I think newby said it before,there's just so much trackwork to do its gonna take a while to see any improvements.
Peter B&MMEC
Railroad Forums
Bucksport Branch activity & news
- Guilford Rail System changed its name to Pan Am Railways in 2006. Discussion relating to the current operations of the Boston & Maine, the Maine Central, and the Springfield Terminal railroads (as well as the Delaware & Hudson while it was under Guilford control until 1988). Official site can be found here: PANAMRAILWAYS.COM.
Moderator: MEC407
Quite frankly there is no reason for the Buck to be more than 10 MPH.
CN9634 wrote:Quite frankly there is no reason for the Buck to be more than 10 MPH.Very true. But lately it hasn't even been that.
gokeefe
OK,they put in ties to hold the gauge,but didn't do any work on the roadbed(ballast) except for patch repairs 
result is crap happens. If the speed is under 10 mph,maybe, as time and manpower allows,some basic roadbed repairs??
result is crap happens. If the speed is under 10 mph,maybe, as time and manpower allows,some basic roadbed repairs??
The Land of Enchantment is not Flyover country!
Backshophoss wrote:If the speed is under 10 mph,maybe, as time and manpower allows,some basic roadbed repairs??I think the big issue here is they haven't got time or manpower to make the necessary repairs.
gokeefe
Granted,the route of the oil trains,the new sea container service startup,Conn river line,and Downeaster track maintance,
are the highest on the list for the track gangs,hopefully a small gang might work the branch as time,material allows.
(Does PAR still have section track crews??)
are the highest on the list for the track gangs,hopefully a small gang might work the branch as time,material allows.
(Does PAR still have section track crews??)
The Land of Enchantment is not Flyover country!
CN9634 wrote:Quite frankly there is no reason for the Buck to be more than 10 MPH.
Sure, but how about making it possible to just keep the trains on the tracks for a year straight without dumping one over!
CN9634 wrote:Quite frankly there is no reason for the Buck to be more than 10 MPH.Maybe, but the first 3 miles of the branch are currently 5 mph... Normal speed used to be 30 mph.
Related, the entire Madison branch (20 miles) is 5 mph. That's 4 hours to go 20 miles.
I can see running and Industrial tracks being 5 mph because of their limited tonnage and use but these branches require trainorders and see heavy, daily trains. I rather see them spend the money on the mainline but 5 mph is laughable. It was bad enough when they dropped all the tracks in Deerfield down to 5 from 10 when I was there I can't imagine going that far.
While in Maine last night I saw a story out of Bangor, that the Bucksport mill will be shutting down for 2 weeks. Not sure when it is supposed to happen or any other details...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123370123@N05/
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Dunno how the mill in question is fueled, but there have been stories about the increase in natural gas usage causing problems with pipeline capacity and pricing.
"A gray crossover is definitely not company transportation."
jaymac wrote:Dunno how the mill in question is fueled, but there have been stories about the increase in natural gas usage causing problems with pipeline capacity and pricing.My understanding is that they can burn coal, wood chips or natural gas in various parts of their facility.
gokeefe
From the Morning Sentinel:
Thanks very much to Dick H for sending me the link to the article.
Morning Sentinel wrote:Verso Paper Corp. said Friday it will idle its Bucksport mill for about two weeks to control inventory amid a flood of paper supply on the market and a spike in natural gas prices.Read the rest of the article at: http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Vers ... eeks_.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Verso, which Monday agreed to buy rival NewPage Holdings for $1.4 billion, employs about 560 workers at the Bucksport mill, said spokesman Bill Cohen.
The mill will shut down by Jan. 17 and remain idle for about two weeks, Cohen said. The company’s biomass boiler will remain in operation and produce electricity during the shutdown, he said.
“This is happening because of the extraordinary cost of natural gas, which happened last winter as well. And also, a soft order book, which is typical for this time of year. Instead of making paper and keeping it in a warehouse, we’re shutting down for two weeks,” Cohen said.
Thanks very much to Dick H for sending me the link to the article.
MEC407
Moderator:
Pan Am Railways — Boston & Maine/Maine Central — Delaware & Hudson
Central Maine & Quebec/Montreal, Maine & Atlantic/Bangor & Aroostook
Providence & Worcester — New England — GE Locomotives
Moderator:
Pan Am Railways — Boston & Maine/Maine Central — Delaware & Hudson
Central Maine & Quebec/Montreal, Maine & Atlantic/Bangor & Aroostook
Providence & Worcester — New England — GE Locomotives
MEC Messenger Fall 1981
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From that MEC Messenger article posted by BM6569 above:
"About the same time, St. Regis leaders announced plans to convert the mill's steam-producing boilers from oil to wood and coal"
Zounds, that was the energy short early '80s indeed - difficult to imagine such a proposal nowadays.
"About the same time, St. Regis leaders announced plans to convert the mill's steam-producing boilers from oil to wood and coal"
Zounds, that was the energy short early '80s indeed - difficult to imagine such a proposal nowadays.
Great pictures. Look at those ties, that's probably the last time a tie job went through there. Look at where those old timers are sitting on the spreader. priceless.