MEC 52 Encounter

Here is what comes from clean living and some detective work with a scanner!


The DT&I Fan and I set out for Waterville the day before Christmas in order to see what we might scare up on District 1. We figured there was the odd chance we might see Maine Central heritage unit #52 on one of the locals but really didn't have that much hope it would happen. We really wanted to be be out and about but not caught up in the holiday traffic and shopping frenzy.

The ride up was pretty much the norm for District 1. Nothing much happening. We thought we were going to be skunked. The night before DT&I Fan had heard the TOM talking to the SAPPI local led by #51. The TOM also joked about that train being popular with the railfans that night. We knew that meant that MEC #52 was probably on the other end of the lashup. It was also likely that #51 was leading toward the mill. But again, we figured little would happen today due to the holidays. It was good to hear that the "Geeps" were back after a long absence anyway.

Things changes as we exited I-95 at Waterville. We heard the SAPPI local getting permission from the TOM (Train Operations Manager) to move. Problem was, we didn't hear the number or location. Since we heard only the TOM side, we figured the train was distant from town, at the mill in Hinckley. Based on the prior day's intelligence data, we could surmise that #52 might be leading. So we deduced that it might be #52 asking to head south from Hinckley and we should head up the road north.

Well, that bit of detective work paid off nicely as you can see. We got within sight of the long crossing before the mill just as the units had crossed it. We immediately turned around at the store near there and headed to the previously scoped out bridge by the Goodwill-Hinckley School. A gaggle of local fans beat us to it. The sun was nearly perfect so I don't blame them. We knew some of them too. It was windy and frostbite was lurking when the 10mph local eventually made it to the bridge. But it was fun chatting with the other railfans as we waited. They were surprised to learn that we "happened upon" this run.

The gaggle knew where they were going and made more stops but the two of us were happy to continue on to Shawmut. The shot at the top of the page came from there. With the good sun and the cold causing the steam from the mill to show so well, it was the best shot of the trip. The old trio of Geeps gave us a smoke show now and then on the rough track. They let out a good cloud of diesel smoke right after my first Shawmut shot (top of page) and a bit still shows on the left shot. The town was still shrouded with a thick cloud when we worked our way through the streets driving back to Waterville.

We got out again at the Rt.201 crossing (left), again at CPF110, and then the shot on the right at the east end of the Waterville Yard. At this point we could have stopped but the units were visible on the side street next to the yard. Once we'd had our fill we headed to lunch at Burger King and returned to the yard office lot. The units were already tied up there. The gaggle's cars were mostly parked there too but they had disappeared to the other end by the 470 display. It was too windy so we ate lunch and sat in the car until we had some idea if anything was moving. It wasn't. The gaggle returned to their cars and we said our good byes. I took this opportunity to get out and get this final shot of the plow next to the #52. Nice to see an old MEC green plow in light of all the paint work going on lately. The plow on the other end was painted for Pan Am last year.

On the way home, we got pretty well skunked as usual. As we were going by Leeds Jct. we could hear the TOM giving someone clearance from CPF 169 to CPF 185. No way we'd get there before dark. So we headed over to Lewiston Jct. for a look at the SLR. The last shot seemed to be of the quiet before the holiday. This lashup was quietly waiting for the next run. I of course had to record the former GP40X's and their slugs even if the shadows were getting a bit long.


Not a bad day.


BC