Intermodal to Maine

markhb wrote:The article above gave me an idea on when the Waterville ramp opened, so what happened? Were there no interested customers? Did GRS not really go after potential business after they built it? Were the target customers mills who shut down? (I know the Winslow mill went under not long after the timeframe of the article.) It sounds like it wasn't used for long, but why not?

For a good explanation check out ProRail's 1/15 post on the 2nd page of this thread. Traffic was imbalanced outbound with paper loads so empty equipment had to be supplied from Worcester. It's cheaper with better service to simply use a truck from the Ayer or Worcester intermodal terminals. Ultimately, it was the likes of JB Hunt, Schneider and Hub CIty Terminals, who wanted to open Waterville to service Conrail traffic in the first place, deciding it was no longer the better option.

BM6569 wrote:It still takes at least one crew to go Waterville-Rigby

If they can get Waterville - Rigby up to at least 25, then in theory they could cover the trip in 4-5 hours.

MEC407 wrote:The candy-stripe pilots were far too short-lived:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3007372" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3006440" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3729687" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah those were mint. NS has them on their yard units, which is nice. Easier to see.

The ramp was open up until the mid 2000's as an NS operation. The NS system map used to say they had rights to Waterville. Not sure if it still does.

WAED would frequently come into Deerfield with intermodal on the head pin. There were a couple of nasty derailments because they would put 80 loads of paper on the a*s end and the spines on the front.

Here is one: http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20080 ... t&BOOL=ALL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

newpylong wrote:The NS system map used to say they had rights to Waterville. Not sure if it still does.

They have a new "interactive" map on their web site, and it no longer shows the line to Waterville.

Rather than starting a new thread, I wanted to revisit this one as it would seem Intermodal in Maine has been a hot topic all over the board.

There is no good solution for intermodal in Maine right now, but I can tell you there is demand for it. Right now, Intermodal is already IN Maine but in the form of drays out of the Maine to Worcester (CSX) or Ayer (NS). A big problem right now too with domestic traffic is the large imbalance of outbound loads to inbound. Right now, much more outbound than inbound, which makes it tough to justify a ramp. Service issues are also a concern, more specifically the timing (which can be overcome easily with scheduling and upgrading of track speeds) and restrictions (far less easier to overcome the doublestack clearance issues) on the Pan Am line.

But as disconnected as Maine may be to the intermodal network, it is still very much a part of it and shares the challenges and opportunities it has.

Untill PAR and PAS can get their act together,and offer reliable service to/from Waterville(3 days to/from an NS hub
in Ohio for example)on a consistant basis(trailer/container grounded and ready by 9:00 am day 3),the run to/from
the CSX hub at Worcester will be the norm for the major trucking fleets and UPS.
It might become moot anyway,the paper/pulp mills are disappearing in Maine.
As it is now 1 driver might make 3/4 of a round trip to/from Worcester to a Maine destination or
after chasing around for an empty trailer,1/2 of a round trip.
(Been there,done that,shredded the T-shirt,no love for the Me Turnpike,ugh )

EMP boxes on NS Chassis moved to Danville Jct by PORU per a friend... more to come

Did these come east on EDPO or SEPO?

Heard some chatter that these were for Poland Spring. Possibly a test? They have been wanting rail service for some time, for the longer distance shipping.

Isn't the crane gone in Waterville?

They had 2 packers parked on the east end of the ramp 2 years ago. 1 went to Portland(?) so there should be a second there?

They have one packer in Waterville left that had been rehabbed in 2012. However there cars were dropped off at Danville Jct which makes me wonder if they are going up the SLR to Auburn to be loaded.

Poland Spring would be the one. As they are EMP boxes, most likely NS traffic. Two are on chassis but surprisingly no others. They will need to have three more chassis staged or moved there for a live load. Luckily with such small volume it shouldn't be a problem. Also luckily if they still have equipment at Auburn on the SLR, they can use that. IF these go to Auburn, you may see some sort of renewed service with NS-PAR-SLR (makes sense).

Found some photos on facebook of the trailers, and loaded NS coal cars in Maine...


https://www.facebook.com/panamrailways?fref=photo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Still several Chassis left in Auburn. Can't they use those? Or do they belong to the CN?