Rigby Yard — Activity, Sightings, and General Discussion

I observed the following lash-ups at Rigby this afternoon around 16:50. The "e" and "w" denote which directions the locomotives were facing.

Group 1:

MEC 604 e (SD40-2)
NS 3476 w (SD40-2)
MEC 516 e (GP40-2W)


Group 2:

HLCX 8070 e (SD40-2)
HLCX 7843 w (SD40-2)


Group 3:

MEC 340 e (GP40)
BM 330 e (GP40)
MEC 378 e (GP40)
MEC 508(?) w (GP40-2W)
(had a difficult time seeing the third digit of that unit but I think it was an 8)

7843 and 8070 were still there this afternoon.

Also there was MEC 351, notable because the Guilford Rail System lettering and "Big G" logo on the fireman's side of the unit have completely washed away. Strange, since the rest of the paint has held up pretty well.

Lots of other PAR Blue units there but I didn't have time to stop and record numbers.

MEC407 wrote: Also there was MEC 351, notable because the Guilford Rail System lettering and "Big G" logo on the fireman's side of the unit have completely washed away. Strange, since the rest of the paint has held up pretty well.

Did they paint that with Latex? LOL

Saw DOTX 218 parked behind the yard office this afternoon.

MEC407 wrote:Saw DOTX 218 parked behind the yard office this afternoon.

OH BOY! You get a slow order, you get a slow order, you get a slow order, EVERYBODY GETS A SLOW ORDER!

Seriously though, here to slaughter speeds on the rest of the Downeaster route, or ready for the annual run up D1 where they put half the sidings OOS?

Units at Rigby this morning around 10:00:

MEC 377 e (switching)

MEC 612 e
MEC 611 w
MEC 615 w

MEC 348 w

Observed today at 19:30:

MEC 348 w (switching)

BM 327 w behind the yard office, coupled to DOTX 218

Monster lash-up in front of the yard office:

MEC 349 e
GMTX 3001 e
MEC 502 w
MEC 606 e
MEC 610 w
MEC 613 w
BM 333 w

Observed today at 17:00:

MEC 348 w (switching)

300-series unit behind the yard office

In front of the yard office:

MEC 316 w

BM 330 e
MEC 505 w
GMTX 2232 w
GMTX 2217 w

(the GMTX units were previously leased by MBCR)

I saw this mentioned in the Portland History Facebook group, and it made me wonder. Those of you who work or have worked at Rigby, did you ever notice or recognize that traces of the old racetrack are still visible? I don't think it had even registered with me when I looked at the yard in Google Maps previously until it was pointed out.

Neat!

Observed at Rigby today around 17:15, all parked in front of the yard office:

MEC 609 w

MEC 316 w

BM 333 w
GMTX 3109 w
BM 340 w

3109 was idling and contributing lots of thick blue smoke to the neighborhood.

Is blue smoke better than black smoke?

Black smoke usually indicates a GE or an Alco... so I'd say black smoke is automatically superior.

A few nights ago I saw lights on inside PT Tower. Any idea what PAR is using the tower for these days?

Signal Maintainers used it for a base for a while after the roundhouse closed- may still. There probably is still a lot of
equipment (batteries, relays, etc.) related to the CTC in the lower level and the bungalow next door.

Thanks!