St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SLR/SLQ)

[Cowford]

It's notable (and not in a good way) that of Fritz's 10 consist postings for 393 in the last ~month, not one westbound load was recorded.

[S1f3432]

Back in the day CN solicited the mill traffic advertising third morning delivery in Chicago and
contributed to the car supply with the fleet of CNA and CNIS ( as well as those of US subsidiaries )
boxcars. Emmons also seemed to be going after prospective business. I wonder if GWI is too big and
sprawled out to have the resources to go after business in the hinterlands. Even though the shippers
may be located on MN or Panam it was my understanding that it was ultimately up to the shipper to
choose the routing albeit the railroads involved could influence the decision via rates, handling, etc.

[Fritz]

cowford and S1f3432,
I too have noticed the absence of loaded cars moving westbound. There were more loaded boxcars last summer and spring, but, even then, they have been way down all year.

Today's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0805 with the following:

QG GP40-2W 3014
GP40-2 3007
QG GP40 3105
8 centerbeam flats
1 bulkhead flat
7 hi-cube boxcars
10 propane cars
1 tank car
3 covered hoppers
1 hi-sided gondola

That's 31 cars total, all empties (again).

As the train departed, the tamper and regulator were preparing to go to work from the "house track".
Have a great day,
Fritz

[Fritz]

Hello,
Before the cold really sets in, today's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0805 with the following:

GP40 3004
QG GP40 3105
RM-1 805
GP40-3 3805
8 centerbeam flats
24 propane cars
3 covered hoppers
16 hi-cube boxcars
3 boxcars

That's 54 cars total, including 5 LOADS and 49 empties. As has been noted previously, these are pretty much the first westbound loads that I have seen since mid-summer. Hopefully, the numbers increase!
Have a great weekend,
Fritz

[Fritz]

Hello,
Both yesterday and today, we caught the SLQ westbound 393 departing Island Pond.

Yesterday's 393 departed the Pond at 0808 with the following:

Gp40-3 3804
RM-1 804
GP40 3004
1 centerbeam flat
2 bulkhead flats
1 covered hopper
5 tank cars
29 propane cars
1 boxcar
13 hi-cube boxcars

That's 52 cars total, including 2 loads and 50 empties.

Today's 393 departed the Pond at 0730 with the following:

8 centerbeam flats
1 covered hopper
9 tank cars
17 propane cars
16 hi-cube boxcars

That's 51 cars total, including 1 load and 50 empties.
Have a great weekend!
Fritz

[Fritz]

Hello,
Today's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0806 with the following:

QGRY SD40U 6904
GP40-2 3007
GP40-3 3803
RM-1 803
5 centerbeam flats
8 hi-cube boxcars
2 tank cars
18 propane flats
1 flat loaded w/ rail (SLR 20)

That's 34 cars total , including 1 load and 33 empties.

The flat loaded with rail made me wonder if they have been installing the new welded rail in NH and western Maine.

Also curious if anyone knows what happened to SLR GP40-2 3008. I haven't seen nor been able to trace it in a long time. Thanks!
Have a great evening,
Fritz

[NHV 669]

They dropped stone in Groveton 2 nights ago, the flat was dropped in Groveton around Halloween. The rail is headed to be used in the Richmond area.

[Fritz]

Thanks for the information, Casey!

Today's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0803 on this very frosty morning with the following:

GP40-2 3007
GP40-3 3803
RM-1 803
5 centerbeam flats
10 propane cars
4 tank cars
3 covered hoppers
1 hi-sided gondola
2 boxcars
13 hi-cube boxcars

That's 38 cars total, including 2 loads and 36 empties.
Have a great day,
Fritz

[NHV 669]

3806 and 806 have been spotted freshly painted, coupled together outside the CAD shops. No word yet on their eventual departure.

[Fritz]

Hello,
This morning's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0809 with the following:

GP40-3 3804
RM-1 804
RLHH SD40-2 3403
2 bulkhead flats
3 covered hoppers
19 propane cars
6 tank cars
2 boxcars
2 hi-cube boxcars
1 hi-side gondola

That's 35 cars total, including 1 load and 34 empties. 1-2 loads seem to be the normal these days, which (sadly) is an increase from late summer and fall).

What was not normal was the absence of any empty centerbeam flats from RCP in Island Pond (and there were only two loads there this morning). Apparently lumber shipments are way down but lumber prices are way up!

Looking forward to seeing the newly repainted 3806 and 806 returning to the SLR.
Have a great day,
Fritz

[Fritz]

Hello,
On this cold morning, the SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0838 with the following:

GP40-3 3805
RM-1 805
GP40-2 3047
4 centerbeam flats
13 propane cars
3 tank cars
2 covered hoppers

That's 22 cars total, all empties. No loads today.
Have a great day,
Fritz

[Fritz]

Hello,
On this slightly warmer morning, today's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0800 with the following:

GP40-2 3007
GP40 3004
GP40-3 3804
RM-1 804
12 centerbeam flats
3 covered hoppers
32 propane cars
5 tank cars
9 hi-cube boxcars
1 boxcar
1 hi-sided gondola

That's 63 cars total, including 9 loads and 54 empties.
Have a great day,
Fritz

[Fritz]

Hello,
After a quick run, today's SLQ eastbound 394 arrived in Island Pond around 1830 with the following:

QG GP40 3105
GP40-2 3035
QG GP40-2W 3014
8 centerbeam flats
16 hi-cube boxcars
6 tank cars
10 propane cars
2 covered hoppers

That's 42 cars total, including 41 loads and 1 empties. They spotted 7 loads at RCP and pulled 2 empties.
Have a great night,
Fritz

[Fritz]

Hello,
Today's SLQ westbound 393 departed Island Pond at 0753 with the following:

QG SD40U 6904
GP40-3 3803
RM-1 803
2 centerbeam flats
1 bulkhead flat
4 covered hoppers
3 tank cars
20 propane cars
5 hi-cube boxcars
3 boxcars
4 hi-sided gondolas

That's 42 cars total, including 5 loads and 37 empties.
Have a great weekend,
Fritz

[MEC407]

From the Portland Press Herald:

The Maine Department of Transportation is planning to demolish the southern half of the former Grand Trunk Railroad train trestle that runs from Portland’s East End to the B&M Baked Beans plant.

The span, which is visible from Interstate 295, has been eyed in the past as a recreational trail. And train enthusiasts have hoped to use it to restore passenger rail service from Portland’s Ocean Gateway to Lewiston.

The project is being undertaken at the request of the Board of Maine Harbor Commissioners, which oversees development and other activities in Portland Harbor.

Commission Chairman Daniel Haley Jr. said in an Aug. 17 letter to the state that trestle’s poor condition has reached a “critical level.” He said large pieces, including one 20-foot beam with 10-inch spikes, have fallen into the water, creating a “serious hazard to navigation” for boaters.

“Recreational boaters have struck floating timbers, doing damage to their vessels, but luckily there have been no injuries up to this point,” Haley wrote. “If one of these timbers were to get wedged in the steering gear of (a) ship or tug, it could be disastrous.”

Read more at: https://www.pressherald.com/2020/11/22/ ... -portland/