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  • B&M Snow Train Photos

  • Discussion relating to the pre-1983 B&M and MEC railroads. For current operations, please see the Pan Am Railways Forum.
Discussion relating to the pre-1983 B&M and MEC railroads. For current operations, please see the Pan Am Railways Forum.

Moderator: MEC407

 #1557295  by Otto Vondrak
 
I have recently acquired some photos taken by Phillipe H. Bonnet, and they include some scenes from a B&M Snow Train excursion. I have managed to identify all but one of the locations on the Conway Branch:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/50636438122/

Here's a photo at Intervale:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/50635605428/

Madison/Silver Lake:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/50635607183/

and North Conway:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/50635606443/

-otto-
 #1557476  by eustis22
 
Did the snow train go up thru Ossipee or did it use the Mountain Division? Did MEC run any snow trains?
 #1557481  by NHV 669
 
You have to pass through Ossipee to get to Conway from the locations mentioned in the OP along the aptly named branch.... Why would a chartered B&M passenger train from Boston to Conway take a circuitous journey on the Mountain Division?
 #1557492  by arthur d.
 
Otto Vondrak wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 12:21 pm I have recently acquired some photos taken by Phillipe H. Bonnet, and they include some scenes from a B&M Snow Train excursion. I have managed to identify all but one of the locations on the Conway Branch:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/50636438122/
-otto-
I'm thinking Milton (N.H.).
 #1557502  by Pat Fahey
 
Hi Otto
I looked at the photos and the trip took place February 27th 1965
The trip was a Mass Bay RRE trip, the route the trip took was this,,also they never made it to Intervale, NH .
The trip route Boston, Wilmington -Wilmington jct-Lawrence -Dover, NH -Mt.Whittier, NH ( west Ossipee, NH ) and return. The trip was intended to go to Intervale, NH but because the derailment of the Jordon Spreader at Mt. Whittier at the crossing that was as far as they got.
the trip was called the Snow Train Special train consisted of (5) RDC's price $ 10.00.
This information is from the Mass Bay RRE Callboy of 75 years of Rare Mileage trips Part ( 3).
It does not show any information on Photo Stops ,, Pat.
 #1557508  by arthur d.
 
Pat Fahey wrote: Thu Nov 26, 2020 9:37 pm Hi Otto
I looked at the photos and the trip took place February 27th 1965
The trip was a Mass Bay RRE trip, the route the trip took was this,,also they never made it to Intervale, NH .
Yet if you expand the photo, one can clearly read "Intervale" on the station sign.
Quite likely this was from a different trip. The RRE has been known to run a second trip in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Example, the Lincoln to Concord N.H. trip that came up short due to a washout in Canterbury. They later ran a Meredith to Concord trip to pick up the missed miles.
 #1557525  by Pat Fahey
 
Hi Arthur
Yes, I fully agree with you, I looked at my list, and it looks like the Mass Bay RRE when to N.Conway, NH a number of times using RDC's.
And the trips as per my list usually happened in February. following the same route. Pat.
 #1557559  by arthur d.
 
Pat,
Another clue; looking at the way people are dressed and the amount of snow melt, combined with the lack of new snow, indicates a thaw was occurring . One might wonder what a Jordan spreader was doing out on the line.
 #1557566  by Safetee
 
in the old days and possibly even a bit in the new days, jordan spreaders were used extensively for plowing snow with the advantage of being able to keep the snow windrows far away from the track. in yards, mow crews would remove switch stands enabling the spreader to clear up to three tracks at a time.
 #1558145  by NHN503
 
Otto Vondrak wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 12:21 pm I have recently acquired some photos taken by Phillipe H. Bonnet, and they include some scenes from a B&M Snow Train excursion. I have managed to identify all but one of the locations on the Conway Branch:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ottomatic77/50636438122/
This photo is Milton, just north of the station along Milton 3 Ponds. Road to the right is now Route 125. Then Route 16 (White Mountain Hwy)