I hope this is somewhat interesting. Have quite a few more. You guys let me know................? Boxcab E50
Duane- My parents live in Bremerton. My wife's father in Port Townsend. A bit off topic, so maybe we should take this off list. Drop me a PM! Anyhow, were those orders shown above interesting? More? Boxcab E50
B&M Flimsies! Ken, you have a fantastic number of B&M Flimsies, all of which bring tears to my aged eyes. Especially since more than half were originated within my lifetime......mg: Interesting note regards the flimsy datelined Berlin, NH - the Berlin Branch was the site of the last two operating Ball Signals on the B&M. One was at Waumbek Jct. and the other was at Whitefield where the Berlin Branch crossed the Maine Central Mountain Division. These signals operated daily at least until passenger service was dropped on December 2, 1961, perhaps longer. Freight service didn't end on the B&M Berlin Branch or the MEC Mountain Div. until the mid-80's, so they may have operated until then. The following rule regarding Ball Signals at Whitefield, NH is quoted from the April 30, 1951 B&M Employee's Timetable: "One ball or one red light will allow trains on the Boston & Maine Railroad to pass over Maine Central track. Two balls or two red lights will allow trains on the Maine Central Railroad to pass over Boston & Maine track. All (B&M) trains and engines will stop 500 feet from Maine Central track." The Whitefield ball signals were mounted from a 25-30 foot pole with a "T" cross arm at the top. There was one ball and kerosene lantern hung from a pulley at each end of the "T" cross arm. When a ball was lowered, its lantern went into a bucket which hid the light from the engineer's view. One note for those unfamiliar with Ball Signals...the term "Highball" originated with the operation of Ball Signals. If a ball was high, a train was cleared to pass in accordance with applicable rules. Ball signals were used by many, if not all railroads in the eastern US during the 19th and early 20th Centuries.
Hank- Am sitting here holding a crew copied (1981) order at Waumbek Jct. Too late for those ball signals. But better than nothing. Also have a 1980 flimsy from Whitefield. If interested, I have examples from about 70 more locations. Can scan and upload. Let me know.... Boxcab E50
I too enjoyed seeing the Berlin to Woodsville train order. The routes in and out of Woodsville are my primary interest. If anyone's interested, the engine in the order, number 4265, was the lead unit of the B&M's four F7A&B sets. Duane Goodman
Ken, I suspect that the ball signals were still in use at both Waumbek and Whitefield in 1980/81. Their operation probably would have required that one of the on-board crew go to a dispatcher phone next to the signal for orders.....just guessing here. MEC and B&M were dispatched from different locations, so this would have been the only means of coordination. Besides it would cost too much to change, since there was little revenue for either railroad in this area. Do you have any flimsies addressing Concord, Franklin, Laconia, Meredith, Ashland, Plymouth, and Woodsville? The joint B&M/CP Alouette ran daily on this line in both directions between Montreal and Boston until the late 50's. Also, there was still a fair amount of freight at this time. I believe that Guilford is still running local freights out of Concord as far north as Laconia. (Laconia-Plymouth are my old stomping grounds.)
Hank, I know the ball signal was still in place as a historic reminder and in good shape when I went up there 10 years ago or so. By then the use was not neccesary as Guilford shut most of its NH lines down in the 1980's. There is a great video out called "Red Alcos, Green Mountains" and it shows Whitefield in the video. My dad who still lives in Boscawen NH (good luck finding that unless your a native) wants to retire in Whitfield. Since we are on the topic, how many of you know about the spin off Suncook Valley RR that conected to the B&M in Hookset and went north to Center Barnstead? Of particular intrerst, My parents property has the old ROW running on their property along with one of the original RR bridges! I have a picture of one of the center cab engines they had, an interesting story I'll post later. Boxcab, these train orders are great, my layout is a long way from operations, but I think I'll use my Adobe Illustrator to make some up like the ones your posting for future operations! Any from Penacook, Boscawen NH?
Last I heard a few years ago, Guilford is still running coal to the power plant in Boscawen a couple times a week. The trains were handed off from CSX at Rotterdam Jct., NY, and routed over the ex-B&M Fitchburg Division through Lowell, then up to Concord/Boscawen. This service may have been stopped because the current Guilford system map (http://www.guilfordrail.com/Maps/map.htm) does not show the line from Bow to Boscawen any more. Although, looking at the system map more closely, I suspect that it may not show all active, though little used branches. For instance, there is a spur from Rochester, NH up to a tire plant near Farmington that was still active a few years ago. This line was notable because at the NH Route 11 crossing, the train had to stop, the conductor dismount, manually activate the flashing crossing signals, then wait for the train to clear the crossing before de-activating the signals. I have a photo of that train bursting through a 4-5 high snow bank left by a highway snowplow. On the other hand, the map does show an active line between Whitefield and St. Johnsbury, VT., so when your Dad retires to Whitefield you may get to see some action...if you are VERY patient...!
Sure your not getting Boscawen confused with Bow? Guilford gave trackage rights to everything north of Manchester to a small line, New England Southern. The tracks in Boscawen have been torn up just north of Penacook near Hannah Dustin Park. I have not seen a train on that branch since 1983 or better. Hannah Dustin Park is right off Route 3, my dad used to take me there to watch the rebuilt GP9's run through. Wish we had taken pictures:sad:
OOPS!!! My files somehow became slightly scrambled. Missed a couple. Concord Yard, New Hampshire: Boxcab E50
