It is quite common to spruce something up prior to putting up for sale. Just look at houses. Also, let's not kid ourselves, they aren't exactly emptying their coffers here on this track work. It seems big because most people on these forums just haven't seen it before. But we're talking labor who is already being paid, ballast off their own system, no new rail, etc.
690 wrote:Why would they put the effort into getting federal grants for upgrades (as well as the upgrades they've done on their own dime, even if it's not that much) between Waterville - NMJ only to dump it? Sure, they might have lost most of the business in the area, but it's still a vital interchange with the CMQ, and indirectly with Irving. East of NMJ? That would make more sense, but I can see Pan Am holding onto it as a way to entice prospective buyers. It's a direct interchange with Irving, and sure, it needs a lot of work, but if you want to cut out the CMQ, then that is what's available.Federal grants pay for the "upgrades" and mean less out of their own pockets! Why wouldn't you take advantage of that as you try to make your property look enticing to potential buyers? If you want to call them substantial upgrades really, like others make it sound. Sure, ties, and some ballast. Barely adequate tamping in the spots that are actually done. Mostly, replaced ties without any replaced or improved ballast and overall restructure under the tracks. Just enough to keep the trains at 10. And really, why would anyone want to avoid the CMQ option via Brownville right now when it cuts so much time off? The PAR right-of-way East of Old Town.....horrendous is putting it mildly. No offense against Downeast Scenic intended, but even some of their UNused ROW above Ellsworth Falls(End of useable track) looks better than the PAR's main in some spots East of OT.
Also, there is still a NM-1 job for now.
I know we're far from April Fool's Day, but here goes a doozy.....If PAR was to actually scale back to Waterville, have CMQ eventually get the rights to Waterville from NMJ. Strike a deal with PAR to somehow reopen and utilize the rest of the Lower Road to get down to their Rockland Branch directly! Then, the Amtrak Downeaster comes into play if the service gets extended like everyone hopes. NBSR could gain by grabbing the PAR mileage from 'Keag down to Old Town and NMJ and then have two direct connections with CMQ! NBSR could route over the former Maine Central for cars staying mostly in the US while it's moves to Brownville could be exclusively for Canadian points such as Montreal.