Fromway wrote:
How about this wild idea. What if the New Brunswick Empire made an offer for everything from Portland north...
Mr. Fromway, with your presumed reference to the United Empire Loyalists, you would appear to suggest that the Province make an offer to buy the former Maine Central. As Mr. MEC 407 suggests, I guess they could after formation of a US Corporation to effect the transaction.
But why?
MEC does not access Saint John; it must interchange with two Short Lines (CA and US) to have such. So, they'd have to be thrown in to the deal as well. And who says their owner, JD Irving, who uses them to handle timber from (apparently their own) Maine forests to their mills in St. John, from which much of the product is exported, would be receptive?
But why only Portland? if the Province's intent is to have DIRECT rail service for high value traffic (Beetles, Bennies, Bimmers, containers) from the Port to US Midwest markets they would need to acquire enough of the B&M so they could interchange with either PAS at Ayer or the B&A at Worcester.
Seems like "too tall an order" and in conflict with Timmy's apparent "all or nothing".