Rumors & Sightings, Volume II, Issue 13, ASCII, Part 1

[#1 ST Yahoo]

Rumors & Sightings on and around
Springfield Terminal

http://www.tiac.net/users/terwilli

Volume II, Issue 13 July 13, 1996
Peter Terwilliger, Editor terw...@tiac.net

_*Changes on the Head End - ST Locomotive Review*_

Springfield Terminal's roster continues to change as the deadlines
start emptying out and recently sidelined units return to service.
At the top of the locomotive news is the departure of the former
Delaware & Hudson 7600 series GP39-2s for Union Pacific via Connell
Leasing . Also noteworthy is the departure of GP-7 #27 for the
Conway Scenic Railroad and the return of several sidelined units to
active service.

_GP39-2's Head Out for the Union Pacific_

As previously reported in Issue 11, Springfield Terminal's B&M GP39-2s have
been purchased by Connell Leasing and subsequently leased by
the Union Pacific. On Wednesday, July 3, the first 10 of the 20
former exB&M (#350 to #369), exx D&H (#7601 to #7620) GP39-2's
departed East Deerfield for Springfield, MA on the ConnRiver Main
bound for Conrail's West Springfield Yard and Conrail Train SPSE. The
remaining units soon followed within a few days. Although the units
sported a midsized "UP" in place of the "G" on the long hood, each
retained its old Boston & Maine/Guilford number. By coincidence, the
units left East Deerfield just as announcements of the Surface
Transportation Board's favorable decision regarding the Union Pacific
- Southern Pacific merger was hitting the local news.

The GP39-2s were purchased by the Delaware & Hudson in 1976 and
arrived on the property in the famous D&H blue/yellow/grey lightning
stripe scheme. Units #7610, #7612, & #7620 were cab signal equipped.
Following Guilford's purchase of the D&H on January 4, 1984, the
twenty units were sent to be remanufactured by Morrison-Knudson,
emerging in Guilford grey and orange as B&M #350 to #369. As part of
the financing for the remanufacturing, the units were acquired by
Mellon Financial Services and leased back to the Boston & Maine. An
excellent article by Jack Armstrong on the GP39-2s is published in
the July/August issue of Diesel Era and was a reference for this
article.

The units are reportedly heading for VMV Padacah Shops for
inspection, any needed repairs, and possibly paint. The units are
listed in the preliminary UP/SP renumbering plan as UP #2729-#2748.
Speculation about possible uses for UP's "new" units centers on grain
service on various branch lines, perhaps on the former CNW as well.
Already the Union Pacific has been converting some of their existing
GP-38 units with cab controls so they can operate as lead engines on
the east/west ex-CNW mainline across Iowa. The UP recently obtained
new agreements with the UTU establishing a "grain lines pool" of
trainmen/conductors thus enabling the UP to operate grain trains
to/from Iowa branch lines without having to change crews at mainline
junctions.

_Someone Mention Paducah?_

On Friday, July 6, former B&M GP40-2s, now numbered #501, #509, &
#511 were sighted in the
backlot along with a lot of HATX and HLCX units, mostly SD45-2's and
ex-SP SD45T-2's. Sitting out the back gate were Illinois Central SD-70's
#1002 and #1004 coupled elephant style, and coupled behind these
units were UP SD-90MAC's #8028 and #8027. Another SD90MAC was
sitting outside the former tank shop and another could be seen inside
the paint shop already. Sitting outside the paint shop in primer
were UP #8037, #8041, and #8039, all pointed south in great sunlight!

_Springfield Terminal GP-7 #27 joins the Conway Scenic Roster_

As previously reported, the Locomotive Fifteen Corporation has
purchased the former Springfield Terminal GP-7 #27 for subsequent
lease to the Conway Scenic Railroad. Springfield Terminal removed
the unit from service and stored unit "surplus" on March 15. The
unit was sighted heading east (isolated) out of East Deerfield Yard
on East Deerfield -> Lawrence Train EDLA on June 24 and heading east
out of Rigby Yard on Portland, ME -> S.D. Warren Paper (Hinkley, ME)
on June 26. The unit was set off at Danville Junction, picked up by
the St. Lawrence & Atlantic and delivered to the New Hampshire &
Vermont at Groveton on the same day. The New Hampshire & Vermont
later delivered the GP-7 to the Conway Scenic Railroad at Whitefield
on the former MEC Mountain Subdivision on Monday July 1st. Former
Boston & Maine F-7 #4266 was sent out to retrieve the unit from
Whitefield the same day.

The unit was sighted in the North Conway roundhouse on July 5
undergoing last minute preparations to operate the valley train with
CSRR #66 between North Conway and Bartlett the next day. The most
noticeable changes to the unit are new ditch lights to the long hood,
a 5 chime horn, and the repair of its strobe lights. The GP-7 was
received in good operating condition, having been heavily shopped and
painted by Springfield Terminal in November of 1994.

The Conway Scenic Railroad plans to use its new acquisition to
replace former Portland Terminal S-4 #1055 on its "valley trains"
from North Conway to Bartlett. The GP-7 is also scheduled to power
The 470 Club's end-of -the-year excursion to Fabyans on October 26.
The venerable ALCo switcher will be held in reserve to provide
protection power and/or power for other unscheduled activities. The
GP-7 will remain as #27 in its grey and orange Guilford paint until
late this year or early next, although the "G" has been modified to a
"C" and lettering changed to Conway Scenic. Eventually, the unit
will be repainted in its original maroon and gold Maine Central paint
scheme, renumbered to #573 (its original MEC number) and lettered for
the Conway Scenic Railroad.

The unit, the last on the MEC roster to be equipped with serviceable
steam generator, has sported several one-of-a-kind paint jobs during
it's colorful history operating inspection trains and passenger
specials. The unit is no stranger to North Conway, having trailed
GP-7R #470 on a Operation Lifesaver train through Crawford Notch on
September 26, 1983. The train backed down the former B&M Conway
Branch from Intervale to North Conway also to visit the Conway Scenic
Railroad during that trip.

The Conway Scenic Railroad operates passenger excursions through
Crawford Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire over the
former Maine Central Mountain Subdivision from North Conway to
Crawford's. The railroad also operates excursions to Bartlett, the
location of a former MEC pusher facility on the Mountain Sub and to
Conway over the former B&M Conway Branch. More information about
these trips can be obtained from The Conway Scenic Railroad, P.O. Box
1947, North Conway, New Hampshire 03860 or by phoning 1-800-232-5251
(1-603-356-5251 in NH). Additional information is also available on
the World Wide Web at http://www.whitemnt.org.

_Waterville Update_

Units in the deadlines:

Maine Central GP-38's #251, #261, & #262
Maine Central U-23B #288
B&M and MEC GP-40's #309, #319, #325, #331, CR #3195 (#311), &
CR #3208 (#315)
Maine Central ALCo C-424m's #453 & #455
Maine Central SD-40 #602
Maine Central SD-39 #693

Retired units (whitelined) in the deadlines: ST GP-7 #13, ST SD-45
#688, & MEC GP-38 #260.

Units in roundhouse: ST SD-26 #619 (dead), ST GP-9 #52, MEC GP-40
#349, MEC U- 18B #404, MEC SD-40 #604, and B&M SD-39 #692.

Units in backshop: MEC GP-40 #321, MEC U-18B #406 and GP-7 #10 was
outside the backshop, where it has been for a while.

Notes:

1. Maine Central GP-40 308 has been painted into Guilford Rail
Systems colors and returned to service.
2. Springfield Terminal SW-9 #1424 may or may not be active...
3. Maine Central GP-40 #319 has definitely been renumbered (still
blue) even though the number boards are not even permanently in
place. The unit is in need of major tests and repairs including
trucks, an event recorder, and a cab floor.
4. Maine Central GP-40 #348 was in the paintshop
5. Springfield Terminal SD-26 #643 has been returned to service
after being sidelined with main generator faults
6. U-18B's #404 & #406 are having their trucks swapped. The #406
needs additional testing and should see service soon; 404 is
still missing one truck, which was seen next to ST GP-7 #10
outside the backshop.
7. Maine Central GP-40 #321 is being rebuilt
8. SD-26 #619 is still in the same stall in the roundhouse as it
was in March, not yet active.
9. The official dates of storage for many of the GP-7's now at East
Deerfield: #16 on April 6, #18 on April 12, #19 and #34 on April
17, #23 on April 11, and #35 on April 22.

_*District 1: ex Maine Central*_

On June 29, S.D. Warren Paper (Hinkley) -> Portland Train SDPO
arrived at Rigby with U-18B #407, U-18B #402, GP-40 #374 and GP-9
#77... On July 3, S.D. Warren Paper (Hinkley) -> Portland Train SDPO
was sighted at CPF 192 with SD-26 #620, GP-9 #66 and GP-7 #22. The
#620 was dead - the Geeps were powering the entire train... Recently
returned to service MEC GP-40 #308 was sighted on Bangor ->
Mattawamkeag Train BAMA with 14 cars at Odlin road, between Northern
Maine Jct and Bangor on Friday, July 5... Fresh ballast is being
spread on the main line east from Rigby to at least as far as Royal
Junction. (CPF 185)... There are seven or eight whitelined MEC
boxcars being torched for scrap on the west end of Rigby Yard... On
July 7, Springfield Terminal "MKIII HSTR" Tamper #10602 was also
sighted on the west end of Rigby Yard...

The following first generation units were sighted in Rigby Yard
during the last few weeks, all lettered Springfield Terminal:

GP-7: #22
GP-9: #45, #51, #54, #66, #71, #72, #77

_*District 2: exB&M East End*_

_Northern New Hampshire News_ - by John Dietz

On July 2, the former B&M passenger station was moved from the King
Industries Lumber yard in Wentworth New Hampshire to its new home on
Eastside Road in Wentworth. The station was on the former B&M line
between Plymouth and Woodsville, NH. The line, abandoned in the 50's,
hosted Boston to Montreal passenger trains, as well as trains that
brought children to and from school in Plymouth. The Wentworth
Historical Society is currently raising funds to restore the old
depot.

Heavy rains in the Laconia area washed out a section of track on the
Hobo Railroad (formerly the B&M Plymouth Branch) on July 4. The
washout occurred as the result of heavy rains from a passing
thunderstorm. The section of track, between Laconia and Weirs Beach,
is used for tourist trains and some operations were affected by the
washout. Operations on the Meredith to Weirs line were not affected.

The Hobo Railroad ran it's caboose train Sunday, July 7. The train
was sighted at the restored Plymouth Railroad Station (now the
Plymouth Senior Center) and consisted of several privately owned
cabooses, wearing old B&M, MEC, and NYC liveries.

_Suicide on the MBTA New Hampshire Route_

Amtrak/MBTA Train #343 stopped just short of the Lowell depot when it
ran over a body in the gauge of No.4 track just north of Lowell Tower
by Bleachery Yard on July 5th. Track 3 was also temporarily rendered
unusable as the result of the accident. Following Amtrak/MBTA train
#345 was rerouted on Springfield Terminal's Freight Main (#2 track)
around the accident scene. The passengers on #343 were taxied to
Lowell depot while local and MBTA police investigated. It was later
determined that the unidentified male was deceased prior to #343's
arrival. This was the second trespasser death in a month for the
MBTA as a Needham Line train (on Conrail) struck and killed an
individual bent of suicide where the branch crosses Route 128.

_Plans for Haverhill MBTA Station Work Proceeding Slow_

Design plans to improve the Haverhill MBTA station should be
completed by late spring of next year. The project includes
accessability improvements and a parking lot for the existing
building. After the design plans are complete the project will go
out to bid. Construction is slated to begin in the fall and should
take about 24 months. The parking lot will be at the location of the
current Tops Electronics Service Inc. at 1 Washington Avenue. A
railroad siding also exists on that side of the tracks that was used
to serve a lumber mill at one time. One original building is still
there being used for some type of business. Unfortunately, this bit
of railroad history will be destroyed by the improvements.

_Shorts_

Dover -> Boston gravel train DOBO is now running six days a week most
of the time, with Sunday likely the off-day... On June 28, GP-9 #45
was sighted on the Saco Industrial Spur... On July 5th, Selkirk ->
Lawrence Train SELA with Conrail C30-7a's #6579, #6557 #6593, & #6592
at the point picked up Conrail C30-7a's #6555, #6585 #6552, & #6582
that had been shutdown and stored in Lawrence Yard. The eight unit
train then headed west as Lawrence -> Selkirk Train LASE after making
its setoff... Several rebuilt Pullman Standard MBTA cars are being
stored at the MBTA facility at Bradford... B&M F-7 #4265 is stored on
the stub track south of the Green Mountain's shops in North Walpole,
NH. The unit was came to the Green Mountain from the Central New
York Chapter in 1994. The unit was formerly displayed for years at
the Syracuse Amtrak station as a shell... On Thursday, July 11, two
Railbox boxcars were sighted set out on the team track (behind the
yard office) at Lawrence. The cars looked like they had caught fire,
showing obvious flame & smoke damage to their exteriors. Their
loads, newspapers to be recycled, were heaped in a big pile next to
them and looked singed. On Friday, July 12, Lawrence -> Selkirk
Train LASE departed Lawrence with instrumented DODX caboose #900
behind Conrail C30-7a's #6565, #6590, #6558, & #6580. The caboose
had been sighted waiting for pickup off the Portsmouth Branch at
Rockingham Junction the previous day...

_Operations on the Former B&M Conway Branch_

The former B&M Conway Branch in New Hampshire is operated by the New
Hampshire Northcoast from Rochester to Ossipee and by the Conway
Scenic Railroad from Conway to North Conway. The line in between
Ossipee and Conway, about 20 miles, is dormant - last used by a B&M
local in 1972. The line south of Rochester is abandoned and torn up.
The Branch is paralleled by NH Routes 125 and/or 16 from Rochester to
North Conway.

The New Hampshire Northcoast (NHN) ties into Springfield Terminal's
Freight Main at CPF 241 at Rollinsford, NH, near Dover. The NHN uses
the former B&M Farmington Branch to reach Rochester where it heads
north on the former Conway Branch to reach Ossipee. The remnants of
the Farmington branch west of Rochester were retired just last year
and quickly torn up. The railroad is most famous for running unit
gravel trains from the Ossipee Aggregates sand pit in Ossipee. The
gravel trains are turned over to Springfield Terminal for the trip to
Boston (Everett) as Dover, NH to Boston, MA Train DOBO. Besides the
gravel trains, the only other customer on the NHN is Tri-State Gas in
Rochester which usually receives 3-4 LPG tank cars every other day in
the winter.

The New Hampshire Northcoast meticulously maintains its track to high
standards and is currently about to embark on a rebuilding program on
the southern part of the line from Rochester to Dover that they
recently purchased from Springfield Terminal. Numerous ties are
marked for replacement and a tamper, formerly from Ormond Railroad
Company, was sighted at Sommersworth. The railroad features a steep
grade north of Wakefield as the track climbs the foothills to the
White Mountains. Stations exist at Sommersworth, Rochester (Knights
of Columbus), Union, Wakefield and other towns. There are other
interesting sights along the way as well: an old 40' outside braced
box car with trees growing out of it just north of the old turntable
pit in Sanbornville (on what used to be the track to Wolfboro) and
the Union Tank car on a siding near the Ossipee station (owned by
Wolfboro RR club).

North of Ossipee, the branch, now abandoned, heads through Mount
Whittier (Ossipee Lake), Silver Lake, and on to Conway. Crossing
protection, signaling gear, and track still stands as it was left in
1972, although now overgrown with some good sized trees. The depot
in Mount Whittier belongs to the Lions Club. There have been some
rumors fueled by wishful thinking about re-establishing the line
between Ossipee and Conway. A Conway to Wakefield trip would make
for a decent excursion. Of course, the NHN is not involved in
passenger service and the Conway Scenic has it hands full with
restoring the exMEC Mountain Sub. Perhaps if Amtrak ever makes it
through Dover, there may be more serious thought to it...

The Branch is in service from Conway to North Conway by the Conway
Scenic Railroad. The Freight House at Conway and the historic depot
in North Conway are well known to tourists. North Conway is the home
of the Conway Scenic Railroad, features a roundhouse, yard, historic
rolling stock and the North Conway Depot, an architectural standout.

********************************************************************
Rumors and Sightings on and around Springfield Terminal!
http://oz.plymouth.edu/~j_dietz/GRS/grs.html

terw...@tiac.net

!!!!!!! DO NOT USE: terw...@yankee.com !!!!!!!!!
********************************************************************

[#1 ST Yahoo]

_*MBTA/Amtrak: exB&M Boston East & Boston West*_

_Locomotive Truck Fire!_

Just prior to leaving North Station Saturday 7/6, Amtrak/MBTA Train
No. 1415 (Fitchburg) had to be evacuated account of a truck fire on
F-40 #1071. Passengers were transferred to another trainset, while
Boston Fire Department and Amtrak personnel attended to the #1071.
Scanner chatter seemed to indicate a seized axle or bearing on the
front truck. The equipment spent the night in North Station and, on
Sunday, Amtrak GP-40TC #194 came out and walked the engine to old
Mainline 7 at Prison Point where the axle was replaced. The #1071 was
then dispatched to Yard 14 for storage and eventual movement to
Southampton Street for additional repairs.

_More Trackwork & Construction_

The July 4th weekend saw track forces rehab the so-called scissor
switches in the back ladder at Tower A. It was a two day affair and
included replacement of all switch frogs. Tentatively scheduled for
two consecutive weekends in August is the replacement of slipswitches
on the north side of the front ladder at Tower A. (August 16-18 and
23-25). While this work is underway, all Fitchburg trains will be
diverted via FX Interlocking between Tower A and Swift Interlocking -
a reroute which will require backup moves. Extra engineers will be on
hand to speed up operations. Both switch projects are part of the
North Station Terminal Improvement Program.

Bridge repair continues on the Fitchburg Route. The inbound track is
finally being put back now that the reconstruction of the bridge over
the stream by the quarry (between Brandeis and Kendall Green) has
been finished. The other two bridges being worked on while the
inbound track is closed are done except for ballast work (add
ballast, tamp and align), so there's a good chance of the inbound
track reopening within the next week.

The Fitchburg Route Pilot Service will swap tracks for the final time
on July 15 as the bridge and culvert rehabilitation projects wind
down. The two ex-DODX 6 axle flats that were at Kendall Green in the
out of service track were moved early in the week of July 8 to the
Wharf Track in Concord, Ma. (just west of Belknap Street crossing). A
third flat is in YD21/Somerville awaiting movement to the worksite.
On June 11, Amtrak GP-40TC #194 powered a ballast train that was
dumping ballast in the work area as well as "busting rust" for the
track swap. Look for a Work Extra in the late evening on July 16
from Boston to head into the work area to assist with the contractor
bridge panel work at MP13.

The abutments for the temporary Route 27 bridge at South Acton are
up, and retaining walls for the southern approach are partially
complete. Route 27 is scheduled to close on July 27 (and part of
July 28 if needed) so that the span over the old branch to
Maynard/Hudson/Marlboro can be ripped out and replaced with fill
prior to putting up the temporary bridge. Once the temporary bridge
is up, the truss bridge comes down and they start building the new
permanent bridge (stone faced concrete) in its place. This project
has about another year to run.

_Littleton Station_

There has been no change in status for the proposed rebuild of the
Littleton station. The MBTA has balked at the cost of building on
the new site south of Route 2, and the Massachusetts Highway
department is not pleased about the idea of adding ramps to Route 2
(something about minimum distance between interchanges). Meanwhile,
the town government of Littleton is dead set against the MBTA's
preferred approach of expanding the station on its existing site.
Among the concerns of the town government is that Foster Street will
be used as a shortcut by traffic to/from the north.

_GP40LH-2 Preview_

Rebuilt GP-40's, termed GP40LH-2's, have been sighted in full New
Haven ConnDOT paint on the New England Central enroute to Southern
Connecticut. The units feature SD-45 style radiators and a very
small fuel tank. These are the first deliveries of a batch of new
units that will include those to be delivered to the MBTA later this
year. The list of CN GP-40s selected for the MBTA project, however,
has almost totally changed again. Only three have been retired for
the project so far: Canadian National #9474, #9517 and #9654. The
majority of the units will be from the CN 9633-9667 series.
Locomotive "dates-in-for work" so far at AMF are November 20 for MBTA
GP40 LH-2 ex-CN #9474 and MBTA GP40 LH-2 ex-CN #9517 on April 2.

_Shorts_

The US Route 1 overpass bridge in Newburyport, Mass has been removed
- there was no trace left when the site was inspected last week.
There was some construction equipment there and piles of dirt but no
bridge... MBTA GP-18 #1921 is at Southampton Street/South Boston for
repairs and installation of ditch lights... MBTA GP-9 #902 is still
out of service with main generator failure... Amtrak GP-40TC #194 is
still on lease and assigned to the Northside Work Train... Pullman
Test Coaches were moved to Bradford in late June for undisclosed
tests...On July 5th, Dover, NH -> Boston Gravel Train DOBO-5X
derailed 2 gravel cars in Everett while attempting delivery to the
BS&G facility there. The train was powered by New Hampshire
Northcoast GP-9's #1758 & #1760, both former Pennsy units in primer
grey, and had 23 loads... It appears that the Wakefield/Newburyport
Branch is being serviced occasionally out of Boston by Local BO-1. On
July 5th, BO-1 took 3 loads to Wakefield Junction. Railfans should
take note of this move as it's rare to see freights between
Wellington and Fells! GRS/B&M GP40 339 was the power for the unusual
move... On the week of July 1, crossing guards are flagging the grade
crossing in Winchester just past the station although the gates and
lights were working. The guard had his lawn chair right in front of
the little shanty, built just for that purpose. Shades of the street
crossing guards on the old B&M!... On July 10, the MBTA hosted 1100+
children and chaperones on Trains 113/124 for the Beverly's
Children's Library Day. Train 113 ran as a double draft of 11
coaches with F-40 #1011on the east end and F-40 #1014 on the west.
Some delays were incurred as the crush of kids caused some "long
stops" between Lynn and Beverly... On July 12, the MBTA ran a Pullman
Test Extra over the Eastern Route with six of the refurbished
coaches. These are part of a group of 14 stored at Readville. Pending
results, all 14 cars may go into revenue service this weekend or next
week. The original batch of 3 cars are still in Bradford Yard
undergoing unknown tests... On July 13, MBTA/Amtrak train #438 was
ambushed by a "man who jumped out of his car, climbed on the
locomotive, dumped the air, got back into his car, and drove off" at
South Acton...

_*District 3: exB&M Gardner District*_

_DHPO Doings!_

On the early morning of July 8th, Delaware & Hudson -> Portland Train
DHPO headed up by MEC GP-40 #312 was delayed just east of Gardner by
a crippled car that required the services of a maintainer.
Unfortunately, the maintainer's truck broke down enroute. The
maintainer, truck and train were forced to wait it out until the
automotive department reported for work later in the morning and
could get out to effect a rescue. Meanwhile, the District 3 Train
Operations Manager contemplated having DHPO leave the train in
Gardner and set the car off at "South Ash" on the vestiges of the
Chesire Branch. Later, during the setoff move, DHPO found that the
South Ash switch was spiked out of service...

_Shorts_

On June 25, recently returned-to-service SD-26 #643 was sighted
leading the consist of Lawrence -> East Deerfield Train LAED along
with SD-26 #620, SD-45 #681, and retired GP39-2 #354 in Ayer... Also
on June 25, Guilford Transportation Industries submitted their Notice
of Intent for the Auto Unloading Facility expansion to the Ayer
Conservation Commission... On Sunday, June 30, an Ayer local worked
a Worcester turn with ST GP-35 #203 for power. On the way back, the
local was trailed by the Conrail Selkirk -> Ayer autorack train ML-438.
Upon arrival at Ayer, the local ran thru the yard, pulled up to
the east wye and ran out of fuel... Severe thunderstorms knocked out
crossing protection and ST's signaling system on the Stoney Brook
Branch between Ayer and Westford on July 8, delaying Lawrence ->
Selkirk Train LASE. Crews were still working on the system on July
9... A weed sprayer was working in the Ayer Hill Yard and east on
Monday, July 8 and Tuesday July 9. Spraying activities were handled
using a rail truck from a private contractor based in Westfield with
an ST pilot. Local AY-1 shuffled cars in the yard so they could
spray each track... The message of the Shirley talking detector has
been restored to call out "Boston & Maine" rather than "UP detector".
The detector now also calls out the speed of the passing trains... On
July 13, Selkirk -> MEC train SENE left Ayer headed up by C30-7a
#6552. The unit shutdown after receiving an overload trip...

_*District 4 - exB&M West End*_

_Shorts_

On Wednesday, June 27, SD-26 #643 was sighted back in service in the
consist of Delaware & Hudson -> Portland, ME Train DHPO at North
Adams. The unit was previously stored out of service with main
generator faults in Waterville. The train, headed up by ST SD-45
#681, ST SD-26 #620, ST SD-26 #643, & ST GP-35 #206 with 67 cars met
a light power move consisting of MEC GP-40 #351, SD-40 #603, B&M
SD-39 #690, ST GP-35 #204, ST GP-35 #213, B&M GP-38 #252, & ST GP-35
#202 at the North Adams siding... Portland, ME -> Delaware & Hudson
Train PODH left East Deerfield Yard on Friday, June 29 with 109
cars... Maintenance forces dropped timbers for the ongoing District 4
track work along the Freight Main and Rotterdam Branch at Rotterdam
Junction, Schagticoke, and Hoosick Falls in the last few weeks... On
July 3, Portland, ME -> Delaware & Hudson Train PODH was delayed by
governor problems in MEC GP-40 #374 at MP 394... On July 7, Norfolk
Southern B40-8 #3544, CP SD40-2 #5431 and B&M GP-40 #335 was sighted
in East Deerfield Yard. The light power set was likely the power
from an earlier Mt. Tom Loaded Coal Train... Severe thunderstorms
felled trees in the Erving/Orange area, knocking out crossing
protection and the signaling system in the area on July 8.
Communications and Signal (C&S) crews were still working on the
system during the evening of July 9... On July 10, East Deerfield
Local ED-5 died with its trailing car fouling a crossing in South
Deerfield. A local firm assisted the crew in moving the car off the
crossing with a forklift. The disabled train was later brought in to
East Deerfield Yard by Plainville, CT -> East Deerfield Train
EDPL...The SD-45s have been moved from the east end of the East
Deerfield Yard to inside the engine shop... The departure of the
twenty GP39-2's have left the yard looking very vacant fueling rumors
amongst local wags that the yard will soon be closed...

_*Book Review - by Bob Warren*_

Steam Powered Video's Comprehensive RAILROAD ATLAS of North America
- "North East U.S.A," 3rd printing.

If you want to know where that abandoned railroad embankment in one
of the New England States went, then this is the Railroad Atlas to
have. Shown are not only the current lines but the abandoned ones as
well. Unlike the typical railroad atlas we are familiar with, these
atlases do not show highways or geographical features such as land
profiles - only rail lines, cities, towns and major water ways, lakes
and rivers. Additionally, current and/or former owners are indicated
along the rail lines. The maps are drawn on a scale of 8 miles to 1
inch with complex areas such as Boston presented in a scale of 2
miles to the inch.

Of interest to B&M (and other New England RR) fans is the third
printing which includes the New England states in addition to the
northeastern states of NY, PA, NJ, DE, and MD. There are 21 pages
devoted to the six New England states: Conn-2, Mass-5, Maine-8, and 3
each for New Hampshire and Vermont. All maps are overlapped with the
matching map denoted.

Complimenting the soft cover map book is an 25 page index that lists
all the names of the cities shown on the maps, map page number as
well as map number. Where a city might be shown on more than one map
(due to the overlapping feature of the maps) multiple listing is
given.

In addition to the northeast region book, several others, covering WI
and IL, CA and NV, UT and CO as well as AZ and NM, have been
released. The editors eventually plan to cover the entire U.S. and
Canada.

_*Interchange Track*_

_The Atlantic States Limited - July 1996_

Norfolk Southern Corporation and Guilford Rail Systems officials are
negotiating to introduce intermodal service to Fairfield, Maine.
Once given the go-ahead by Norfolk Southern, the facility is expected
to take four to six weeks to build, including grading, laying the
panel track, and ballasting. Service may begin as early as August 15
given quick state approval, though much of the financing between GRS,
NS, and the State of Maine has yet to be worked out. Additional
setbacks could come following an anticipated request by the St.
Lawrence and Atlantic to use the facility if state money is involved.
The new service will complement Norfolk Southern's efforts to return
intermodal service to Albany and beyond (starting in July) following
its discontinuance by CPRS in March of this year. Guilford officials
stated that the service would likely be in March or April of 1997 if
the August window of opportunity is missed. Additionally, the
officials are quoted that the Fitchburg Main would be widened to
accommodate doublestack traffic from Ayer west, including the Hoosac
Tunnel, if traffic levels were substantial. Norfolk Southern is
looking for the service to generate 40,000 loads in both directions
between Ayer, MA and Fairfield, ME.

Another study calls for intermodal service from Bangor to the
interchange with Conrail at Worcester. The plan calls for traffic to
reach Chicago 48 hours after departing Bangor with 12 hours allocated
for the GRS portion of the trip.

Guilford Rail Systems has announced plans to abandon a section of the
Newburyport Branch between Lowell Street (MP 0.053) and Danvers (MP
9.15). Operations continue on the Branch between Wakefield Junction
(MP 0) and Lowell Street...The Maine Department of Transportation is
working to purchase the former Maine Central Mountain Subdivision in
Maine before the tracks are torn up. Guilford Rail Systems is
reported to have already received a bid from a contractor for the
salvage operation... Guilford Rail Systems and the Springfield
Terminal Railway has been awarded the 1995 E.H. Harriman Memorial
Safety Bronze Award. The award is given to operations with less than
four million employee hours. Springfield Terminal derailed two MEC
1000 series ballast hoppers in Rigby Yard on June 18...Maintenance of
Way operations continue on the number 2 track between CPF 192 in
Falmouth, ME and Walnut. Ballast trains out of Rigby Yard are being
operated by the Rigby Locals as required to support the operation...

_*Department of Corrections!*_

_Volume II, Issue 12:_

>...Springfield
>Terminal crews have reconstructed a siding in the Dover, New
>Hampshire yard alongside the Freight Main across from the former B&M
>freight house. The ties are being replaced but the original rail is
>being reused. Additionally, the rebuilt siding is tied into a spur
>that extends beyond the old roundhouse (under the bridge) and looks
>as if it may extend all the way down to the signal bridge behind
>Red's shoe barn...

Springfield Terminal crews have been installing two sidings in the
location of the old Dover, New Hampshire Yard off the number two
track. Tamper #10601 and ballast spreader #14202 were sighted stored
at another siding adjacent to the old B&M maintenance depot closeby.
The sidings are partially installed with final spiking and tamping
operations left to do. Additionally, it is apparent that the old
yard has been cleared to allow both sidings to be extended to the
bridge near Red's Shoe Barn.

Dover, at ST's MP 243, was the location of an engine facility for the
old B&M, including a roundhouse that is now being used to house a
potter/artist specializing in salt glaze pottery. A machinery sales
firm utilizes the parking lot for storage - some of the machinery
looks to be from the roundhouse itself. The turntable is filled in
but the remains of a locomotive fueling stand are still extant.
Additionally, there was a maintenance depot at the west end of the
yard. The yard itself is being cleared of old ties, rails, and other
debris. The yard appears to have once been about the size of the
yard at Fitchburg.

_*Contributors*_

Special thanks to this issue's contributors: Dave Gajda, Mike Mclain,
Mike Joyce, David Wright, Tom Simonds, Karen Simonds, Mike Simonds,
Richard Roberg, Scott Currier, Bill Drury, Rob Davis, Penny
Harrington, Bruce Harrington, John E. Dietz, Bryce Lee, Matt Sekella,
David Black, Ron DeFilippo, Doug Trueblood, Dave Edwards, Dennis
Rockwell, Jason Shuttle, Charlie Sullivan, David C. Warner, Kenneth
Walton, Bill Miller, Cliff Downey, La Verne Andreessen, Bob Warren
and others! Please let us know if you were missed! Additionally,
special thanks to Bryce Lee's News from Canada, and The Atlantic
States Limited for allowing excerpts from selected articles to appear
in this newsletter. Also, special thanks to Gary Webster of the
Conway Scenic Railroad!

News of events on Springfield Terminal that seem out of the ordinary
is always welcome! Send reports to Rumors & Sightings on and around
Springfield Terminal for inclusion in the next issue! No item is too
small! All contributions, comments, corrections, and suggestions for
improvement should be sent to Peter Terwilliger, editor, at
terw...@tiac.net or by voice at 802-258-5774. Try to include the
number and roadname where possible - we can do the rest. If you see
unsafe conditions, please contact the Springfield Terminal Police at
1-800-955-9217. Remember to respect railroad property and do not
trespass! Rumors & Sightings on and around Springfield Terminal is
supported by contributors, both on and off the Internet!

Rumors & Sightings on and around Springfield Terminal is an all
volunteer newsletter concerning happenings on ST and/or any of the
many exB&M lines. Rumors & Sightings on and around Springfield
Terminal is posted on MISC.TRANSPORT.RAIL.AMERICAS and the RAILROAD
LIST approximately every two weeks. E-mail subscriptions are also
available by writing the editor. Additionally, hardcopy versions are
available at Shepaug Railroad Company in the old NY,NH,&H railroad
station at 24 Columbia Street in Leominster, MA and at the Acton
Model Railroad Center at 562 Massachusetts Avenue near the
exFitchburg Division crossing with MA Route 111 in West Acton, MA.
An illustrated version of Rumors & Sightings on and around
Springfield Terminal is now available on the World Wide Web on John
Dietz's Unofficial Guilford Rail System Home Page at
http://oz.plymouth.edu/~j_dietz/GRS/grs.html.

_*Standard Disclaimer*_

Rumors & Sightings on and around Springfield Terminal is in no way
associated with the Springfield Terminal Railway Corporation,
Guilford Rail Systems, or any other railroad or financial interests.
Rumors & Sightings is a compilation of contributions that reflect
what is seen and heard from time to time on and about Springfield
Terminal Railway by interested railfans. All content should be
further verified.

_*Copyright*_

This issue and/or the material herein may be reproduced at will,
however, credit to Rumors & Sightings on and around Springfield
Terminal must be acknowledged whenever the material is used
elsewhere. Please contact the editor, Peter Terwilliger, prior to
using this material for commercial and/or publication purposes.