Increased traffic in Montpelier spurs debate

[Dick H]

Acoording to Fritz G's WACR guide (VRS Group),
other customers on the line include Allen Lumber,
Granite Industries and Trono Fuels in Barre.
Northern Power is in the former rail car plant
in Websterville, but I do not know if they have
used any rail service. Prior to the startup of
the granite shipments, service was usually once
a week.

[rb]

Thanks.

[thebigham]

What is the name and who is the author on the Rock of Ages railroad book?

I saw it at the Springfield train show, but I cannot remember any info on it.

It was expensive. $135.

I'm going to try inter-library loan.

Thanks!

[thebigham]

Found it:

http://www.amazon.com/Vermonts-Granite- ... 0871086956

Vermont's Granite Railroads: The Montpelier and Wells River and the Barre and Chelsea [Hardcover]
Robert C. Jones

[tj48]

Found it:

http://www.amazon.com/Vermonts-Granite- ... 0871086956

Vermont's Granite Railroads: The Montpelier and Wells River and the Barre and Chelsea [Hardcover]
Robert C. Jones

Own a copy myself. Bought it at the Strasburg R.R. book shop a bunch of years ago. Interesting book.

[MikeVT]

Maybe rail can be competative

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100 ... /100719988

[thebigham]

The granite shipments are on hold until further notice.

[MikeVT]

BARRE TOWN — Rail cars that recently started shipping granite from Rock of Ages in Barre Town to Florida have been on hold the last few weeks, prompting rumors among nearby residents that the quarry lost its contract with the Army Corps of Engineers to provide stone for a dike system in Florida.

Not!!!

Officials involved in the deal insist the contract is still in place and the hold-up of the rail cars is temporary.

Don’t take our word for it, just ask Trini Brassard, assistant director of operations for the Vermont Agency of Transportation, who tells us there is a 9,800-ton back-up of granite still waiting to be unloaded in a Florida rail yard.

According to Brassard, until that happens there isn’t enough room for more cars, which is why additional granite is not being sent south from Rock of Ages.

“There are 9,800 tons (of granite) sitting down there in cars, and that’s a lot of cars,” she says.

Brassard hopes the delay, which is holding up the contractor that is actually loading the rail cars in Barre Town, ends soon.

“We’re really hoping for any day,” she says.

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100 ... /708059895

[craven]

Any updates on the granite moves to Florida?

Hard to believe a process of this size & expense would be contracted without queue and move unloading procedures in place.

[Hux]

Any updates on the granite moves to Florida?

Hard to believe a process of this size & expense would be contracted without queue and move unloading procedures in place.

IIRC this was supposed to be part of a causeway through a swamp. Wouldn't be surprised if they ran afoul of some environmental group worried about a salamander or something. Doesn't take much to mouse up the works these days.

[MikeVT]

Not sure if these were still going on but not now. The track through Barre/Berlin VT is washed out in several places and covered with sand and rock on others. Well be interesting if the line is put back in service. Some cars stranded in Barre but didnt see any power.

[Dick H]

Loco #804, which is usually the unit kept at Barre was reported
working on the White River Jct - Newport line over the weekend,
as there are at least two major washouts there, south of St.
Johnsbury. Perhaps, they managed to get it out of Barre
before the flood.

I believe the Montpelier Jct. - Barre line is owned by the State
or some other government agency, which would likely make it
eligible for federal repair funding. The granite hauling operation
shut down soon after it started, as the odd shaped granite blocks
were deemed unusable in the Florida project.

[thebigham]

Article about a possible bike trail along the VRS between Montpelier and Barre:

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20 ... /704239854

The bike people keep referring the tracks as being abandoned. They are in use!

The new issue of Trains magazine has an article on the VRS.

[ferroequinarchaeologist]

>>The bike people keep referring the tracks as being abandoned.
As any politician knows, if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.

PBM

[thebigham]

The VRS is again hauling granite down the switchback to Barre.

These trains should last until October.