by bwparker1
Surprised some of this news has not been spread here:
1) Sounds like Maine Eastern in serving the Lewsiton Lower Branch to Pejepscot Mills for the first time since 1985!
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25084
2) Guilford ( I don't care if they're now Pan Am, to me their Guilford) is indeed relaying rail to North Anson, it is in the latest bulleting of the Pan Am Clipper (Gag!! Guilford Express) There are some pics if you download or view the PDF here: http://www.guilfordrail.com/xpress/2006Q1.pdf
Pan Am Railways is currently rehabilitating 4.23 miles of Maine Central Railroad Company’s former Kineo Branch to
reconnect the tracks of the Madison Branch to North Anson, Maine for a new rail customer, Cousineau Wood Products.
The $1.1 million project is being funded through a joint effort by Pan Am Railways, the State of Maine Industrial Rail Access
Program (IRAP) and the Town of Anson. IRAP provides funding for rail projects that meet the State of Maine’s criteria for
development of industry that requires rail transportation. In order to qualify for funding, an extensive application must be
completed that identifies the need for rail service and quantifies the cost benefits that will be realized by the project.
The Madison to North Anson project application was coordinated by Robert Worthley, Administrative Assistant for the Town
of Anson, with input from Randy Cousineau, President of Cousineau Wood Products, and Richard M. Willey, Senior Vice
President-Customer Service and Industrial Development for Pan Am Railways. The application outlined the cost benefits of
transporting Cousineau’s products by rail, and included the potential for product expansion and increased employment
attributable to Cousineau’s enhanced ability to compete in the marketplace as a result of transportation savings. The
application also included statements from several other industries in the Anson area that supported the project and indicated
that they could utilize rail transportation if the track were to be restored to operation. The ability of Cousineau Wood
Products to thrive and provide employment to residents of the Anson area was a vital element in the application process.
The rail line had been taken out of service in 1989 because of ice damage to the railroad bridge over the Kennebec River
between Madison and Anson. Pan Am Railways assessed the rail line condition and provided a scope of work for restoration
that included brush cutting, installation of ties and rail, reconstruction of three at-grade crossings, restoration of the
Cousineau sidetrack, culvert repairs, and bridge repairs. A key factor in the rehabilitation was bridge repairs to the Kennebec
River Bridge that included the replacement of damaged steel components, as well as masonry work and the installation of a
new deck of wood bridge ties.
The IRAP Agreement between the State of Maine and the Town of Anson was signed February 2, 2005, and on February 8,
2005 Pan Am Railways and the Town entered into an agreement for the rail line rehabilitation work. The Town provides a
Project Manager who oversees the work and coordinates with a Pan Am Railways representative to verify project charges.
The Town of Anson provided assistance on the grade crossing reconstruction work. They furnished detour signage, ballast
stone and bituminous paving. The roadway approaches were modified by the Town to provide a smooth transition to the
newly installed track.
Work on the project continued into early February of this year, but had to be discontinued due to seasonal weather conditions.
The remaining work is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2006.
There is a potential that the rail line will be extended an additional five miles in the future to Embden, Maine to serve a rock
quarry that is being developed by Pan Am.
Pan Am Railways looks forward to a long relationship with Cousineau Wood Products, and will, of course, actively market the
Madison – Anson area for new rail customers.
Contributed by: George S. Thayer
Brooks
1) Sounds like Maine Eastern in serving the Lewsiton Lower Branch to Pejepscot Mills for the first time since 1985!
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25084
2) Guilford ( I don't care if they're now Pan Am, to me their Guilford) is indeed relaying rail to North Anson, it is in the latest bulleting of the Pan Am Clipper (Gag!! Guilford Express) There are some pics if you download or view the PDF here: http://www.guilfordrail.com/xpress/2006Q1.pdf
Pan Am Railways is currently rehabilitating 4.23 miles of Maine Central Railroad Company’s former Kineo Branch to
reconnect the tracks of the Madison Branch to North Anson, Maine for a new rail customer, Cousineau Wood Products.
The $1.1 million project is being funded through a joint effort by Pan Am Railways, the State of Maine Industrial Rail Access
Program (IRAP) and the Town of Anson. IRAP provides funding for rail projects that meet the State of Maine’s criteria for
development of industry that requires rail transportation. In order to qualify for funding, an extensive application must be
completed that identifies the need for rail service and quantifies the cost benefits that will be realized by the project.
The Madison to North Anson project application was coordinated by Robert Worthley, Administrative Assistant for the Town
of Anson, with input from Randy Cousineau, President of Cousineau Wood Products, and Richard M. Willey, Senior Vice
President-Customer Service and Industrial Development for Pan Am Railways. The application outlined the cost benefits of
transporting Cousineau’s products by rail, and included the potential for product expansion and increased employment
attributable to Cousineau’s enhanced ability to compete in the marketplace as a result of transportation savings. The
application also included statements from several other industries in the Anson area that supported the project and indicated
that they could utilize rail transportation if the track were to be restored to operation. The ability of Cousineau Wood
Products to thrive and provide employment to residents of the Anson area was a vital element in the application process.
The rail line had been taken out of service in 1989 because of ice damage to the railroad bridge over the Kennebec River
between Madison and Anson. Pan Am Railways assessed the rail line condition and provided a scope of work for restoration
that included brush cutting, installation of ties and rail, reconstruction of three at-grade crossings, restoration of the
Cousineau sidetrack, culvert repairs, and bridge repairs. A key factor in the rehabilitation was bridge repairs to the Kennebec
River Bridge that included the replacement of damaged steel components, as well as masonry work and the installation of a
new deck of wood bridge ties.
The IRAP Agreement between the State of Maine and the Town of Anson was signed February 2, 2005, and on February 8,
2005 Pan Am Railways and the Town entered into an agreement for the rail line rehabilitation work. The Town provides a
Project Manager who oversees the work and coordinates with a Pan Am Railways representative to verify project charges.
The Town of Anson provided assistance on the grade crossing reconstruction work. They furnished detour signage, ballast
stone and bituminous paving. The roadway approaches were modified by the Town to provide a smooth transition to the
newly installed track.
Work on the project continued into early February of this year, but had to be discontinued due to seasonal weather conditions.
The remaining work is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2006.
There is a potential that the rail line will be extended an additional five miles in the future to Embden, Maine to serve a rock
quarry that is being developed by Pan Am.
Pan Am Railways looks forward to a long relationship with Cousineau Wood Products, and will, of course, actively market the
Madison – Anson area for new rail customers.
Contributed by: George S. Thayer
Brooks
