Aroostook County Recon

The DTI Fan and I came up with the idea that we had to go north again.  As we compared schedules on the upcoming week or two with the weather, we decided Monday 6/25 would have to do.  It was a little like hearing from Staggs the weather guy before D-Day; "a brief period of barely tolerable conditions".  The gamble paid off.  It wasn't all sunny but the rain was light when we had any.

This was our second incursion into the vastness of Aroostook County to see the sights.  This time the Maine, Montreal and Atlantic Railway is not the new guy in town, but the most recently vacated guy.  The state has taken over much of the track and Maine Northern Railway, or a U.S. version of J.D. Irving's New Brunswick Southern Railway, has taken over as operator.   All track was cleared of cars and equipment since our last visit.  No more strings of cars awaiting the scrap heap or storage duty.  All the rolling stock we saw was either working for a customer or in use by the scattered maintenance forces trying to shape things up.   Here's the previous post: "Recon In The County"

The trip was pretty much an express run north with one exception; Waterville.   Little was happening but as we were heading out of Fairfield to get on to I-95 we spotted the last car of a PAR eastbound heading out over the Kennebec River.   After a slightly rude maneuver at the traffic signal, we headed over the river to catch the train at Bellesqueeze Rd. in Benton.  This spot is also the far end of the "controlled siding" that ends with CPF107.  515 was at the lead of EDNM, or whatever the latest symbol is.  Lots of empty centerbeam cars to refill with lumber.

After this little diversion, we headed back onto I-95 and raced north.  This was express other than pumping gas and grabbing coffee in Old Town.  I was pleasantly surprised to see the 75 mph speed limit signs above Old Town.  I've heard the proposals but not known that the change was actually made.  Nice, if only mental, change of pace.  We got off at the Lincoln/Mattawamkeag exit and headed north for "the Keag".  We took some local shots, as we do every year when we visit, and moved north.

Somewhere along the way we were chatting and left Rt. 2 for 2a and ended up in Houlton.  We had intended to stop in Oakfield first but managed to bypass it.  The "Welcome to Houlton" sign was our first hint of error.  No big deal, we could visit Oakfield later.   Our prior trip got us to Houlton as it was getting dark so we didn't see much and here was our chance to do better.  As we were to see all day, the yard was cleaned out save for MOW forces and a few cars actually seeing revenue service.  The large engineering shed was the main feature of the yard area.  There were still a few spurs running back to small industries and warehouses.  You could see plenty of empty roadbeds for a complex of industrial spurs that once covered the area.  One thing we couldn't place though was the CP's presence in the area.  We didn't bring enough detailed information.

On the way north again we stopped by the Information Center north of town to get a map of the "Maine Solar System Model" that is found along the road from the info center north to Presque Isle.  It's a minor diversion for travelers on that straight and relatively unexciting road.   We were eyeing the old roadbeds and we are not unsympathetic to science.  Once in Presque Isle we went down to the old yard office.  Here we have photos of the old BAR yard office and the cleaned out yard.   Last trip this place was choked with old MOW relics and cars in storage.  Based on old maps, the BAR, CP and AVR came into this area at one time. 


The passenger depot was just down the tracks on the back side of downtown.  It looked to be in good shape.  I personally don't know if it was BAR, CP or AVR.  The area is a small town modeler's delight of trackage in all directions.   Not much is still active or even in place, but the ghosts are everywhere.


Caribou was the next stop along Rt. 1.  We were getting into the depths of the BAR's web of trackage in the county.  Branches spread in all directions for the 3 local railroads.  At Caribou we see the station sitting on the lower side of town among collapsing potato sheds and other industry.  The track split up to go north and over to Limestone from here.  The old roundhouse and turntable are still present.  The tracks closest to the building are those of the somewhat idle Limestone branch. The old line to Stockholm is behind me and across the road.  I really couldn't tell what might have been AVR or CP.  There were plenty of empty potential track alignments in the area.

Next on our journey north we stopped off in Van Buren at an open area designed for loading centerbeam cars with lumber.  This was gravel on our last tour.  It appears that it was recently paved and now it is stocked with fairly new MMA lumber cars.  We could see the Van Buren bridge to Canada from this area but we found no public access, and didn't really press it.  We also did not have our passports to visit St. Leonard on the other side.  Apparently MMA still owned the Madawaska to Van Buren line and recently negotiated to sell it to Maine Northern Ry.  That might explain all of the MMA equipment sitting around.  Perhaps the actual operational change hadn't taken place yet. 



A little down the road is the mill town of Madawaska.  All you have to do to find the depot is to follow the signs to Canada across the river.  However, I'd stop short of the customs bulding, which is packed in tightly between the mill and the river.  The depot is in the best spot to turn around there, to the north.  We didn't dally to get our photos.  Mill security is near and the customs lot is only feet away.  But, we saw no signs governing the spot we stopped on.  The "confused tourist" look bought us the time for the shot.


Not far away is the town of Frenchville where a prime example of the troop sleeper cabooses resides in a local historical society.  It was raining as we passed and we took many photos last time so we continued to Fort Kent just down the road.  I couldn't help but notice that we could see CN tracks on the other side of the river.  Too bad nothing was moving.  The scanner was pretty quiet except for one barrage of French from a dispatcher.  Anyway, we continued on to the last few feet of U.S. Route 1 and the depots at Fort Kent.  Again the yard was cleaned out this time around and we could actually see the old BAR yard office.  Last time we were here I got my only shot of the tri-color MMA 1 boxcar.

We headed south on state Rte. 11.  Not much to see along the empty and quiet line.  We didn't see much until we got to the town of Ashland.  Here we found some intriguing chip cars and lumber cars that looked to be recently loaded.  We were able to get close on some open areas near some old freight houses.  The Fraser lumber mill on the other side of town was apparently quite active and using the railroad.   It did not diminish my desire to shoot the centerbeam loaded with Irving lumber.

As we left the town behind we closed in on Squa Pan.  It was nearly deserted the last time we passed it.  This time it was less so.  As we neared we heard a FRED on the scanner along with some two-sided conversations.  We pulled in by the crossing as soon as we arrived.

The first shot reflects the normal view we expected plus the surprise of a HCLX "rent a wreck", former UP GP38-2 #906.

The next two shots are of a slightly more exciting nature as a headlight appears and a pair of NBSR GP38-3's pull in lite to tie down for the night.  Not much activity, but a relative bounty compared to the day so far.   The new operators appear to be spreading their resources differently than the prior owners.  Makes sense with Millinocket as the new beginning point.  They have trackage rights to Brownville Jct. to connect with sister road NBSR.

Finally, we get back to Oakfield.  A quick recon over to the yard reveals a nicely spruced up yard office and the usual cleaned out yard.  A couple of gondolas next to the parking lot had unpacked stacks of lumber strewn about.  It looked like someone made a mess with 1" lumber, Irving lumber of course.  We weaved over to the depot for a final shot before light failed.

The rain was beginning to fall harder and the waters in town were pretty high.  Time to get back to that 75 mph speed limit. 


BC

Indy Incidentals

This particular trip involved a mini-van full of students and chaperones to go to Indianapolis  for the National Forensic League's National Speech and Debate tournament.  As usual, we visited a place or two with railfan potential but alas I could take no time to do such frivolous things.  There were a few things that came my way with little or no effort however.

The league saw fit to have it's massive party at the Indianapolis Zoo.  I saw on the website that they had a train, so I had a side-mission.  These things are usually a bit of a disappointment but this one was a bit more so.  Though I could ride for free on the league's dime, I chose not to.  The tracks seemed to circle it's own secluded part of the zoo and didn't show off much.  While on this quest, I found "abandoned" tracks in the pathways and sidewalks of the heart of the zoo.  They appeared to be roughly 3' gauge and much heavier than the toy now running.  They took people around like a service rather than an amusing ride.  A couple of sidings were present and the tracks went places I'd like to have seen from a train.  But alas, it appears that either cost or insurance or both brought it down.  I have to do more research on that one.  White River Jct. is actually named for the river that runs through Indianapolis and has nothing to do with the one we passed through in Vermont.

As competition wound down and we found ourselves sightseeing, the group went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.  Here I ran into a gem with PRR roots.  In the basement levels of the museum is the actual Reuben Wells, a locomotive that pushed cars out of the Ohio River valley town of Madison and up to the rest of the rail network.  Apparently the 8.5% grade is one of the steepest in the country.  Over time the line fell into PRR control and the unique loco stayed in good shape.  It was promised and delivered in 1968.  The museum had it's work cut out for it when it tried to get title from the Penn Central however.  That financial fiasco led to endless paperwork that tied up ownership until 9 years after PC died as a railroad.
The museum has a neat O scale model of the line complete with scale grade, but I missed the operating session I guess.   The locomotive was hooked up with lights and sound for the kids but I just gave it a look anyway.  It had one drive rod but two sets of driver wheels, front and rear.  Apparently this custom arrangement aided traction. 

Included with the Reuben Wells was a former PRR "tool car" which apparently got caught in the paperwork fiasco too.  They have photos of the delivery to the present location 1985.



The Lego exhibit was one of the last one's I checked out at the museum and wouldn't you know it...








I had previously assumed that the trade name for Pan Am was owned by Guilford Transportation Industries.  Here is a tower across from the Indiana Convention Center that is known as the "Pan Am Tower".  Apparently it is named for the Pan American Games held in 1987, but there is a rail connection.  This building is a "re-interpretation" of the nearby Union Station tower.  Nice looking building anyway.


Indianapolis Union Station was near, if not connected to the Indiana Convention Center where we spent a lot of time.  As we walked back from Lucas Oil Stadium we walked under the end of the train shed, which is now part of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  I did not walk over because time was short but I could see the imposing building.

A CSX double stack entered the still used steel portion of the train shed while we were emerging from the ICC.  Another passed while we milled around the stadium and returned to the ICC.  When I saw this, I became interested in the train shed and building so we returned to our venue using the sidewalk under the bridge.  It was actually cleaned up and bright under there. 

Although there was plenty to clutter the photo, the brown masonry of the main building stands out.  At least you see enough to compare to the Pan Am building to examine the "re-interpretation".




After we left Indy, we headed back to Maine via Cleveland.  While I can think of railfan things to do, my team had other ideas.  We spent the less rainy day at Cedar Point Amusement Park.  This gave me another chance to visit the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Ry.  Since I'd already photographed it before, this one vantage point was the only new item worthy of note.  I had to dangle the camera a bit to get this but you can see the intricate placement of several rides as the train passes over a grade crossing.  Cedar Point is known world wide for its roller coasters.  I'm known locally for not riding them.


The last shot is from the Cleveland waterfront, in the literal shadow of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  I include it because ships like this shuttled the iron ore from ports in Minnesota and Wisconsin to Ohio ports like Ashtabula, Conneaut or Cleveland. Railroads took the ore to the likes of Youngstown, Wierton and Pittsburgh for the once mighty steel industry.  Plus, I just like the way they look.


BC

Annual Accidental Railfanning

Every Memorial Day Weekend since 2008 my speech and debate team has traveled to a national tournament in some major city where time to chase trains was non-existent.  I've also managed to find something rail related despite the odds each time.  Here are a few photos from this year's trip to Baltimore.

Here is the team's first encounter with the light rail system.  We would ride from the Timonium (Maryland Fair Grounds) station to the downtown Convention Center station three times.  Each trip had its own adventures involved.

Next to the Convention Center stop is the Hilton Hotel Baltimore where our tournament was headquartered.  Next to that was Camden Yards ballpark and the former Camden Station. 

I was somewhat surprised at what was left of the old B&O around the ballpark.  The massive warehouse building still dominates the skyline of the ballpark.  It appears that the building is being restored for various commercial applications. 

We happened to be in town when
Camden Station was being restored.  That meant staging all over the place around the front of the building.   The back side was open as part of a museum complex featuring sports and local subjects.

The lower photo shows the two buildings together.  The very end of the warehouse, under the awning is the Orioles ticket offices where we bought our tickets to see them play against Kansas City that night.  (KC lost 8-2 Orioles)


A brief lull in the day's action meant I could hang out at the station with one of my team members and take a ride south.  I didn't take many photos but I saw a few sights.

Catching a couple of passing light rail trains was about as good as it got in that place.  These two didn't have the obnoxious plastic wrap advertisements that some cars had.


Late in the evening at the ball game.  I had to grab a shot or two of the ballpark interior to show the links to the railroad history here.


The warehouse is seen past the outfield.  At this particular angle the top of the Camden Station can be seen.

At the Timonium Station this historical marker notes that this piece of line was originally the Baltimore and Susquehanna, built on iron rail with marble sleepers.  It later became the Northern Central line to Buffalo and later an important part of the Pennsylvania RR.  I think Conrail did away with the line.  It used to be big time PRR commuter rail territory and a vital passenger link to Baltimore.

On Saturday night we were at the Hilton for a late night party which gave me the time to use the skyways by the light rail station at Convention Center.  The shots aren't great but not terrible for just pointing and shooting.

I did play with the aperture override to get the station.  It was washing out in the light.  The lights on the far right are from the ballpark.



Back at Timonium on Sunday.  Trains don't begin running until about 11am so I actually had time to shoot these bicycle lockers.  I didn't examine them to see how they were used.  Timonium was the temporary end of the line while repairs were made north to Hunt Valley.  The bus loop was filled with shuttles that rode in circles to the remaining stations on the light rail system. 


Somewhere around Timonium station was this sign describing the marble ties originally used by the B&S.  Many were quarried in Cockeysville, where our motel was located.  The ties were simply buried by subsequent layers of ballast.

I returned to the skyway to see what I could see.  Some of that was the artery of light rail heading north.


Our tours included the World Trade Center of Baltimore.  The top floor is an awesome observation deck.  Well worth the $5 elevator ride.   Aside from being able to spot old stations, the B&O museum and port facilities, there are signs describing many of the things you see.  There was even an N scale model of a container facility.

My last photo was something that semi-surprised me.  I knew Baltimore was more or less a southern sympathizing city during the Civil War.  What I'd long forgotten was that the first bloodshed of the war was caused when some Union soldiers got off the train at one station and marched to Camden Station.  The good citizens of Baltimore didn't like that and started antagonizing the soldiers.  Four days of bloodshed followed.  I suppose that's a bit more trouble than getting between North and South Station in Boston.


Who says I can't find railroad content in a purely school activity!

BC