CENTRAL MAINE & QUEBEC RAILWAY (CMQ) — New Owner of MMA

[CN9634]

Being as the 6 former BNSF B23-7s were included in the sale to Fortress, I wouldn't be surprised if these units stuck around. That would eliminate the need to find 4-axle power (In a shrinking and expensive market) and in reality, they could operate the places that need 4 axle units with just those. I imagine they will need somewhere from 9 to 15 six-axle units.

[FLRailFan1]

They could potentially revive "Canadian American," last used in the Iron Road days. Iron Road used the word Railroad in the name; Fortress could perhaps use Railway or Rail System if they wanted or needed to make it slightly different.

There are other possibilities, such as Montreal & Aroostook, Quebec & New England, etc. I'm sure they'll come up with something and hopefully it'll have a nice ring to it.

How about QuebecAtlantic (to paraphrase Union Pacific). Reporting marks QARR.

[fogg1703]

Any news regarding re-hiring laid off MMA employees? About a month left before the purchase is final, how about equipment or operating rumors?

[CN9634]

There is nothing yet but you can sure expect a new name, logo and operating plan to emerge soon. I imagine these are being worked on now...

[MEC407]

The name of the new company shall be Central Maine & Quebec Railway.

From the Bangor Daily News:

Railroad Acquisition Holdings, the affiliate of New York-based investment firm Fortress Investment Group that is in the process of buying MMA out of bankruptcy, will change the railroad company’s name to the Central Maine and Quebec Railway.

John Giles, a consultant working with Fortress on the purchase of Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway, confirmed the new name in an email to the Bangor Daily News. He said the name was chosen because it “has a nice ring to it” and is an accurate description of the communities it serves.

Chalmers Hardenbergh, an astute railroad industry observer as editor of Atlantic Northeast Rails & Ports, said Fortress chose a descriptive name — something he said would not be as simple as one might think — though one that lacks the expansiveness compared to a name such as Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway.

“It’s interesting because a lot of Maine names have already been chosen,” Hardenbergh said. “How do you say Maine when you already have Maine Northern Railway, Eastern Maine Railway, Maine Eastern Railway, Maine Central Railroad, Boston and Maine. So almost by default you have to say central Maine or southern Maine, but of course they don’t operate in southern Maine.”

The new name is similar to that of Maine Central Railroad, which has been around for 100 years and remains the formal name of the railroad operated as part of Pan Am Railways’ network, Hardenbergh said.

“There’s a little bit of an echo there of history,” he said.

Read the rest of the article at: http://bangordailynews.com/2014/02/14/b ... c-railway/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Backshophoss]

Will the reporting marks be CMQR or CMQX?

[MEC407]

CMQ is also available, and would be a logical choice.

Probably wouldn't be CMQX, since "X" is only used for non common carriers.

[CN9634]

A nearly $1M project involving rail in Beattie Maine (Near the border by Jackman) involving EJ Carrier Inc will bring a large spur and operation to the Moosehead. With this as well as Jackman and potentially Greenville recieving biomass for the power plant, it is certainly possible a turn job could come to the Moosehead. Perhaps a bit of luck for the CM&Q

[JB283]

That´s good news. I was just looking on Google Earth earlier to see if there was any industry on the Moosehead. All i saw was the small siding there in Jackman. Do you know if the Centerbeams are being loaded or unloaded at that location?

[CN9634]

They are loaded to go West/South.

http://www.mooseriverlumber.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[fogg1703]

A nearly $1M project involving rail in Beattie Maine (Near the border by Jackman) involving EJ Carrier Inc will bring a large spur and operation to the Moosehead. With this as well as Jackman and potentially Greenville recieving biomass for the power plant, it is certainly possible a turn job could come to the Moosehead. Perhaps a bit of luck for the CM&Q

Is this a new chipping operation?

[KSmitty]

I see the forum name has formally been changed. Nice note of progress.

[MEC407]

Thanks to site administrator Jeff Smith for making that happen.

[CPF363]

A nearly $1M project involving rail in Beattie Maine (Near the border by Jackman) involving EJ Carrier Inc will bring a large spur and operation to the Moosehead. With this as well as Jackman and potentially Greenville recieving biomass for the power plant, it is certainly possible a turn job could come to the Moosehead. Perhaps a bit of luck for the CM&Q

What exactly will EJ Carrier Inc. transport over this new spur? Is this eastbound traffic towards the Maritimes or westward towards Montréal or both?

[CN9634]

A nearly $1M project involving rail in Beattie Maine (Near the border by Jackman) involving EJ Carrier Inc will bring a large spur and operation to the Moosehead. With this as well as Jackman and potentially Greenville recieving biomass for the power plant, it is certainly possible a turn job could come to the Moosehead. Perhaps a bit of luck for the CM&Q

What exactly will EJ Carrier Inc. transport over this new spur? Is this eastbound traffic towards the Maritimes or westward towards Montréal or both?

Round wood probably going elsewhere in Maine for processing .