I guess this is where we would talk about the B&M, MEC, and other non-Conrail New England rails ... ? Sorry, but I don't have anything to offer at the moment.
Well, that really depends. If they are a Fallen Flag, the talk here. If they are alive and well (which B&M and MEC still technically are, owned by Guilford Rail System, and leased to the ST, also owned by GRS) talk about them in the Shortlines & Regionals forum.
Corey, you raise an interesting point. Why do you believe that the B&M, etc. are still "alive and well"? Does the SEC still consider them independent corporate entities, albeit wholly owned by the GRS? Or is their "independence" merely an allocation of capital assets for accounting purposes? Do they each issue an independent annual Profit & Loss statement? I realize that you may not have ready answers to my questions. However, your statement has opened a new area of curiosity for me. Namely, why would the B&M not be considered a fallen flag, whereas the NYC and Pennsy are? I'm not sure where I would begin to research this ... possibly with the SEC?
Yes, it does raise an interesting point. The reason the Pennsy and NYC cease to exist is that they were merged into a new corporation. I guess GRS is a little similar to Chessie System, where they had sub-lettered B&O, C&O, and WM equipment. I'm pretty sure the railroads exist as an allocation of assets, more specifically for tax purposes I'm sure. As I said, on a technicality, they exist still. As for the essence of the B&M and MEC, it has been gone since 1983. My guess is the SEC would be a good place to start, or maybe the GRS website.
I was in Waterville, Maine last summer. The Guilford Springfield Terminal yard there had a few Guilford diesels lettered for both B&M & MC which were neat to see.
As an ex B&M employee there is no longer a B&M or a MEC. They are leased to Springfield Terminal which is less than 5 miles long and when I left in 1971 had 4 employees. Guilford does it this way as the ST was a union railroad. It was under UTU and they had one class of employees - railroad workers. The B&M employees were all laid off back in the early 90's and were told if they wanted to work they could work for ST. They had 3 days to decide and were not told what the rate of pay or what the benefits were. Take it or leave it. As far as I am concerned Guilford has more interest in Pan American Airways which they own than the railroads. Sure glad I left when I did but feel sorry for many friends who had to go through this mess.
Like the E&N Railway on Vancouver Island the B&M and the MEC are known as "Paper Roads" They exist in the books only.
I was at East Deerfield yard last week. There was one MEC Guilford diesel and three CP units. I did not try to get close enough to get photos or numbers. The place is a sorry sight today compared to what it was when I was a signal maintainer there in 1952. Hey, that's fifty years ago. No wonder I feel old. The tower is closed and my old headquarters building is boarded up and all others are gone.
Yeh, sad ain't it? But I am reading where Fitchburg Div traffic is increasing slightly, so there may be hope yet for the Ole Minute Man. (we need a Graemlin for praying or crossed-fingers) Gil, I'm sure you are aware of the B&M Historical Society forum website, but in case you're not ... B&M Forum
I would suggest that the MEC is slightly more "alive" than the B&M. I say this because the majority of Guilford's locomotives are lettered for MEC, and Guilford has been taking a lot of B&M cars and re-lettering them for MEC. Even some things that were lettered for ST have changed to MEC. B&M fans, please don't take this as an insult! I am on your side! I grew up in southern Maine and the B&M is my first love. [ 19. November 2002, 17:02: Message edited by: MEC 407 ]
MEC407 ... Welcome to the TrainBoard. Glad to have you aboard! What you say about re-assigning B&M and ST stock to MEC is interesting ... wonder what GRS has in mind? What have you heard about the rebuilding of 6000? Sure would love to see her make the roundtrip from North Station to Portland again.
Hi MEC 407. I was in Wells and North Berwick last week visiting cousins. No time to check the B&M. Went to VT and the former CP between Wells River and Newport looked pretty sad and unused. Had a couple of good days but when it started to snow Saturday I was ready to head back to California.
Cool! I grew up in Wells! I lived about 1/4 mile from the old passenger station on Depot Road. I remember many hot, humid summer nights, laying in bed, windows wide open, hearing the wonderful sound of a Geep hauling cars into and out of the industrial park. The best part, though, was hearing a westbound freight roar through town... first I'd hear them off in the distance blowing the horn for Coles Hill Road, and then I'd hear them really loud when they got to Burnt Mill Road. I remember one particular night when a train came through and it was so loud that I thought it was going to come right through my bedroom, and the pictures on my wall even started shaking. It was scary at the time (I was just a little kid ) but now I wish I could go back and re-live that moment!
