Rockland Branch Discussion

MaineRailfan wrote: ↑Thu Jun 27, 2024 2:41 pm Typically it gets left at ASA, so I am guessing they left it at the interchange by the layover facility for CSX to pick up.

Except they didnt... as I pointed out several posts prior.

Emmett wrote: ↑Thu Jun 27, 2024 1:29 pm although I thought they liked to leave it in rockland typically

There's little rhyme or reason in sending 2308 all the way back to Rockland without any cars to haul.

NHV 669 wrote:

MaineRailfan wrote: ↑Thu Jun 27, 2024 2:41 pm Typically it gets left at ASA, so I am guessing they left it at the interchange by the layover facility for CSX to pick up.

Except they didnt... as I pointed out several posts prior.

My apologies, I misread your post and thought you said that they DID leave it there.

Goddraug wrote:The mill continues to spin. Rumors abound from a contact that MEDOT is already sending out feelers and has gotten some inquiries into the line, though no specifics about the companies or what their intentions would be.

Unless its VRS or a tourist operator its going to be a tough sell. With two online customers and no potential for further traffic growth, the situation isn't good.

If I owned a railroad, I wouldn’t be touching the Rockland Branch with a 10 foot pole. I’m convinced it’s cursed at this point. That said, I’m curious about those inquiring: They’ve got to know that Midcoast, the 6th operator of the line in the last 30 years, just dipped out, so someone somewhere must still believe there’s some value in the tracks.

I wouldn’t say there’s zero possibility for traffic growth, but there’s little opportunity right now. I’m more convinced by companies looking to do tourism operations with some minimal freight on the line than any operators coming in saying they’ll be running freight trains in any major capacity, since they’re just begging to be doomed from the get-go.

They are going to have a hard time finding new customers as a result of previously mentioned rates with CSX. In the off chance Dragon sells the plant or reopens production, obviously the cement business will come back.

I haven't seen it mentioned yet, but all the Dragon owned whale belly and flexi-flo hoppers have been cut up, besides one which was donated to the Belfast and Moosehead Lake. As part of that purge, the former TTX flatcar and the former MEC flat car which were owned by the DOT also got scrapped.

For the time being, I agree. As things continue to shift around with CSX’s track rehabilitation then perhaps there’ll be some possibilities that may spring up. Now, if I were MEDOT and someone came in proposing a service based on might-bes in the future as opposed to could-bes now, I’d ask them politely to leave my office.

MaineRailfan wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2024 8:30 am I haven't seen it mentioned yet, but all the Dragon owned whale belly and flexi-flo hoppers have been cut up, besides one which was donated to the Belfast and Moosehead Lake. As part of that purge, the former TTX flatcar and the former MEC flat car which were owned by the DOT also got scrapped.

You'd have to go back quite a few pages, about 6+ months ago when the process started. The whale Belly went to the BML back in mid March, as I posted about 10 pages ago.

From the Portland Press Herald:

Portland Press Herald wrote:ROCKLAND — City public safety crews responded Saturday afternoon to Molotov cocktails that were left on train tracks.

Officials received a call at about 6:30 p.m. about a bottle filled with gas and stuffed with a cloth that was burning on the tracks near the Maine Behavioral Health building.

Rockland police and firefighters responded. The first bottle had fallen on its side and burned out without exploding or the fire spreading. The second was found farther west on the tracks; it was upright but did not appear to be burning.

Source: https://www.pressherald.com/2024/07/07/ ... olice-say/

FGLK 2308 is at Rigby; looks like the curtain has closed on the Midcoast Chapter.

Bummer!

There had been a lone covered hopper left by the Amtrak shed in Brunswick. This morning it wasn't there. I'm guessing it went south with the engine.

FGLK 2308 seen heading west today on M427 at Worcester at 11:13:

AEAX 2012, the other RDC leased for the Coastliner service, has been dropped at Palmer, presumably to head back up the NECR to storage at Websterville with the rest of the AllEarth fleet.

https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/ ... 308592.pdf

MIDCOAST RAILSERVICE, INC. - DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE EXEMPTION - IN CUMBERLAND, KNOX, LINCOLN, SAGADAHOC COUNTIES, MAINE

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. §10502 and 49 C.F.R. parts 1121 and 1152, Midcoast Railservice,
Inc. (“Midcoast”), a Class III railroad common carrier, files this petition seeking an exemption
from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. §10903 to formally discontinue service over an approximately
58.68-mile rail line consisting of (1) the Brunswick Terminal Area between the east side of Church
Road, milepost 14.97, and Rock Jct., milepost 16.40; (2) the Rockland Branch between milepost
29.40 in Brunswick, Cumberland County, Maine, and milepost 85.55 in Rockland, Knox County,
Maine; and (3) the Atlantic Branch Line between milepost 85.55 and milepost 86.65 in Rockland.
The Subject Line runs through Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc Counties, Maine. The
Subject Line traverses through United States Zip Codes 04011, 04530, 04579, 04578, 04553,
04555, 04556, 04572, 04864, 04861, 04841. Sixteen stations exist on the line. A map of the
Subject Line is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
The Subject Line is owned by the State of Maine Department of Transportation ("Maine
DOT"). Midcoast has been operating the Subject Line pursuant to a Lease and Operating
Agreement (the “Lease”) with Maine DOT. Once the Midcoast discontinuance is consummated,
the Subject Line will remain a line of railroad owned by the State of Maine, but no operator with
a common carrier obligation will remain on the Subject Line.
...

Does this mean that MaineDOT will take over the maintenance costs, bridge inspections etc, or will they just stop doing any maintenance? Isn't rail necessary for BIW and national defense? Would the three remaining customers use a trackmobile or transload or switch to trucks? That's probably it for any future passenger service too

I believe MDOT will be doing so until a new operator comes along. Apparently Patriot Rail was kicking around in Brunswick a few weeks ago, so toss them into the myriad of interested operators on the line.