St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SLR/SLQ)

Hello,
This morning's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0825 with the following:

RM-1 806
GP40-3 3806
GP40-2 3047
11 centerbeam flats
4 hi-sided gondolas
2 boxcars
4 tank cars
1 covered hopper

That's 22 cars total, including 3 loads and 19 empties. There were only 2 propane empties in today's train.
Have a great day,
Fritz

Hello,
This morning's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0728 with the following:

GP40-2 3007
QG GP40-2L 3014
GP40 3004
3 boxcars
6 centerbeam flats
2 covered hoppers
8 tank cars

That's 19 cars total, all empties.
Best,
Fritz

Caught SLR 3008 in a familiar role delivering cars to CSX at Danville Jct. this morning.

Hello,
Last night's SLQ eastbound 394 arrived in Island Pond at 1903 with the following:

GP40-3 3806
RM-1 806
RLHH SD40-2 3403
15 centerbeam flats
3 boxcars
3 bulkhead flats
6 hi-sided gondolas
5 covered hoppers
15 tank cars

That's 47 cars total, including 42 loads and 5 empties (14 of the loads were for RCP in Island Pond).

This morning's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0733 with the following:

GP40-3 3805
RM-1 805
GP40-2 3047
QG GP40-2L 3014
16 centerbeam flats
1 bulkhead flat
2 boxcars
2 covered hoppers
15 tank cars

That's 36 cars total, all empties.

For the last two weeks, the 393/394 have only run two nights (Monday and Thursday).
Have a great day,
Fritz

That's the plan for the summer season... Monday and Thursday only (more days only on an as needed basis....)

Hello,
This morning's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0737 with the following:

RLHH SD40-2 3403
GP40-3 3806
RM-1 806
16 centerbeam flats
3 bulkhead flats
3 hi-sided gondolas
10 hi-cube boxcars
1 covered hopper
26 tank cars

That's 59 cars total, including 7 loads and 52 empties.

Word is that they might run a Richmond-Island Pond turn on Monday night but no U.S. trains due to the holiday.
Have a great weekend,
Fritz

393 thru South Paris about 1945 with 3047-804-3804-3014 and 29 cars.

Going back in time are a couple of shots of CN 393 Extra 4537 West at the same location, Merrill's Crossing
( High St. ), at the west yard limit sign with the South Paris Road switcher train798/799 engine 4442 in it's
sometime role as helper shoving on the rear of the train. CN was experiencing a motive power shortage in
the mid 70's and the GP9s were getting tired. On days 393 was running heavy they would often pick up the
engine assigned to South Paris, handing it off to 394 where ever they met for return to South Paris. The
dispatcher eventually found there was less delay and hassle if he held the Paris crew on duty and had them
push 393 to Bryant Pond, depriving them of an early quit. I was in high school at the time and on good days
I often walked home instead of taking the bus. If the switch crew was still on duty when I got to the station
it meant they were likely going to push 393. Knowing many of the crew members I got quite a few rides to
Bryant Pond during my junior and senior years of high school!

Greg,
Neat photos. Interesting that the S. Paris switcher is flying white flags. Maybe because they are running as an extra back to South Paris?

The 393 that you saw last night departed Island Pond at 0734 this morning with the following:

GP40-2 3047
RM-1 804
GP40-3 3804
G GP0-2L 3014
15 centerbeam flats
3 boxcars
4 covered hoppers
1 hi-sided gondola
19 tank cars

That's 42 cars, including 1 load and 41 empties.
Have a great day,
Fritz

In the early/mid 70's 798/799 had working limits from South Paris east to Danville Jct. and west to
Bethel but usually left South Paris only to deliver cars to Homegas in Oxford and work the Norway
Branch. At the time Marcal paper in Mechanic Falls was worked by the 748/749 turn out of Portland.
You're right that they should have removed the flags while pushing west and put them on the leading
end on the return trip; somewhat lax but there were no scheduled trains- every train was an extra
flying white flags.

And now I notice 4537 appears to be missing flags entirely!

>work the Norway Branch

I think there was a mill in the athletic fields, no?

The Oxford Hills High School athletic fields located along Alpine St and at the north end of Charles St
in South Paris was once the location of Wilner Wood Products. Started after WW2 and operating into
the early 1980's the firm manufactured wood heels for the shoe industry and as a byproduct produced
wood flour which was used in the manufacture of linoleum. The wood flour was shipped bulk in box
cars to New Jersey ( and possibly other places ), some in B&M box cars assigned to this service. I've
tried to salvage a couple of poor under exposed shots- one of GT4444 in the plant and another of the
train leaving the plant traveling south along the east side of Charles St. 4444 is crossing Gary St and then
Charles St as in makes a 90 degree turn westward to enter the Norway Branch. The multi-story building
seen in the distance at the end of Charles St is the former Oxford County Fair Exhibition Building used
in more recent times as U ME classroom and office space- the high school is out of sight to the right.

Greg,
Keeps those photos and stories flowing. Those are great!

Last night's SLQ eastbound 394 arrived in Island Pond at 1941 with the following:

RM-1 806
GP40-2 3047
GP40-3 3806
12 centerbeam flats
1 bulkhead flat
3 boxcars
3 covered hoppers
3 hi-sided gondola
11 tank cars

That's 33 cars total, including 30 loads and 3 empties.

This morning's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0722 this morning with the following:

GP40-2 3007
GP40 3004
11 centerbeam flats
2 bulkhead flats
2 flats
1 boxcar
1 covered hopper
17 tank cars

That's 34 cars total, including 2 loads and 32 empties. Of interest were the RCPE grain hopper (2nd one I've seen this week) and the 2 empty SH flats, which I am guessing brought loads of stick rail east from the Steelton (PA) rail mill. Not sure where they unloaded though.

Have a great weekiend,
Fritz

I agree, great pics and thanks for the history update...I will try to picture those...uh...pics...next time we walk the tracks.