the Atlantic. Another of our locomo- tives, ex-CP RS-18u No. 1822, brings back memories of seeing the first of these aging high-hood units coming in- to Maine from Angus shops after re- building, with updated air brakes, elec- trical components, and a new “chopped” nose. At least I’m able to en- joy a little bit of Maine railroading right here in Ohio. Cast iron brake shoes have given way to composition ones, but at night, the FPA’s with booster engaged and exhaust barking still work their magic as they bring a passenger train to a stop at a rural sta- tion. The melodic horns of No. 1822 still respond to the engineer’s touch, and provide enchantment to anyone within earshot. We’ve yet to spot a moose, but whitetail deer often pace alongside, at the advertised 25 m.p.h. There is no steam, but there are train orders, rule- books and night shots. A generation of Maine railroading has passed, many of its routes changed hands or now gone, its railroaders and equip- ment retired or scattered to the winds to be preserved in memories and traditions elsewhere. But surprisingly, and reluctant as I am to admit it, another generation of railroading has blossomed. I’ve watched from afar as Guilford has consolidated and gelled into a viable system as Pan Am Railways while retaining some branch line traffic. The staunch old Bangor & Aroostook changed hands and eventually morphed into the Mon- treal, Maine & Atlantic. Several new operations have since emerged from the sale of CP’s Canadian Atlantic lines across Maine and the Maritimes. These new lines will create a new generation of memories as well for future railfans. Someday soon it will be time to re-
turn to Maine. It will be time to witness the last hurrah of Pan Am’s last re- maining first generation diesels. It will be time to renew old friendships, and perhaps make new ones. It will be time to finally once again track down that operator
from Brownville Junction,
who turned his knowledge and dedica- tion to railroading into a career which has spanned the country on at least six railroads, but who never forgot his roots, his home, in Maine.
The author’s text first appeared in Railroads of the Pine Tree State Vol. 2 by Don Marson and Brian Jennison and is used with permission from Four Ways West Publications.
TOP: In 1994, an accommodating crew on train DHBA (D&H interchange from Glenville, New York, to Bangor) provided a unique way to see some of the ex-Maine Central line in the central part of the state. MIDDLE: In January 1981, a routine B&A plow extra cleans off the wye interchange with CP at Brownville Junc- tion. LEFT: A Central Vermont RS11 lays over with a plow at the modest facility in South Portland in January 1984.
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