WhiteRiverProductions Hal Carstens
Railfan for Life
Enjoy a rich journey across the American railroading landscape through the lens of Hal Carstens!
The last regularly scheduled Maine Eastern passenger run pauses just west of the Carlton Lift Bridge over the Kennebec River at Bath, Maine, as the conductor offers his fi nal farewells to dis- embarking passengers on October 25, 2015. The Maine Department of Transportation announced the contract to operate the ex-Maine Central Rockland Branch would be awarded to new operator Central Maine & Quebec, ending 11 years of operation by Morristown & Erie subsidiary Maine Eastern. The decision caught M&E management off guard, since the new contract contains no provision for the passenger trains, which in recent years have enjoyed a connection with Amtrak’s Downeaster at Brunswick. The upper level of the bridge at one time carried U.S. Route 1 over the river until a new highway span was constructed in 2000. DAN NELSON PHOTO
In this all-new collection, you’ll enjoy more than 100 pages of color photos selected by our editors spanning Hal’s trackside adventures from the last sixty years. From coast to coast, from steam to diesel (and trolleys, too), from main lines to short lines and everything in between!
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The rail line was dubbed the Annapolis & Elkridge Railroad. A&E passenger service from Annapolis to Washington commenced on Christmas Day in 1840. The A&E suffered financial problems in the
years preceding the Civil War; the war left the railroad in a state of disrepair from which it never truly recovered. It was sold to a com- petitor in 1885 and it continued to operate as the Annapolis, Washington & Baltimore until 1905 when it was transformed into an elec- tric interurban railroad called the Washing- ton, Baltimore & Annapolis Electric Railroad Company. Due to bankruptcy in the Great Depres-
sion, the WB&A operated fitfully into the post-World War II era. The WB&A practical- ly disappeared from memory until the new General’s Highway Courier Project recently got under way. A somewhat failing memory lets me think that the Washington terminal for the railroad was at 15th Street and Penn- sylvania Avenue, close to the Treasury De- partment building and to the White House. Unfortunately, there are few remaining signs that the railroad ever existed. Thanks to Har- ry Ross and Brett Arnold for the information.
Flashes The SACRAMENTO STREETCAR is planned to
start at the Civic Center in West Sacramen- to, move along west Capitol Avenue and Tow- er Bridge Gateway, bend along 3rd Street to the Amtrak Station, and then wind along H Street, 7th Street, 8th Street, K Street, 12th Street, J Street, 19th Street, and L Street. The current light rail is to be moved from K Street to H Street. The streetcar will serve many important downtown venues, and vot-
ers will have an opportunity to vote on a tax to support the streetcar line. Thanks to Rob- ert Doyle for the news. The DETROIT M-1 streetcar is expected to be-
gin revenue service by 2017. It’s an innova- tive project since only 40 percent of the 3.3- mile streetcar line will receive power from overhead wire; the majority of the line will employ batteries and both ends of the line will be off wire. Plans call for the M-1 line to acquire six streetcars and use approximately five at a time, with cash fares set at $1.50. The cars are expected to be 66 feet long and carry 125 passengers. Management plans to select a car builder soon. With designs ranging from historic open
cars to very modern vehicles, a Chatsworth, Calif., company named TIG/M MODERN STREET RAILWAYS is busy producing and selling street- cars. Car bodies are made by TIG/m; the trucks and wheel assemblies are rescued from the remains of old PCC cars from a streetcar graveyard somewhere deep in the Pennsyl- vania woodland. The streetcars from Chats- worth have found a market in Aruba, Dubai, and Qatar in the Middle East. Thanks to Frank Bauer for the interesting information. The SHORE LINE TROLLEY MUSEUM (17 River
Street, East Haven, CT 06512) is now 70 years old and, despite setbacks from coastal flooding, is a great place to visit for a trolley ride. While there, you can check out the mu- seum’s move to higher ground to limit future damage by the weather and the sea and enjoy its featured exhibits. The MINNESOTA STREETCAR MUSEUM (P.O. Box
16508, Minneapolis MN 55416-0509) is in its 44th operating season. Volunteers are needed. Please contact Jim Barry at 952/922-2257.
PLEASE SEND light rail, transit, and commuter rail news items and correspondence directly to Prof. George M. Smerk, P.O. Box 486, Bloomington, IN 47402.
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