@next50years Yes, me too. I remember the trains that ran down those tracks very well. I can still see them in my mind whenever I'm in the Calais area. Seems like yesterday they were in the downtown yard. Here today, gone tomorrow... Sad that Timothy Mellon abandned the line.
A spokesman from NBSR said if the Calais branch rails were completely intact, & still in place between Ellsworth, & Ayers Jct, they would be using it on a regular basis, since it's a direct line from New Brunswick, to Bangor, & the Northern Maine Jct. interchange. NBSR would be able to increase their freight traffic exponentially going that route and save $ in the long-run, on operating costs instead of going all the way up & around through Canada every time just to get to Bangor from Woodland
I bet you onece when I retire & get my own railroad running in Dixie I will head up there & rebuild every single foot of that line, I will not sell it to Guilford as a matter of fact I would probably buy the trackage they use on this branch. Then I would conscruct all of the buildings that came with this railroad, Find some old Alcos & MEC 519 & 501, restore them to operating condition then buy some open window coaches, use those on the whole branch. Meanwhile 4 C424s & a U18B runaround w/ freit
@tartopfan That would be great. There's lots of opportunity for that too. You could interchange with at least 3 different railroads that way. And you'd also have potential access to a deep water port for intermodal and tanker cars in Eastport. There's lots of opportunities there already, it just needs some serious cash to get the ball rolling.
@GP9railfan the funny thing too is that Im in ALABAMA!!!!!! & yet I worry about a abandoned rail line that is across the country that I have never heard of until this video has been posted & yet I love this line!
wow. i didn't realize the old mec line was in such a bad state of repair/abandonment ! cool video and the song fits too lots of cool pics of gp7's or 9's i have a hard time distiguishing them,maybe the state would purchase all of this and bring it back to life to?if there was enogh demand for it
@rockinrollfan37 Demand would be there if the track was still around, and useable. Guilford really screwed up when they abandoned it in the mid 80's. Now there's so much potential there since fuel prices are as high as they are now. Trains are more popular than ever now. How the times have changed! Put the rails back, & I guarantee there will be lots of freight traffic moving through there again. There's even opportunity for the Amtrak Downeaster to get access to Canada border.
@rockinrollfan37 LOL! Yeah, it was a great line in it's day. A model railroaders dream for sure. My Dad has an N scale layout that models a portion of this old line. It's actually the oldest line in the state of Maine. Lots of history for sure.
We shall see what happens with the Calais branch' future. Eastport intermodal freight almost became a reality not too long ago. The only problem is the reservation sits on the old Eastport spur ROW, & there's a church in the way now. The sad thing is this this branch has so much potential, but like you said, lack of jobs, & the economy are the problem. The state wants to re-open this line in the future if there's enough interest again. The old ties, & rails beyond repair so the took them out.
Cattle and wood pulp are a mainstay, and there is strong talk of a pellet mill being built in Baileyville with it's primary customer being the port. I rode the "new" railbed from Ellsworth to just shy of Ayers Junction recently and the did do a remarkable job on the restoration. Pretty ride to boot. Maybe someday there will be a call for the branch to reopen.
There used to be a steady stream of American and Canadian trucks and now I can go most of the way across without meeting a soul. Without industry, there is no need for either rubber or steel wheels to roll. This video is as much about the decline of a state as it is the fall of a railroad. On a good note, a LOT of money is being spent on upgrades at the Federal Marine Terminal in Eastport, once the lines easternmost terminus.
It's odd that so many talk of "transportation policy" when it is more a trade/environmental policy. We make it possible for other countries to get their goods here cheaper than we can, we use environmental laws to destroy the fishing/logging/ and potential gas industries, then we blame trucks. I have driven the Airline for 15 years now hauling freight in and out of Washington County and there is NOTHING left to haul.
The guy talking about how trains bring more development etc. should think about how many more trucks and cars have to run up and down the road to make up for what can be shipped via rail in a much more efficient and environmentally friendly way.
@CSXtrackworker Thank you. You're welcome. The song is called "Shortline Blues" by Bob Woods. Also listed in the end credits. He has lots of good train songs if you like this one.
@GP9railfan Thank's for the song info! It is sad seeing all these old great's go the way of the do do bird. Think my 2 favorite railroad's that are no more are the Lehigh Valley& the O&W railroad. I love to drive around and look for old wayside landmark's& building's from bot of those railroad's. You think I would get enough of that at work! lol Good thing about the line I work on, is getting all the goodies they don't use anymore. Wayside phone's from the old call boxe's, old tool's, paperwork
@CSXtrackworker You're welcome. I grew up with Seaboard practically in by back yard in the mid 80's when I was still living in NC. That was a real railroad, & they loved their railfans. They still had cabooses back then, and train crews would toss me all kinds of goodies as they went by. I wish I had a camera back then, but I was only a poor kid then... MEC & SBD are my 2 faves. CSX needs to paint up some heritage units like UP has!! That would be great if they did that.
@GP9railfan Seaboard was a good railroad. So was Chessie. When they were merged to form CSX it was off to a good start. Then John Snow took over CSX and just about ran the railroad into the ground. Thankfully we have a good president now and he is investing in billion's in upgrades..We went from dead last in the class 1's to back and forth with NS for 1st place. It would be nice to see CSX do that, but with how they repaint engine's, unfort it wont be anytime soon.
@LordoftheKaty Yes that would be nice to see. Do a couple of heritage pain scheme's like te UP did. But, you will not see that anytime soon or ever with CSX unfort.
That guy was an idiot they could of left the track for a tourist line & also that singer seemed like was singing about this line & what could be done. Altough I live In a little town in Alabama I have that same feeling cause back in 1880 there was a little shortline called The Fort Payne & Eastern that hauled Passenger, coal, & Iron ore to Gasden, AL. & shared tracks with the Southern R.R. Then after 5 years the line went bankrupt & the only thing left of that line is some photos & roadbed.
I have spent the last 27 years traveling from MA to way Down East Maine, and I prefer the after images. Washington County Maine is one of the few remaining places where you can lie awake at night and not hear trains. The images conjur up many romantic feelings, and the song likewise, but trains bring more developement, traffic,people. WalMart would love a train running to Calais, so it can ship more cheap chinese junk to Calais.
@4202EJW Timothy Mellon Happened. He abandoned this line for no real reason, other than to avoid paying for the upkeep on this branch. This line was still running trains on a daily basis when it was abandoned. Thanks for stopping by. ;)
Hi I live in CT p&w country and for us historic guys The Gone but not for gotton Newhaven railroad Much like giulford virtual over night wiped out the good reps of the fomer lines. Guilford lines reminds me of The dreded Pencentral just in modern times
Yes, unfortunately it's all too common, especially in the more remote areas. Mostly Timothy Mellon, & David Fink's fault for letting it happen, during the early/mid-80's Guilford takeover of B&M, MEC, & D&H. Allot of good roads like the one in this video were ruined/abandoned when Guilford came into town. Thanks for watching.
You need to remember that the MEC and BM were thriving in New England because of the paper industry. When the paper dried up, so did the RR's. You cant have a busy RR with out industry to support it. It sucks I know, but thats the way it happened,
Yes. That's true, & the big RR strike in the early 80's didn't help things either. This Branch was operating in the black all the way until the day Guilford abandoned it. They abandoned it because thy didn't want to spend money on maintaining it, & aas a result, ran it into the ground. Literally. Sad. Gotta love Timothy Mellon's decisions.
What the Hell has happened to common sense in the state of Maine? Railroads are the best asset for returning jobs to this state, and the Calais Branch was an under utilized resource. I hope they relay those rails and get back to business here. Baldacci has screwed up our schools and our railroads.
@PRR5406 Well said. Thanks. As you probably know this branch is/was a direct line from Bangor to St Stephen, NB Canada. Domtar, Irving, & the Eastport deep water freight Terminal authorities are trying to get more funds allocated to get the Eastport spur back up & running out to Perry for now at least with a staging terminal there. Possible pipeline operations out to/from the piers for petroleum, or LNG operations from the Perry site. It's all up to the State right now.
(contd) The rest of the mainline Calais Branch from Bangor, to St Croix Jct. could be re-opened if the demand goes any higher, with Domtar Corp, Irving, Eastport Terminal, & NBSR expressing a very big interest in the project already, which means things could start to happen quickly. The cost would pay for itself easily within 10 years or so, depending on the amount of freight traffic. Since there aren't any low overpasses on this line, Intermodal freight traffic could also be a possibility....
Yep. My Grandfather, & I used to see her alot, running loaded pulp cars out to Eastport back in those days. Those were the days when real railroads still roamed the land. I miss those days. Lots of great memories. Seeing this branch go abandoned, & then get torn up is like losing a longtime friend. Long live the Pine Tree Route (in our memories at least).
all the railroads are disapppearing, we used to have a birdseye brocili plant in caribou maine and it closed and some of the lines closed . now, only 1 train comes through every two months. we get LOTS of snow so, i dont really know how it gets through and most of the parts of the tracks are grown in with weeds
Trucks are in-efficient, & wasteful. The average 50' rail car can hold 2-3X the amount as 1 truck can. Where do you think those trucks get their freight? Cars don't weigh enough to do nearly as much damage as the average 70-120,000 Lb. truck does. the average car only weighs 3-5,000 Lbs, so not much damage from them. Lets not forget how much traffic the trucks tie up also. The tracks are ready to be put back in place, & the state may be re-opening a portion of the line to Eastport for freight.
@GP9railfan Trucks are also more versatile, faster, and cheaper. There is no need for a business to order its stock by the railcar, and once it leaves the shipper, it is a straight shot to the consignee. Seen any rr tracks built to the back doors of a WalMart lately?
@GP9railfan I love the railroads, but I can also understand the writing on the wall. How many times did Mellon try to run The Downeaster (I think that was the name) intermodal train and make it work? There is a large investment sitting in Waterville just growing weeds right now. It just doesn't work. The commercial and industrial scenes are demanding a different service now.
@ke1lb Agreed, but if fuel costs keep going up the way they are, the industrial/commercial side is going to look elsewhere to keep shipping costs down, & customers happy. Out where I am right now in California, rail is king as far as long distance mass-freight shipment goes. Over the road trucking has taken a big hit with rising operating costs.
@GP9railfan Yes, point taken, but you guys live in... well... another planet compared to what we deal with here. Your terrain and infrastructure are FAR different than areas such as New England. Rail simply does not have the required flexibility. They (Pan-Am) have tried numerous times to coax the little industry we have left into container traffic, and it fails for whatever reason. Our northern paper mills just moved to truck because MMA could not step up to the plate.
@GP9railfan . The State of Maine also just bought 300 some miles of rail from MMA because our industry couldn't provide enough revenue for them to maintain the stretches. Of course, we are not very happy that our tax money is being used for a toy railroad. We have few ports, none of which are containerized. Again, the Downeast Line is ready to have the rails relaid if business demands, but I don't see it unless the Eastport sea terminal REALLY takes off.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Trains have one major flaw in todays industry. To get the load there when the customer wants it. Until trains can run as freely as trucks do they will not be as useful to industry.
Now the state of Maine has ripped out most of its rail corridors down east. Thus gauranteeing the demise of railroads.
Trucks dont destroy the roads, every one does. Just remeber the next time you buy anything the low cost of being able to buy it was because it came on a truck.
Thanks for watching. This branch desperatly needs to be brought back in order to service the Mill, & several points along the way to/from Bangor, & Canada more easily. This branch is/was a direct line to/from Eastern Canada from the central Maine region.
Yep, & the oldest too. The CSRR is restoring a portion of it in Ellsworth/Brewer. There should be regular Spring-Fall excursions running really soon! There are plans to partially re-open it from Woodland to Perry using the Eastport spur ROW. which was abandoned in 1978. The Calais branch/Woodland spur is still around, except for about 100 miles in the middle.
I live near the old northern line in New Hampshire. It was sad to see that line get ripped up and turned into a hiking trail. bringing back rail service would creat so many new jobs. Some day Guilford will be out of there and stop running the rail service as a realstate.
Yeah, I agree, & it should be a crime to rip up rails and turn them into worthless trails, as others have also said here. Make the trails elsewhere, not on RR right of ways! Our economy would probably be alot better off if more trains were around. The cost of shipping alone would be much lower using rail service instead of having so many trucks tearing up the roads, & only getting 6-8 MPG in the process. Not to mention, trains are a more efficient transport method as well.
Yep. There's a club that still operates on a 10 mile portion every so often. Mostly Ski mobiles in the winter though. The Calais branch is almost all but a memory now that the mill is closed since 2-1/2 weeks ago. The only active part is around Ellsworth/Brewer with the DSRR tourist trains starting up this summer. Thanks for watching, & your comments. :)
I remember as a kid putting pennies on those tracks, and jumping off Blacks Bridge, sad, now with the mill shutting down, that last bit of rail will shut down too...
Thanks for the video, nice to watch a bit of home...
Very nice video. Do you know of any project estimates for the cost associated with restoring the Maine Central Railroad Calais Branch? As a kid, I remember seeing the trains run in the mid 70s and early 80s. So may flattened dimes and pennies...
Thanks. Me too. I want to see trains on it again. The mutually agreed upon figure for restoring the Calais Branch Railroad, not including a Route 1 to Eastport spur, to initial freight service (the 85 lb. Class I in place) was $18, 371,000 with an annual maintenance cost of $1.2 million. Which would pay for itself in about 10 years of freight service to Woodland/Baileyville, & St. Stephen NB Canada. This would become a shorter payback period if the Eastport terminal spur was to be reactivated.
I know right? Rail is still the fastest, most efficient way to move the goods, & passengers (hi-speed trains). Have you seen the new show "Extreme Trains" on the History channel yet? There's a couple episodes online too on the history(dot) com site. Matt Bown is the host, & he's from around here. I'd like to get a chance to maybe work with him someday.
Excellent information. Thanks for sharing. With the trucks being loaded with logs and salmon one would think rail would be a better choice. Those logging trucks really tear up the roads. Maybe someday when I retire back home, I'll spend my free time exploring options like this to help revitalize the Eastport area.
You're welcome. That would be great if we could find more people like you. I agree with you 100% on this. The Eastport spur may be re-activated soon. Talks are going on right now. Part of the Eastern end of the mainline from Miltown, to Ayers Jct are still in place, so getting the trains to & from Eastport/Perry is possible. Now the rest of the mainline from Ayers Jct, to Washington Jct. just needs to be put back back in place. The Calais Branch is one of the oldest RR in the state of Maine.
Maybe BNSF will get a chance to put it back to operational status again someday soon with the 2 rail fans (Obama, & Biden) in office now. Thanks for watching & the comments too.
Great -Great ! I'm a Bar Harbor kid of 64 in Myrtle Beach SC. I remember quite well the MEC line through Ellsworth. Even the passenger trains the last one from Bangor to Calis ran about 1960. I remember Dad taking two preachers to Holden Maine from Clifton to FLAG down the morning passenger train to Calis around 1959.` They got it too ! I have a 1930 passenger fare w/times for entire MEC line w/ferry & Canadian connections. There was sleeper service from Calis to Boston !
Cool. Thanks for the comments! The DSRR is re-building a portion of the line from Washington Jct. - Green lake for excursion service. Too bad that the rest is almost gone. Check out the video response for this video. It's part 2. Part 3 will be up in the next week or so, with video footage. Stay tuned, & Thanks again!
Beautiful and very touching video. It is very sad when u see a railroad that has brought u many fond memories go to pot, and all that remains is sections of abandoned, forlorn rails. Thanks for sharing your photos of this beautiful part of the country with us railfans.
Thank you, for the compliment! I'll be posting video footage of what's left of this branch in part 3, (as soon as I finish producing it). You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
Hi Domo! I was stationed in Atsugi/Yokusuka in the early-mid 90's. Wonderful place, & friendly people there. If you like this, then check out my video resonse. It's another segment of this branch line.
The combination of the 1970's Staggers Act, and Volkers interest rates were the death of quite a few RR's and a hell of a lot of ROW's in the 80's. Get trucks off the road, use more railroads! Nice video.
Yep. I agree. Well our next president, & VP seem to both be quite fond of trains, so we shall see what happens in the next few years. Thanks for your comment!
@Amiduffer Staggers Act deregulated the railroad industry from government regulation. It was government regulation that killed the railroad and in the 70's led to its near extinction, and it was regulation that led to tremendous bankruptcies. ICC was worst, and because of regulation sucking money from railroads, none were able to improve infrastructure which made them inefficient and why many industries switched to trucking. Since the deregulation, the railroad has actually improved greatly.
@LordoftheKaty De-industrialization, collapse of revenue, and shareholder values killed the trains, not regulation. Your libertarian dogma is the economic equivalent of the days when people blamed evil spirits for sickness or angry gods for bad weather.
@Amiduffer Really? I beg to differ, because I have undeniable evidence to back my claims. Facts I should say. For instance, because of regulation, 93% of revenue was going to expenditures for the railroads meaning none could upgrade their systems and became inefficient and collapsed. After Staggers Act, train derailments has decreased by 65%. Productivity has increased as well as efficiency by more than 80%. Safety has improved. Wages increased. 30 years of success and growth begs to differ.
@Amiduffer We can both agree on de-industrialization, because that has had a tremendous effect as well. However, your claim is that regulation is the solution and deregulation was the problem. The many years government regulation had control of the railroad industry and nearly led to the industries collapse in the 70s throws your belief out the window. It was so bad that even CARTER deemed it necessary. As much as I hate to see lines abandoned, sometimes it is necessary financially.
@Amiduffer You cannot run a railroad and expect to keep lines that are unprofitable, that requires allocations of funds not even produced by the line itself, and expect efficiencies and budget surpluses from it. Government through ICC tried to enforce that on the railroads and it was a failure and again led to many of them collapsing. "...economic equivalent of the days when people blamed evil spirits for sickness or angry gods for bad weather." LOL Is that all you can seriously say?
@LordoftheKaty People have degrees in "economics" and they seriously believe in magic, and invisible hands, which is about as scientific as believing in evil spirits. Carters whole administration was a disaster, as anyone who was alive at that time remembers. Every administration since Nixon has slowly turned our former mighty industrial economy into a post-industrial nightmare. Penn Central was a typical example of a RR that was looted by financial sharks, leaving it bankrupt.
@Amiduffer Yes, that is correct. But the greatest moocher is our private central bank the Federal Reserve who has devalued our currency by 98%, created perpetual inflation and debt with the fake money they loan to us at interest which effects the economy disastrously while Wall Street Banksters and special interest play the flute of this madness to their greed. The Fed is the reason for our economic collapse, as well as special interest groups. However, regulation is still a disaster as well.
@Amiduffer Here is the thing you seem to forget. The only way Wall Street and the Fed can exist without consequence to their fraud is because of government and special interest. The Federal Reserve they own was created under their special interest, they use special interest to influence laws and legislation to protect them from prosecution, and they use special interest to control the false left right paradigm. Laws against fraud and bans on special interest is the only regulation necessary.
@LordoftheKaty No, both of them were a creation of the British Empire in order to subvert the United States FROM the government. Glass-Steagall is the solution to that. I do find it amusing that your entire philosophy came from that same Empire.
@Amiduffer Again, you neglect the fact that this type of fraud can only exist with the collusion of government. Why do you think all these mega corporations who commit fraud and get away with it are all in bed with government? Because ONLY with government power and influence can this fraud exist. Believe it or not, BECAUSE of the fraud banking is based on, I support Glass-Steagall. Again, politicians are financed by the banks. My philosophy is not theirs, because they openly ridicule it.
@LordoftheKaty You, government officials, and the hyenas in the financial system were all indoctrinated in the dog-eat-dog insanity of laissez faire the last 50 years, even though its traditionally been a cover for the looting of civilizations by the financial oligarchy. "Clean your finger, before you point at my spots" Ben Franklin.
Yep. The big union strike when President Reagan was in office didn't help things for MEC. Guilford came in & cut alot of stuff that probably shouldn't have been after they bought them out.
This is a really sad vid and I'm really pissed at Guilford now that they just couldnt have the reponsiblility to maintain the tracks. This is classic Guilford. For example in Plainville, CT Guilford runs the lines are are doing a horrible job of it the lines are in horrible condition and they have done nothing to fix it. Damn Guilford deserves to go out of business cause thy have costed more mooney then earned more money. They have also disapointed many people like us who love to chase trains
Yep, that was the idea (to be a sad video). You're right, that's exactly what happened to the Calais Branch. It's ALL Timothy Mellon's fault for letting it just happen too. At least the DSRR is reversing some of the damage (about 35 Mi.). This was a perfectly good line when MEC was using it,before Guilford ruined it by not keeping up with needed maintenance. Thanks for watching this. Zach
Once again, feel free to voice your opinion on this on here. Your comments posted here are VERY important to the Downeast Scenic RR (DSRR), & the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust (DRHPT). Enough interest means the entire 134 mile line may possibly re-open that much sooner! Links to the DSRR/DRHPT are in my page, & this video description also.
Thank you to everyone for watching this! GP9RAILFAN
Stupid political decisions in the past didn't help things either. At least now, more, & more people are finally realizing trains are the most efficient way to move mass amounts of goods quickly, & effectively, at the lowest cost possible. They got it right during WWII with the Challengers, & Big Boys. Why can't they continue that using the big diesel-electric locos? Use the trucks for local/specialty (UPS, FedEx,etc.) deliveries only. That would eliminate alot of traffic headaches too.
I know, I'm upset about the Branch being gone too. This video is dedicated to bringing some, or (possibly) all of it back again. The state screwed up when they took the rails up. All it really needed was a few places (caused by beaver damage) fixed, & new ties in a few spots, & it would've been useable again. At least the beaver damage has been repaired though. The state wants to bring the rails back when the demand is high enough. The demand is already here!!
Here's a few reasons why: The Eastport freight terminal, Woodland Pulp mill, DSRR, Canada, the eastern Maine region in general, & even New England as a whole could really use this branch right now.
Well railroads are all running to make a profit. Rails used to come to my town to carry out covered horse carriage's, about half a century after that it carried out mill products and metal. It spurred off from a "Y" in the middle of the woods, south was Newburyport, north was Salisbury plane, and East was my town. my side of the rails is now a bicycle path. "reason why I mentioned the path"
Thanks. When Guilford took over, alot of places like this were tuned into parks/trails. Guilford abandoned the Calais yard, & eventually the rest from Calais to Bangor in the mid 80's, & the town of Calais seized the opportunity to turn the yard in downtown into a waterfront park since the passenger station was no longer in use.(about 300' beyond the yard). Passenger service officially ended for the Branch in 1959, & the station now has a new life as a Native American Heritage center/museum.
Me too! The Downeast Scenic RR is restoring a 35 mile portion of the line over in Ellsworth, but the rest of the line has been ripped up to make way for a useless trail.
This line means alot to me as you can probably already guess. I remember watching the very engines(565, & 571) in these photos run up & down those rails when I was a kid, out rail fanning with my Grandfather. The song seems to fit the occasion almost too well. Thanks again for your comments.
I do have to say one thing; at least they left most of the rails in place down there. Not like here in Canada, where they've been ripped up in the blink of an eye!
Thanks. The only rails left are from Ayers Jct. to the Woodland interchange in Charlotte, & from Brewer, to Ellsworth-Washington Junction. There's about 100 miles of the mainline (in the middle) that was ripped up last April. The rails in most of these photos are gone now. I've got a video of it that I'll be posting here soon. Thanks for leaving your comments, & for watching this.
Thanks for the comment. I'm just helping them out where I can, because this line really means something to me. I agree. Tom needs to grab that boxcar before it disappears for good (hint, if you're watching the comments on here Tom). Last time I heard, someone was re-painting it the original hunter green/harvest gold colors. Not sure if it's still there though...
Please don't hesitate to voice your opinion on this! Your comments left here are very important to the Downeast Scenic RR (DSRR), & the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust (DRHPT). Enough interest means the entire 134 mile line may possibly re-open that much sooner! Links to the DSRR/DRHPT are in my page, & this video description.
Thank you to everyone for watching this! GP9RAILFAN
Oh, I have. I've got a Maine Central N scale layout & several books on MEC to keep me busy on the not so nice days outside. Thanks for watching my videos!
Thanks RP, I appreciate your comment, & figured the song fit the occasion really well. It's Bob Woods "Don't forget the trains" album. More to follow. Stay tuned, & Thanks again!
Yeah, I don't know why they do that sort of thing, especially when fuel prices are like they are these days. Trains are alot more efficient at moving freight, than trucks could ever be. Thank you for your comment.
here they did the remove of railway tracks mostly in the 80´s and 90´s.
Free riding for free citizens - thats what the whole society proclaimed. And i think the responsible people still have not realized what problems the rose up by deleting the railroad networks.
There´s many regions where you really need a car to get along and elder people are fixed to the place as there is no more public traffic. Even along former train mainlines
I agree. We just drove on the rail bed from Ayers Jct. to Dennysville yesterday, & the tracks are all gone now. It's a sad sight (almost like losing a long time friend). They're still pulling the ties out of the ground, & I've got some of that the trip on video. Thanks.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment too. Cool. I've got a Maine Central layout in N scale that my Dad & I are building together. Some of the test videos are on my page if you want to watch them.
I had the good fortune (and the time) to drive east from Ellsworth to Calais to see first hand this historic branch. I was amazed by this engineering feat as we walked several miles of the branch. Unfortunately,market forces drive the viability of the branch. I hope your efforts to start a tourist line will bear fruit. how can I help and where can I get more information? Thanks! Steve in Jupiter FL
Hi Steve. Thanks for sharing that. The links to the DSRR & the future plans of this line are in the bottom of the video description just to the right of the Maine Central logo. I'll PM you a few links that you may be interested in also. Thanks again.
Yeah, A big waste of a good line, & it was sad when it was abandoned. The area hasn't been quite the same since it happened. It just shows you where the economy has headed over the last 25 years. I hope the rails return someday for everyone's sake that lives up there. The state left a clause in the agreement to keep the ROW open for new rails to go back in the future if the demand gets high enough for them again. Thanks for watching.
Lived in St. Andrews, NB back in 1974, remember the line well plus the interchange at Milltown, nice video brought back some good memories.
next50years 1 week ago
@next50years Yes, me too. I remember the trains that ran down those tracks very well. I can still see them in my mind whenever I'm in the Calais area. Seems like yesterday they were in the downtown yard. Here today, gone tomorrow... Sad that Timothy Mellon abandned the line.
GP9railfan 1 week ago
A spokesman from NBSR said if the Calais branch rails were completely intact, & still in place between Ellsworth, & Ayers Jct, they would be using it on a regular basis, since it's a direct line from New Brunswick, to Bangor, & the Northern Maine Jct. interchange. NBSR would be able to increase their freight traffic exponentially going that route and save $ in the long-run, on operating costs instead of going all the way up & around through Canada every time just to get to Bangor from Woodland
GP9railfan 1 month ago
I bet you onece when I retire & get my own railroad running in Dixie I will head up there & rebuild every single foot of that line, I will not sell it to Guilford as a matter of fact I would probably buy the trackage they use on this branch. Then I would conscruct all of the buildings that came with this railroad, Find some old Alcos & MEC 519 & 501, restore them to operating condition then buy some open window coaches, use those on the whole branch. Meanwhile 4 C424s & a U18B runaround w/ freit
tartopfan 2 months ago
@tartopfan That would be great. There's lots of opportunity for that too. You could interchange with at least 3 different railroads that way. And you'd also have potential access to a deep water port for intermodal and tanker cars in Eastport. There's lots of opportunities there already, it just needs some serious cash to get the ball rolling.
GP9railfan 1 month ago
@GP9railfan the funny thing too is that Im in ALABAMA!!!!!! & yet I worry about a abandoned rail line that is across the country that I have never heard of until this video has been posted & yet I love this line!
tartopfan 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Thank you, thsi has been added to ur playlists here and on facebook...
PoetryETrain 2 months ago
wow. i didn't realize the old mec line was in such a bad state of repair/abandonment ! cool video and the song fits too lots of cool pics of gp7's or 9's i have a hard time distiguishing them,maybe the state would purchase all of this and bring it back to life to?if there was enogh demand for it
rockinrollfan37 3 months ago
@rockinrollfan37 Demand would be there if the track was still around, and useable. Guilford really screwed up when they abandoned it in the mid 80's. Now there's so much potential there since fuel prices are as high as they are now. Trains are more popular than ever now. How the times have changed! Put the rails back, & I guarantee there will be lots of freight traffic moving through there again. There's even opportunity for the Amtrak Downeaster to get access to Canada border.
GP9railfan 1 month ago
@rockinrollfan37 LOL! Yeah, it was a great line in it's day. A model railroaders dream for sure. My Dad has an N scale layout that models a portion of this old line. It's actually the oldest line in the state of Maine. Lots of history for sure.
GP9railfan 1 month ago
We shall see what happens with the Calais branch' future. Eastport intermodal freight almost became a reality not too long ago. The only problem is the reservation sits on the old Eastport spur ROW, & there's a church in the way now. The sad thing is this this branch has so much potential, but like you said, lack of jobs, & the economy are the problem. The state wants to re-open this line in the future if there's enough interest again. The old ties, & rails beyond repair so the took them out.
GP9railfan 5 months ago
Cattle and wood pulp are a mainstay, and there is strong talk of a pellet mill being built in Baileyville with it's primary customer being the port. I rode the "new" railbed from Ellsworth to just shy of Ayers Junction recently and the did do a remarkable job on the restoration. Pretty ride to boot. Maybe someday there will be a call for the branch to reopen.
ke1lb 6 months ago
There used to be a steady stream of American and Canadian trucks and now I can go most of the way across without meeting a soul. Without industry, there is no need for either rubber or steel wheels to roll. This video is as much about the decline of a state as it is the fall of a railroad. On a good note, a LOT of money is being spent on upgrades at the Federal Marine Terminal in Eastport, once the lines easternmost terminus.
ke1lb 6 months ago
It's odd that so many talk of "transportation policy" when it is more a trade/environmental policy. We make it possible for other countries to get their goods here cheaper than we can, we use environmental laws to destroy the fishing/logging/ and potential gas industries, then we blame trucks. I have driven the Airline for 15 years now hauling freight in and out of Washington County and there is NOTHING left to haul.
ke1lb 6 months ago
Grat video , Nice work. I hate it when railroad turns into the dust, sometimes I wanna go back in that times, or reconstruate this again.....
edotoyo18 7 months ago
in the calis yard photo you can See Ex CSRX #15 That was just sold over the winter
Gp35Turbo216 11 months ago
It's sad to see abandoned lines :'(
DouglasP201 11 months ago
Great pictures and an excellent video!
pooh52 1 year ago
The guy talking about how trains bring more development etc. should think about how many more trucks and cars have to run up and down the road to make up for what can be shipped via rail in a much more efficient and environmentally friendly way.
MrShiz75 1 year ago
Excellant presentation
pwalpar 1 year ago 2
@pwalpar Thanks Again Walter. I really appreciate you sending me viewers too.
GP9railfan 1 year ago
@GP9railfan From a decade long railroad man, I must say this is a great video!!! Thank's for makeing this. What is the song?
CSXtrackworker 1 year ago
@CSXtrackworker Thank you. You're welcome. The song is called "Shortline Blues" by Bob Woods. Also listed in the end credits. He has lots of good train songs if you like this one.
GP9railfan 1 year ago
@GP9railfan Thank's for the song info! It is sad seeing all these old great's go the way of the do do bird. Think my 2 favorite railroad's that are no more are the Lehigh Valley& the O&W railroad. I love to drive around and look for old wayside landmark's& building's from bot of those railroad's. You think I would get enough of that at work! lol Good thing about the line I work on, is getting all the goodies they don't use anymore. Wayside phone's from the old call boxe's, old tool's, paperwork
CSXtrackworker 1 year ago
@CSXtrackworker You're welcome. I grew up with Seaboard practically in by back yard in the mid 80's when I was still living in NC. That was a real railroad, & they loved their railfans. They still had cabooses back then, and train crews would toss me all kinds of goodies as they went by. I wish I had a camera back then, but I was only a poor kid then... MEC & SBD are my 2 faves. CSX needs to paint up some heritage units like UP has!! That would be great if they did that.
GP9railfan 1 year ago
@GP9railfan Seaboard was a good railroad. So was Chessie. When they were merged to form CSX it was off to a good start. Then John Snow took over CSX and just about ran the railroad into the ground. Thankfully we have a good president now and he is investing in billion's in upgrades..We went from dead last in the class 1's to back and forth with NS for 1st place. It would be nice to see CSX do that, but with how they repaint engine's, unfort it wont be anytime soon.
CSXtrackworker 1 year ago
@CSXtrackworker It's be great if CSX would paint their engines with both original Chessie and Seaboard paint schemes.
LordoftheKaty 9 months ago
@LordoftheKaty Yes that would be nice to see. Do a couple of heritage pain scheme's like te UP did. But, you will not see that anytime soon or ever with CSX unfort.
CSXtrackworker 9 months ago
Comment replies are broken again... You tube problem. Sorry folks.
GP9railfan 1 year ago
That guy was an idiot they could of left the track for a tourist line & also that singer seemed like was singing about this line & what could be done. Altough I live In a little town in Alabama I have that same feeling cause back in 1880 there was a little shortline called The Fort Payne & Eastern that hauled Passenger, coal, & Iron ore to Gasden, AL. & shared tracks with the Southern R.R. Then after 5 years the line went bankrupt & the only thing left of that line is some photos & roadbed.
tartopfan 1 year ago 6
This is a well put together video. Nice job.
I have spent the last 27 years traveling from MA to way Down East Maine, and I prefer the after images. Washington County Maine is one of the few remaining places where you can lie awake at night and not hear trains. The images conjur up many romantic feelings, and the song likewise, but trains bring more developement, traffic,people. WalMart would love a train running to Calais, so it can ship more cheap chinese junk to Calais.
bmwr1100sa 1 year ago
:( What ever happened?
4202EJW 1 year ago
@4202EJW Timothy Mellon Happened. He abandoned this line for no real reason, other than to avoid paying for the upkeep on this branch. This line was still running trains on a daily basis when it was abandoned. Thanks for stopping by. ;)
GP9railfan 1 year ago
Hi I live in CT p&w country and for us historic guys The Gone but not for gotton Newhaven railroad Much like giulford virtual over night wiped out the good reps of the fomer lines. Guilford lines reminds me of The dreded Pencentral just in modern times
chessierr 1 year ago
@chessierr I know what you mean. Thanks for the comment, & for watching my videos.
GP9railfan 1 year ago
The guy at guilford rail was just an ass hole or should I say the whole ass. It would be pretty cool if they started running the main centrels again.
MadawumkeagBrookie 1 year ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
Nice going Mr.Mellon!
boccarp 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Nice going Mr.Mellon!
boccarp 1 year ago
Nice going Mr.Mellon!
boccarp 1 year ago
Yeah, he abandoned allot of branches in Maine.Thanks for your comment!
GP9railfan 1 year ago
Comment removed
boccarp 1 year ago
Thanks Congress for sending our Jobs to China and India with taxpayers money.
brainerdrebel 1 year ago
Thanks Congress for sending our Jobs to China and India with taxpayers money.
brainerdrebel 1 year ago
If you live in New England you gotta be used to abandoned railroads by now. Good video.
ratrodford 2 years ago
Yes, unfortunately it's all too common, especially in the more remote areas. Mostly Timothy Mellon, & David Fink's fault for letting it happen, during the early/mid-80's Guilford takeover of B&M, MEC, & D&H. Allot of good roads like the one in this video were ruined/abandoned when Guilford came into town. Thanks for watching.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
very nicely done the music fits perfectly this is so sad that they do this to these railroads 5/5 great job
flashperson 2 years ago 3
Thanks. Yes it's sad, & scary at the same time, & shows where our economy has headed over the years as a result.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
You need to remember that the MEC and BM were thriving in New England because of the paper industry. When the paper dried up, so did the RR's. You cant have a busy RR with out industry to support it. It sucks I know, but thats the way it happened,
Bsklarski 2 years ago
Yes. That's true, & the big RR strike in the early 80's didn't help things either. This Branch was operating in the black all the way until the day Guilford abandoned it. They abandoned it because thy didn't want to spend money on maintaining it, & aas a result, ran it into the ground. Literally. Sad. Gotta love Timothy Mellon's decisions.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
awesome video nice job
irishmanO1 2 years ago 4
Thanks. Glad you like it. Thanks for stopping by.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
What the Hell has happened to common sense in the state of Maine? Railroads are the best asset for returning jobs to this state, and the Calais Branch was an under utilized resource. I hope they relay those rails and get back to business here. Baldacci has screwed up our schools and our railroads.
PRR5406 2 years ago 3
@PRR5406 Well said. Thanks. As you probably know this branch is/was a direct line from Bangor to St Stephen, NB Canada. Domtar, Irving, & the Eastport deep water freight Terminal authorities are trying to get more funds allocated to get the Eastport spur back up & running out to Perry for now at least with a staging terminal there. Possible pipeline operations out to/from the piers for petroleum, or LNG operations from the Perry site. It's all up to the State right now.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
(contd) The rest of the mainline Calais Branch from Bangor, to St Croix Jct. could be re-opened if the demand goes any higher, with Domtar Corp, Irving, Eastport Terminal, & NBSR expressing a very big interest in the project already, which means things could start to happen quickly. The cost would pay for itself easily within 10 years or so, depending on the amount of freight traffic. Since there aren't any low overpasses on this line, Intermodal freight traffic could also be a possibility....
GP9railfan 2 years ago
has 581 been scraped or is it still out there some were.
fairmontmotorcars 2 years ago
Last I heard it was Guilford/Springfield Terminal #20. I think it's privately owned now. Somewhere down in NY if I remember right.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
at 0.47 is 581 awsome
fairmontmotorcars 2 years ago 2
Yep. My Grandfather, & I used to see her alot, running loaded pulp cars out to Eastport back in those days. Those were the days when real railroads still roamed the land. I miss those days. Lots of great memories. Seeing this branch go abandoned, & then get torn up is like losing a longtime friend. Long live the Pine Tree Route (in our memories at least).
GP9railfan 2 years ago
all the railroads are disapppearing, we used to have a birdseye brocili plant in caribou maine and it closed and some of the lines closed . now, only 1 train comes through every two months. we get LOTS of snow so, i dont really know how it gets through and most of the parts of the tracks are grown in with weeds
thefloatingcheese2 2 years ago
That's MMA, which used to be Bangor & Aroostook. They use a plow to get through that line. Too bad it isn't as busy as it should be.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
fantastic video and song.transportation policy
is very bad in spain.
p40autotrain 2 years ago
Thank You! It's that way here in N. America too unfortunately.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
Trucks are in-efficient, & wasteful. The average 50' rail car can hold 2-3X the amount as 1 truck can. Where do you think those trucks get their freight? Cars don't weigh enough to do nearly as much damage as the average 70-120,000 Lb. truck does. the average car only weighs 3-5,000 Lbs, so not much damage from them. Lets not forget how much traffic the trucks tie up also. The tracks are ready to be put back in place, & the state may be re-opening a portion of the line to Eastport for freight.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
@GP9railfan Trucks are also more versatile, faster, and cheaper. There is no need for a business to order its stock by the railcar, and once it leaves the shipper, it is a straight shot to the consignee. Seen any rr tracks built to the back doors of a WalMart lately?
ke1lb 6 months ago
@GP9railfan I love the railroads, but I can also understand the writing on the wall. How many times did Mellon try to run The Downeaster (I think that was the name) intermodal train and make it work? There is a large investment sitting in Waterville just growing weeds right now. It just doesn't work. The commercial and industrial scenes are demanding a different service now.
ke1lb 6 months ago
@ke1lb Agreed, but if fuel costs keep going up the way they are, the industrial/commercial side is going to look elsewhere to keep shipping costs down, & customers happy. Out where I am right now in California, rail is king as far as long distance mass-freight shipment goes. Over the road trucking has taken a big hit with rising operating costs.
GP9railfan 6 months ago
@GP9railfan Yes, point taken, but you guys live in... well... another planet compared to what we deal with here. Your terrain and infrastructure are FAR different than areas such as New England. Rail simply does not have the required flexibility. They (Pan-Am) have tried numerous times to coax the little industry we have left into container traffic, and it fails for whatever reason. Our northern paper mills just moved to truck because MMA could not step up to the plate.
ke1lb 6 months ago
@GP9railfan . The State of Maine also just bought 300 some miles of rail from MMA because our industry couldn't provide enough revenue for them to maintain the stretches. Of course, we are not very happy that our tax money is being used for a toy railroad. We have few ports, none of which are containerized. Again, the Downeast Line is ready to have the rails relaid if business demands, but I don't see it unless the Eastport sea terminal REALLY takes off.
ke1lb 6 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Trains have one major flaw in todays industry. To get the load there when the customer wants it. Until trains can run as freely as trucks do they will not be as useful to industry.
Now the state of Maine has ripped out most of its rail corridors down east. Thus gauranteeing the demise of railroads.
Trucks dont destroy the roads, every one does. Just remeber the next time you buy anything the low cost of being able to buy it was because it came on a truck.
wi11y1960 2 years ago
From 3:00 to 3:05 is whitneyville my hometown
boyscouteagle 2 years ago
Yep. It sure is. The section of track in that picture is gone now. :(
Thanks for watching, & the comment too.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
nice vid thanks for sharing !
QuebecCentral 2 years ago 2
Thanks for watching. This branch desperatly needs to be brought back in order to service the Mill, & several points along the way to/from Bangor, & Canada more easily. This branch is/was a direct line to/from Eastern Canada from the central Maine region.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
Touching song now the MM&A is under threat. Transportation policy is bad in North America.
Intransitman 2 years ago 5
Hey man, great vid. its so sad to watch that line go. It is one of the last MEC lines left.
mslitron 2 years ago 3
Yep, & the oldest too. The CSRR is restoring a portion of it in Ellsworth/Brewer. There should be regular Spring-Fall excursions running really soon! There are plans to partially re-open it from Woodland to Perry using the Eastport spur ROW. which was abandoned in 1978. The Calais branch/Woodland spur is still around, except for about 100 miles in the middle.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
I live near the old northern line in New Hampshire. It was sad to see that line get ripped up and turned into a hiking trail. bringing back rail service would creat so many new jobs. Some day Guilford will be out of there and stop running the rail service as a realstate.
freeride1200c 2 years ago 3
Yeah, I agree, & it should be a crime to rip up rails and turn them into worthless trails, as others have also said here. Make the trails elsewhere, not on RR right of ways! Our economy would probably be alot better off if more trains were around. The cost of shipping alone would be much lower using rail service instead of having so many trucks tearing up the roads, & only getting 6-8 MPG in the process. Not to mention, trains are a more efficient transport method as well.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
where are the motorcars? it should be a crime to rip up rail
freeride1200c 2 years ago 5
Yep. There's a club that still operates on a 10 mile portion every so often. Mostly Ski mobiles in the winter though. The Calais branch is almost all but a memory now that the mill is closed since 2-1/2 weeks ago. The only active part is around Ellsworth/Brewer with the DSRR tourist trains starting up this summer. Thanks for watching, & your comments. :)
GP9railfan 2 years ago
It should be, the road in front of your home isn't judged on a profit or loss basis to live or die.
Intransitman 2 years ago
I remember as a kid putting pennies on those tracks, and jumping off Blacks Bridge, sad, now with the mill shutting down, that last bit of rail will shut down too...
Thanks for the video, nice to watch a bit of home...
Down3ast 2 years ago 2
good job man...emotional music, I like it!!!!! greetings from germany.....
Boeing1984 2 years ago 7
could watch it every day!!!!!
Boeing1984 2 years ago 5
Thanks. Glad you like it.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
is there a karaokee version of this song?
montecarloLS2003 3 years ago
Not that I'm aware of.
Thanks for watching!
GP9railfan 3 years ago
know what would be cool? building a speeder and using it on the abandond track, that would be really cool
MainerailroadTeen 2 years ago 3
Absolutely! That's what my Dad is trying to do. Thanks for watching.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
Very nice video. Do you know of any project estimates for the cost associated with restoring the Maine Central Railroad Calais Branch? As a kid, I remember seeing the trains run in the mid 70s and early 80s. So may flattened dimes and pennies...
donmiguel1 3 years ago
Thanks. Me too. I want to see trains on it again. The mutually agreed upon figure for restoring the Calais Branch Railroad, not including a Route 1 to Eastport spur, to initial freight service (the 85 lb. Class I in place) was $18, 371,000 with an annual maintenance cost of $1.2 million. Which would pay for itself in about 10 years of freight service to Woodland/Baileyville, & St. Stephen NB Canada. This would become a shorter payback period if the Eastport terminal spur was to be reactivated.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
yup, I so love being stuck behind trucks whos goods could easily be carried by rail, and would pollute less! NOT!
In UK railways were nationalised forcibly (stolen), then half of em closed!
Maybe some haulage industry boss knew a few politicians? bah, and bah again.
tpvalley 3 years ago 3
I know right? Rail is still the fastest, most efficient way to move the goods, & passengers (hi-speed trains). Have you seen the new show "Extreme Trains" on the History channel yet? There's a couple episodes online too on the history(dot) com site. Matt Bown is the host, & he's from around here. I'd like to get a chance to maybe work with him someday.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Excellent information. Thanks for sharing. With the trucks being loaded with logs and salmon one would think rail would be a better choice. Those logging trucks really tear up the roads. Maybe someday when I retire back home, I'll spend my free time exploring options like this to help revitalize the Eastport area.
donmiguel1 2 years ago 3
You're welcome. That would be great if we could find more people like you. I agree with you 100% on this. The Eastport spur may be re-activated soon. Talks are going on right now. Part of the Eastern end of the mainline from Miltown, to Ayers Jct are still in place, so getting the trains to & from Eastport/Perry is possible. Now the rest of the mainline from Ayers Jct, to Washington Jct. just needs to be put back back in place. The Calais Branch is one of the oldest RR in the state of Maine.
GP9railfan 2 years ago
makes me think of the branch line that I used to watch. I can still remember watching the short Burlington Northern trains come into town.
***Burlington Northern Bolivar Branch***
-last run October 26, 1993
montecarloLS2003 3 years ago
Maybe BNSF will get a chance to put it back to operational status again someday soon with the 2 rail fans (Obama, & Biden) in office now. Thanks for watching & the comments too.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Very good job! I really like it.
SLSF1522 3 years ago 5
Thanks. I appreciate that.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
I love this video. Great looking GP-7s. This reminds me of the abandoned tracks I will be researching. 5 stars and then some.
ROCKDOG5732 3 years ago 6
Great -Great ! I'm a Bar Harbor kid of 64 in Myrtle Beach SC. I remember quite well the MEC line through Ellsworth. Even the passenger trains the last one from Bangor to Calis ran about 1960. I remember Dad taking two preachers to Holden Maine from Clifton to FLAG down the morning passenger train to Calis around 1959.` They got it too ! I have a 1930 passenger fare w/times for entire MEC line w/ferry & Canadian connections. There was sleeper service from Calis to Boston !
Mackiebrat 3 years ago 4
Cool. Thanks for the comments! The DSRR is re-building a portion of the line from Washington Jct. - Green lake for excursion service. Too bad that the rest is almost gone. Check out the video response for this video. It's part 2. Part 3 will be up in the next week or so, with video footage. Stay tuned, & Thanks again!
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Beautiful and very touching video. It is very sad when u see a railroad that has brought u many fond memories go to pot, and all that remains is sections of abandoned, forlorn rails. Thanks for sharing your photos of this beautiful part of the country with us railfans.
iamafumbler 3 years ago 5
Thank you, for the compliment! I'll be posting video footage of what's left of this branch in part 3, (as soon as I finish producing it). You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
When I watched your video, moved me deeply.
so,I find out the CD album and boxcar kit.(by Athearn)
I'm looking forward to next upload.
sorry for my poor English.(I'm Japanese.)
MATUKI40 3 years ago 5
Hi Domo! I was stationed in Atsugi/Yokusuka in the early-mid 90's. Wonderful place, & friendly people there. If you like this, then check out my video resonse. It's another segment of this branch line.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
The combination of the 1970's Staggers Act, and Volkers interest rates were the death of quite a few RR's and a hell of a lot of ROW's in the 80's. Get trucks off the road, use more railroads! Nice video.
Amiduffer 3 years ago 9
Yep. I agree. Well our next president, & VP seem to both be quite fond of trains, so we shall see what happens in the next few years. Thanks for your comment!
GP9railfan 3 years ago
@Amiduffer Staggers Act deregulated the railroad industry from government regulation. It was government regulation that killed the railroad and in the 70's led to its near extinction, and it was regulation that led to tremendous bankruptcies. ICC was worst, and because of regulation sucking money from railroads, none were able to improve infrastructure which made them inefficient and why many industries switched to trucking. Since the deregulation, the railroad has actually improved greatly.
LordoftheKaty 9 months ago
@LordoftheKaty De-industrialization, collapse of revenue, and shareholder values killed the trains, not regulation. Your libertarian dogma is the economic equivalent of the days when people blamed evil spirits for sickness or angry gods for bad weather.
Amiduffer 9 months ago
@Amiduffer Really? I beg to differ, because I have undeniable evidence to back my claims. Facts I should say. For instance, because of regulation, 93% of revenue was going to expenditures for the railroads meaning none could upgrade their systems and became inefficient and collapsed. After Staggers Act, train derailments has decreased by 65%. Productivity has increased as well as efficiency by more than 80%. Safety has improved. Wages increased. 30 years of success and growth begs to differ.
LordoftheKaty 9 months ago
@Amiduffer We can both agree on de-industrialization, because that has had a tremendous effect as well. However, your claim is that regulation is the solution and deregulation was the problem. The many years government regulation had control of the railroad industry and nearly led to the industries collapse in the 70s throws your belief out the window. It was so bad that even CARTER deemed it necessary. As much as I hate to see lines abandoned, sometimes it is necessary financially.
LordoftheKaty 9 months ago
@Amiduffer You cannot run a railroad and expect to keep lines that are unprofitable, that requires allocations of funds not even produced by the line itself, and expect efficiencies and budget surpluses from it. Government through ICC tried to enforce that on the railroads and it was a failure and again led to many of them collapsing. "...economic equivalent of the days when people blamed evil spirits for sickness or angry gods for bad weather." LOL Is that all you can seriously say?
LordoftheKaty 9 months ago
@LordoftheKaty People have degrees in "economics" and they seriously believe in magic, and invisible hands, which is about as scientific as believing in evil spirits. Carters whole administration was a disaster, as anyone who was alive at that time remembers. Every administration since Nixon has slowly turned our former mighty industrial economy into a post-industrial nightmare. Penn Central was a typical example of a RR that was looted by financial sharks, leaving it bankrupt.
Amiduffer 9 months ago
@Amiduffer Yes, that is correct. But the greatest moocher is our private central bank the Federal Reserve who has devalued our currency by 98%, created perpetual inflation and debt with the fake money they loan to us at interest which effects the economy disastrously while Wall Street Banksters and special interest play the flute of this madness to their greed. The Fed is the reason for our economic collapse, as well as special interest groups. However, regulation is still a disaster as well.
LordoftheKaty 9 months ago
@LordoftheKaty You complain of Wall St. and the Fed, yet you preach their deregulation religion?
Amiduffer 9 months ago
@Amiduffer Here is the thing you seem to forget. The only way Wall Street and the Fed can exist without consequence to their fraud is because of government and special interest. The Federal Reserve they own was created under their special interest, they use special interest to influence laws and legislation to protect them from prosecution, and they use special interest to control the false left right paradigm. Laws against fraud and bans on special interest is the only regulation necessary.
LordoftheKaty 9 months ago
@LordoftheKaty No, both of them were a creation of the British Empire in order to subvert the United States FROM the government. Glass-Steagall is the solution to that. I do find it amusing that your entire philosophy came from that same Empire.
Amiduffer 9 months ago
@Amiduffer Again, you neglect the fact that this type of fraud can only exist with the collusion of government. Why do you think all these mega corporations who commit fraud and get away with it are all in bed with government? Because ONLY with government power and influence can this fraud exist. Believe it or not, BECAUSE of the fraud banking is based on, I support Glass-Steagall. Again, politicians are financed by the banks. My philosophy is not theirs, because they openly ridicule it.
LordoftheKaty 9 months ago
@LordoftheKaty You, government officials, and the hyenas in the financial system were all indoctrinated in the dog-eat-dog insanity of laissez faire the last 50 years, even though its traditionally been a cover for the looting of civilizations by the financial oligarchy. "Clean your finger, before you point at my spots" Ben Franklin.
Amiduffer 9 months ago
Yep. The big union strike when President Reagan was in office didn't help things for MEC. Guilford came in & cut alot of stuff that probably shouldn't have been after they bought them out.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
yeah i wasnt alive then so i dont knwo much about that haha
Guilford88panam 3 years ago
yeah Mr.Mellon did well in my opinion he ruined some lines that could have benifited guilford but aparently he had to abondend those lines
Guilford88panam 3 years ago
This is a really sad vid and I'm really pissed at Guilford now that they just couldnt have the reponsiblility to maintain the tracks. This is classic Guilford. For example in Plainville, CT Guilford runs the lines are are doing a horrible job of it the lines are in horrible condition and they have done nothing to fix it. Damn Guilford deserves to go out of business cause thy have costed more mooney then earned more money. They have also disapointed many people like us who love to chase trains
newhavenrr 3 years ago 8
Yep, that was the idea (to be a sad video). You're right, that's exactly what happened to the Calais Branch. It's ALL Timothy Mellon's fault for letting it just happen too. At least the DSRR is reversing some of the damage (about 35 Mi.). This was a perfectly good line when MEC was using it,before Guilford ruined it by not keeping up with needed maintenance. Thanks for watching this. Zach
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Yea my idea of guilford now is irresponsible because that is just stupid of them to waste perfectly good track that they didnt even earn
newhavenrr 3 years ago 14
I know. It's not right. The state dropped the ball on this one too. That used to be a fairly busy line when I was a kid.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Once again, feel free to voice your opinion on this on here. Your comments posted here are VERY important to the Downeast Scenic RR (DSRR), & the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust (DRHPT). Enough interest means the entire 134 mile line may possibly re-open that much sooner! Links to the DSRR/DRHPT are in my page, & this video description also.
Thank you to everyone for watching this! GP9RAILFAN
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Stupid political decisions in the past didn't help things either. At least now, more, & more people are finally realizing trains are the most efficient way to move mass amounts of goods quickly, & effectively, at the lowest cost possible. They got it right during WWII with the Challengers, & Big Boys. Why can't they continue that using the big diesel-electric locos? Use the trucks for local/specialty (UPS, FedEx,etc.) deliveries only. That would eliminate alot of traffic headaches too.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
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callinstead09 3 years ago 7
Comment removed
callinstead09 3 years ago 6
I know, I'm upset about the Branch being gone too. This video is dedicated to bringing some, or (possibly) all of it back again. The state screwed up when they took the rails up. All it really needed was a few places (caused by beaver damage) fixed, & new ties in a few spots, & it would've been useable again. At least the beaver damage has been repaired though. The state wants to bring the rails back when the demand is high enough. The demand is already here!!
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Here's a few reasons why: The Eastport freight terminal, Woodland Pulp mill, DSRR, Canada, the eastern Maine region in general, & even New England as a whole could really use this branch right now.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Well railroads are all running to make a profit. Rails used to come to my town to carry out covered horse carriage's, about half a century after that it carried out mill products and metal. It spurred off from a "Y" in the middle of the woods, south was Newburyport, north was Salisbury plane, and East was my town. my side of the rails is now a bicycle path. "reason why I mentioned the path"
callinstead09 3 years ago 4
Nice video why did they make the place a Park?
Tcostello105 3 years ago 5
Thanks. When Guilford took over, alot of places like this were tuned into parks/trails. Guilford abandoned the Calais yard, & eventually the rest from Calais to Bangor in the mid 80's, & the town of Calais seized the opportunity to turn the yard in downtown into a waterfront park since the passenger station was no longer in use.(about 300' beyond the yard). Passenger service officially ended for the Branch in 1959, & the station now has a new life as a Native American Heritage center/museum.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
oh, i wish they kept the line in business because you slide show looked great!
Tcostello105 3 years ago 5
Me too! The Downeast Scenic RR is restoring a 35 mile portion of the line over in Ellsworth, but the rest of the line has been ripped up to make way for a useless trail.
This line means alot to me as you can probably already guess. I remember watching the very engines(565, & 571) in these photos run up & down those rails when I was a kid, out rail fanning with my Grandfather. The song seems to fit the occasion almost too well. Thanks again for your comments.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Nice! I love seeing photos of the Calais branch.
I do have to say one thing; at least they left most of the rails in place down there. Not like here in Canada, where they've been ripped up in the blink of an eye!
skeezix91 3 years ago 7
Thanks. The only rails left are from Ayers Jct. to the Woodland interchange in Charlotte, & from Brewer, to Ellsworth-Washington Junction. There's about 100 miles of the mainline (in the middle) that was ripped up last April. The rails in most of these photos are gone now. I've got a video of it that I'll be posting here soon. Thanks for leaving your comments, & for watching this.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
whats the name of the song
conrailcliff 3 years ago
"Short line Blues" Bob Woods. Additional info in the video description, & end credits. Thanks.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
thnks
conrailcliff 3 years ago
No problem.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Awesome Video! That poor lonely box car needs rescued! Good luck with the DSRR!
chessie1976 3 years ago 5
Thanks for the comment. I'm just helping them out where I can, because this line really means something to me. I agree. Tom needs to grab that boxcar before it disappears for good (hint, if you're watching the comments on here Tom). Last time I heard, someone was re-painting it the original hunter green/harvest gold colors. Not sure if it's still there though...
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Great video! 5*
Koploper1450 3 years ago 6
Thank you for leaving a comment here too.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Please don't hesitate to voice your opinion on this! Your comments left here are very important to the Downeast Scenic RR (DSRR), & the Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust (DRHPT). Enough interest means the entire 134 mile line may possibly re-open that much sooner! Links to the DSRR/DRHPT are in my page, & this video description.
Thank you to everyone for watching this! GP9RAILFAN
GP9railfan 3 years ago
you should try to buy some pieces from them and use it to remember the good old time that is what i would do if i were you
horselovermc 3 years ago
Oh, I have. I've got a Maine Central N scale layout & several books on MEC to keep me busy on the not so nice days outside. Thanks for watching my videos!
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Very nice; I haven't heard this song before. Nice musical selection!
RailPhotographer 3 years ago 10
Thanks RP, I appreciate your comment, & figured the song fit the occasion really well. It's Bob Woods "Don't forget the trains" album. More to follow. Stay tuned, & Thanks again!
GP9railfan 3 years ago
its the same over here in Germany. Many Railroads have turned into asphalted biker and jogger passages.
prosepp 3 years ago
Yeah, I don't know why they do that sort of thing, especially when fuel prices are like they are these days. Trains are alot more efficient at moving freight, than trucks could ever be. Thank you for your comment.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
here they did the remove of railway tracks mostly in the 80´s and 90´s.
Free riding for free citizens - thats what the whole society proclaimed. And i think the responsible people still have not realized what problems the rose up by deleting the railroad networks.
There´s many regions where you really need a car to get along and elder people are fixed to the place as there is no more public traffic. Even along former train mainlines
prosepp 3 years ago
that's notthe only line Guilford has killed!! its really sad if you think about it, but hey, its just business
KevinCulla9 3 years ago 11
I agree. We just drove on the rail bed from Ayers Jct. to Dennysville yesterday, & the tracks are all gone now. It's a sad sight (almost like losing a long time friend). They're still pulling the ties out of the ground, & I've got some of that the trip on video. Thanks.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Excellent!!! I am so glad you sent me this video... even modeled it (well the railroad, anyway) in HO ... god does that go back decades.
dalecaruso 3 years ago 8
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment too. Cool. I've got a Maine Central layout in N scale that my Dad & I are building together. Some of the test videos are on my page if you want to watch them.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
GP-9
I had the good fortune (and the time) to drive east from Ellsworth to Calais to see first hand this historic branch. I was amazed by this engineering feat as we walked several miles of the branch. Unfortunately,market forces drive the viability of the branch. I hope your efforts to start a tourist line will bear fruit. how can I help and where can I get more information? Thanks! Steve in Jupiter FL
thirtysevenfred 3 years ago 2
Hi Steve. Thanks for sharing that. The links to the DSRR & the future plans of this line are in the bottom of the video description just to the right of the Maine Central logo. I'll PM you a few links that you may be interested in also. Thanks again.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
That is sad, like, seeing it go to shit, kinda reminds me, seeing the tracks up here, some are like that, neglected.
bigboy4016 3 years ago 12
Yeah, A big waste of a good line, & it was sad when it was abandoned. The area hasn't been quite the same since it happened. It just shows you where the economy has headed over the last 25 years. I hope the rails return someday for everyone's sake that lives up there. The state left a clause in the agreement to keep the ROW open for new rails to go back in the future if the demand gets high enough for them again. Thanks for watching.
GP9railfan 3 years ago
Very Nice!
MEC252 3 years ago 18