serviced in Brunswick.

[Ridgefielder]

From Village Soup:

A proposed schedule for the pilot Downeaster Amtrak passenger train service to Rockland is being developed, with the first trains possibly pulling into the Union Street station in May.
. . .
Quinn said Tuesday, Nov. 14, that the pilot program is still in the exploratory stage. The next steps are to check the tracks between Brunswick and Rockland to see if they meet the needs of the equipment.

Between mid-December and mid-January, the Rail Authority will hold forums in communities where the trains will stop -- Rockland, Newcastle, Wiscasset and Bath -- to gather public feedback.

Possible schedules are still being developed, but the current proposal is for the service to run May through October on weekends. The tentative schedule calls for a train to leave Boston at 5 p.m. Friday and reach Rockland at 10:30 p.m. The train would then return to Brunswick, where it would stay overnight.

Read the rest of the article at: https://knox.villagesoup.com/p/downeast ... ay/1703997" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

O/T but-- what is that train in the file photo? Looks like the PRR's Congressional.

[kilroy]

Morristown & Erie owned car at Rockland station.

[gokeefe]

Parlor Car "Alexander Hamilton".

[Rockingham Racer]

Morristown & Erie owned car at Rockland station.

I believe it's the Alexander Hamilton.