Can anyone explain what this is all about? Perhaps a model rail buff's creation for his fantasy railroad?
www.mdrail.net/?page_id=2
The organization's reporting marks are reportedly the same ones spray-painted on two ex-Canadian coaches (one BCR, one VIA) on the MMID in Glyndon, MD. Note the text below taken from the website describing MDRail's history.
"The MDRail Corporation is a result of the divestiture of the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) between the Norfolk Southern Corporation and CSXT, Inc. An obscure stretch of railroad located in the backwoods of southern Maryland was in danger of being abandoned as a result of the Conrail acquisition. Neither Norfolk Southern nor CSXT believed that this line, formerly known as the Pope’s Creek Secondary, would yield any profit; and therefore, neither wanted to the responsibility of maintaining the line. Two coal-fired power-generating facilities and a few small on-line customers were serviced by the railroad, and they realized that their futures would be uncertain if the line was abandoned. Officials at both power plants tried desperately to convince the rail giants that their lively hood and the residents of southern Maryland’s livelihood would be threatened by the lack of inexpensive and reliable rail service to the plants, but to no avail. As a result, the two power authorities, with buy-ins from the smaller rail customers decided that it would be essential to their continued success to sanction the sale and/or purchase of the line to be operated as a dedicated short line. Maryland businessman, railfan and southern Maryland local, D. A. Curtis, heard of the power plant’s idea and immediately jumped at the opportunity to lobby a bid for purchase. Using his own money, along with other financial consideration offered by the power giants and the local municipalities, Mr. Curtis went to the governing committee overseeing the divestiture and made an offer for the line. The details of the bid called for the full purchase of plant and equipment associated with the operation of the 67.8 total miles that made up the rail line. Interchange with either CSX or NS would take place at Benning Yard in Washington, D.C. Trackage rights as established over the NEC would allow the new railroad to pick up carloads at Benning and transport them to the junction at Bowie, MD provided that the locomotives operating on the NEC were equipped with cab signals. In 1998, the bid was accepted and the Southern Maryland Railroad was born. The entire employee base for the new company was assimilated from former Conrail employees who worked the Pope’s Creek line normally, and were already familiar with the region."
www.mdrail.net/?page_id=2
The organization's reporting marks are reportedly the same ones spray-painted on two ex-Canadian coaches (one BCR, one VIA) on the MMID in Glyndon, MD. Note the text below taken from the website describing MDRail's history.
"The MDRail Corporation is a result of the divestiture of the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) between the Norfolk Southern Corporation and CSXT, Inc. An obscure stretch of railroad located in the backwoods of southern Maryland was in danger of being abandoned as a result of the Conrail acquisition. Neither Norfolk Southern nor CSXT believed that this line, formerly known as the Pope’s Creek Secondary, would yield any profit; and therefore, neither wanted to the responsibility of maintaining the line. Two coal-fired power-generating facilities and a few small on-line customers were serviced by the railroad, and they realized that their futures would be uncertain if the line was abandoned. Officials at both power plants tried desperately to convince the rail giants that their lively hood and the residents of southern Maryland’s livelihood would be threatened by the lack of inexpensive and reliable rail service to the plants, but to no avail. As a result, the two power authorities, with buy-ins from the smaller rail customers decided that it would be essential to their continued success to sanction the sale and/or purchase of the line to be operated as a dedicated short line. Maryland businessman, railfan and southern Maryland local, D. A. Curtis, heard of the power plant’s idea and immediately jumped at the opportunity to lobby a bid for purchase. Using his own money, along with other financial consideration offered by the power giants and the local municipalities, Mr. Curtis went to the governing committee overseeing the divestiture and made an offer for the line. The details of the bid called for the full purchase of plant and equipment associated with the operation of the 67.8 total miles that made up the rail line. Interchange with either CSX or NS would take place at Benning Yard in Washington, D.C. Trackage rights as established over the NEC would allow the new railroad to pick up carloads at Benning and transport them to the junction at Bowie, MD provided that the locomotives operating on the NEC were equipped with cab signals. In 1998, the bid was accepted and the Southern Maryland Railroad was born. The entire employee base for the new company was assimilated from former Conrail employees who worked the Pope’s Creek line normally, and were already familiar with the region."
