New Hampshire Central Railroad (NHCR) Discussion

[NHV 669]

Keep an eye out; SLR will be delivering a sleeper, Silver Splendor, to the NHCR late this week or possibly early next week for its new owners at Conway Scenic. The car left Los Angeles Saturday, should arrive in Chicago tomorrow, and will depart for freight delivery upon arriving in Albany on Wednesday.

[davidp]

Silver Splendor is actually former Denver Zephyr dome coach Silver Buckle. It is now configured as a lounge.

Dave

[NHV 669]

Yes, conflicting info when it first came up. Looks like it was a good restaurant business for the Caestecker family, until Amtrak sunk it with their ever-increasing rates.

[RAJDC85]

Bigfreight,
Thank you for the update on the work being performed by Maine Track Works! How much work is being done exactly? Great news to hear.

[bigfreight]

Most of the track work appears to be between the first and second crossing of US Rte 3 south of Groveton near as I can tell. The track that was stockpiled at A & B Constructions yard is gone.

[Fritz]

Hello,
Ex-Burlington dome "Silver Splendor" (RPCX 4735) was parked outside the Shops north of North Stratford this morning. I am wondering if it is being stored there until the line to Hazens and through Crawford Notch reopens in the spring. It was certainly neat to see it parked next to the EWJX flanger.
Best,
Fritz

[NHV 669]

Most likely, given that it looks as though Presby is taking cars at Issaacson Steel again. Easier to wait until all this mess melts in a few months, than to damage their only power trying to shuffle it back and forth for plow jobs.

[NHV 669]

The days of rails through the town of Littleton may be ending soon:

https://www.stb.gov/decisions/readingro ... enDocument

[b&m 1566]

Weren't the owners of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, looking to operate a dinner train out of Littleton, NH back in the mid to late 2000's? Back then the track had only been out of service for 10 years or less.

[Dick H]

Anyone know the weight of the rail on the Littleton Line?
Any possibility that any switches or rail might be usable on
the Concord-Lincoln, NH Mtn Division or Groveton Lines?
Any remaining crossing protection for parts for older
signals? Any artifacts, that the CSRX could use? Thanks.

[Safetee]

Never been to littleton, but i've seen a lot of other ex b&m branch lines in new hampshire and with very few exceptions they are 75/85 AS with lots of webber joints.

[S1f3432]

The 75/85 lb. rail was one of many things common on both the B&M and the MEC. Maine Central replaced
the Webber joints on the mainline years ago because they are a maintenance PIA. The oak filler blocks
decay and retain moisture causing the bolts to rot off. Take a track wrench and start to wind a nut off and
you will end up twisting the bolt off. They are still to be found on some side tracks.

[NHV 669]

85 pound for what I've seen, the rails are between 95-100+ years old in spots. Some rail itself is broken in a few areas, especially near Beacon Street. The only lighted protection in town is the big overhead Cantilever over cottage street.

[Dick H]

TV9 last evening showed some major flooding in Lancaster. No mention was
made of the NHCR rail line, but I am not familiar with the area depicted and
the location of the NHCR line there.

TV9 also mentioned flooding in Dalton NH from the Connecticut River. They
did not mention the out of service Mountain Division rail line in that area,
but maybe there was some damage there.

[NHV 669]

https://www.stb.gov/decisions/readingro ... enDocument

Effective this Sunday. Sounds like the state has the OK to start salvage operations immediately.