Hi Everyone,
I have a few questions about the B&M's Cheshire Branch. I recently purchased the Morning Sun Book about New Hampshire Railroads in Color, and it seemed like the Cheshire was a well-maintained and somewhat heavily trafficked line through the late 1950s. But, a little over 10-years later, it was on the verge of abandonment and was gone by 1972/1973 or so. Did the abandonment of the Rutland RR in the early 1960s have a lot to do with the downfall of the Cheshire? Was there alot of "bridge traffic" moving between the B&M and the RUT? As a follow up, did the Green Mountain RR attempt to stop the abandonment of the Cheshire in the early 1970s? I know the GMRC made an attempt to serve Keene, NH and environs in the late 1970s/early 1980s, but they did not serve Keene from the Cheshire, instead serving it from the Ashuelot Branch. How did the GMRC end up with the mile of so of Cheshire Track around Walpole, NH, but nothing else?
Does anyone recall what type of diesel locomotives the B&M assigned to the Cheshire? I am thinking GP7s/GP9s/RS2 (the 1500) or RS3s or maybe towards the end EMD or Alco switchers?
Was the Cheshire ever used as a "detour" route in the 1960s or early 1970s to get around either the Connecticut River Line or the Fitchburg mainline? I know the B&M had their infamous Hoosac Tunnel "boxcar mine" derailment during this timeframe. Did any detours move through Vermont onto the Cheshire to rejoin the B&M mainline in South Asburnham, MA, thus bypassing the tunnel?
Finally, one more Cheshire note. I read somewhere that around 1970 or 1971, there was a B&M excursion train to Vermont that ended up taking the Cheshire home to Boston after a derailment on the Conn River Line blocked them in. Did anyone on this board ride that particular excursion (perhaps Mr. Hutchinson)? That must have been quite the ride- also was probably one of the last trains to traverse the Cheshire. Wonder what the locals thought seeing a passenger train rumble through late on a Saturday night on a line which was virtually abandoned at the time?
Thanks so much, everyone. Have a great night..
-Mike
[email protected]
I have a few questions about the B&M's Cheshire Branch. I recently purchased the Morning Sun Book about New Hampshire Railroads in Color, and it seemed like the Cheshire was a well-maintained and somewhat heavily trafficked line through the late 1950s. But, a little over 10-years later, it was on the verge of abandonment and was gone by 1972/1973 or so. Did the abandonment of the Rutland RR in the early 1960s have a lot to do with the downfall of the Cheshire? Was there alot of "bridge traffic" moving between the B&M and the RUT? As a follow up, did the Green Mountain RR attempt to stop the abandonment of the Cheshire in the early 1970s? I know the GMRC made an attempt to serve Keene, NH and environs in the late 1970s/early 1980s, but they did not serve Keene from the Cheshire, instead serving it from the Ashuelot Branch. How did the GMRC end up with the mile of so of Cheshire Track around Walpole, NH, but nothing else?
Does anyone recall what type of diesel locomotives the B&M assigned to the Cheshire? I am thinking GP7s/GP9s/RS2 (the 1500) or RS3s or maybe towards the end EMD or Alco switchers?
Was the Cheshire ever used as a "detour" route in the 1960s or early 1970s to get around either the Connecticut River Line or the Fitchburg mainline? I know the B&M had their infamous Hoosac Tunnel "boxcar mine" derailment during this timeframe. Did any detours move through Vermont onto the Cheshire to rejoin the B&M mainline in South Asburnham, MA, thus bypassing the tunnel?
Finally, one more Cheshire note. I read somewhere that around 1970 or 1971, there was a B&M excursion train to Vermont that ended up taking the Cheshire home to Boston after a derailment on the Conn River Line blocked them in. Did anyone on this board ride that particular excursion (perhaps Mr. Hutchinson)? That must have been quite the ride- also was probably one of the last trains to traverse the Cheshire. Wonder what the locals thought seeing a passenger train rumble through late on a Saturday night on a line which was virtually abandoned at the time?
Thanks so much, everyone. Have a great night..
-Mike
[email protected]