New Hampshire Central Railroad (NHCR) Discussion

7324 came north around noon today with 1 empty from Presby in Whitefield. No sign of the MMA engine still must be at Hazen.

MEC407 wrote:MMA 21 is a GP7 in Bangor & Aroostook paint.

Thanks!

I chased the Notch train up to Hazen's today and MMA 21 was parked there with a bunch of 89' flats.

MMA 21 came north thru Lancaster with a line of TOFC flatcars with SLR markings. Maybe things are picking up on the Intermodal side of things.

I'm surpirsed no one has asked this seemingly obvious question of why is an MMA engine on the NHC?

"I'm surprised no one has asked this seemingly obvious question of why is an MMA engine on the NHC?"[quote] The only person that could answer that is someone who work's for the NHCR. If I had to guess they have been shuffling a lot cars around here lately between Groveton and Hazen and I am sure it must be counter productive to wait for the SLR to bring the engine down from N .Stratford every time they want to switch something out or deliver cars to Presby. So I'm thinking the may have leased it for a while.Then again with the state of the MMA they may be selling off some underutalized assets.

If the MM&A #21 does not have an APU, this operation day's are probably going to be short lived, as below freezing weather will be a daily event in the North Country soon, if not already. I think at least one of the closed mills in Groveton had an inside loading dock and perhaps it could be kept in there. However, with the mill closed there is likely no heat in the building. For many years, the NHCR performed car repair for the SL&A. I am not sure whether that relationship continues or not. At any rate, it would seem over the years, the NHCR and the SLR could have worked out an agreement for the NHCR to run at least locomotives and track equipment with their own personnel between North Stratford and Groveton. It's only just over 12 miles between those two points.

Dick

MMA 21 came south thru Lancaster today with 1 covered hopper probably for Presby . Engine should be at Hazen they never came back north.

Dick H wrote:If the MM&A #21 does not have an APU, this operation day's are probably going to be short lived, as below freezing weather will be a daily event in the North Country soon, if not already. I think at least one of the closed mills in Groveton had an inside loading dock and perhaps it could be kept in there. However, with the mill closed there is likely no heat in the building. For many years, the NHCR performed car repair for the SL&A. I am not sure whether that relationship continues or not. At any rate, it would seem over the years, the NHCR and the SLR could have worked out an agreement for the NHCR to run at least locomotives and track equipment with their own personnel between North Stratford and Groveton. It's only just over 12 miles between those two points.

Dick

For some reason SL&A will not give trackage rights to NHCR. As for the APU. I don't think there is alot of heat in 7324 their other engine either. The windows looked pretty frosty and everybody was bundled up pretty good when they went by the house last winter. So I don't think that will bother them too much running MMA#21 over the winter. Them NHCR fellow's are pretty hardy stock!

Many Railroads ussually just leave the unit running 24/7 in the colder weather if not equiped with a apu or other form of method to keep the unit from freezing. That being said I don't if MMA 21 is equiped with anything but the 7324 does have a apu. As for the heat, that would just be lack of care by the mechanic because those units are new enough that they can easi;y wire electric cab heaters that would melt the crews.

Pics of #21 in Hazens:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 320757.jpg

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200 ... 920833.jpg

Did they take all the pig flats stored from Whitefield or just some of them?

7324 came thru Lancaster about 430pm headed south with 9 covered hoppers.

7324 came north thru Lancaster with 1 empty from Presby at about 130PM.

7324 came south thru Lancaster this morning with one covered hopper for Presby.