Almost everyone knows that Pan Am management has a distaste for the Milford & Bennington Railroad and its owner. Just last week the STB made a ruling in favor of the M&B, to keeping its current operations on Pan Am's owned tracks between Milford, NH and Wilton, NH denying Pan Am's attempt to take over the operations that would have required interchanges to take place in Wilton, NH. I just recently learned that in Pan Am's continued effort to be a constant thorn in the side of M&B, has Pan Am wanting to venture into scenic railroad business. Some may not be aware but M&B and the towns of Wilton, NH and Greenfield, NH are serious about bring back the Wilton Scenic Railroad. It has raised enough issue that the NH attorney general is currently reviewing the potential bidding process for passenger operations on the state-owned portion of the Hillsboro Branch. Although I do agree that putting the operation out to bid is the right thing to do, I never thought I would see "Pan Am Railways and Heritage Operations" in the same sentence but here it is. So, my question is: What if Pan Am wins the bid? Then what? I'm not aware of an open bid currently but when the state puts it out there, the process is swift and quick, they could in theory have the winning bid in time for startup next summer.
It takes real skill to choke on air, fall up the stairs and trip over nothing. I have those skills.