Well this isn't necessarily an ending however in same ways it is. If you don't know what I'm talking about that fine I will bring that up in due time but first I'd like to start off with my experiences at this very special place.
Growing up in North Yarmouth next to District 1, the Brunswick Branch and the Branch to Yarmouth was full of plenty of rail action. Family for me was up north so trips north to Auburn and Paris were common. Whenever it was time to shop at the mall we always went to Auburn. Some of my earliest memories of Danville Junction are actually on the Ski Train which ran from Bethel to Portland in the early to Mid 90's. Our morning trip would always be exciting catching the daily SLR (Then CN, leasing and the Geep 9's) freight building up its train. As I continued to grow up around Danville I witnessed the changes of both Railroads. The SLR continually had new and exciting lease power and sometimes CN power (There is a picture of a CN SD70i at Danville in the 90's) while Guilford was standardizing its power but eliminating Alco's and GE's as well as painting all its Blue former Conrail units into the Guilford grey. I remember when the High Hood GP40's started running around in the Guilford Patch jobs. And all the while as both railroads changed and grew, the junction stayed the same. The place was always full of some activity or excitement. When I got my wheels I began to make my own voyages to Danville, sometimes 3 or 4 times a week. It was always my first destination to check out the action. The setup of the interchange itself was very exciting because it had a shared yard which could only be accessed by the SLR via "the diamond." Diamonds have always been an exciting place to railfan and being as it is probably the most active one in New England, it was always a great place to go.
In recent times, the State of Maine and both railroads have decided it is time to rebuild the junction. As I said before it isn't the end but in some parts it is. It's the end of the Diamond and the beginning of a new change. Of course this isn't to say there will be any lack of action because quite the opposite there wont be but the special place that Danville is will become completely different. After the changes Danville will never be the same to me. I've got some inside info and pictures of the new Layout. I was supposed to receive two pictures of the diagram however only one made it through. I'm going to work to see if I can get the other one but in the mean time, heres the picture.
4 comments:
Thank you for posting this drawing. It's really interesting to view. If you can post the second drawing, please do.
Good "intelligence work"! Looks like pretty interesting stuff.
I like how the drawings refer to passenger tracks! It's been at least 40-45 years since there's been any passenger service through there. The State must be looking ahead.
BC
OY-VEY, No Junction?
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