Maine Coast Railroad

Maine Coast Railroad
Reporting mark MC
Locale Maine
Dates of operation 1990–2000
Predecessor Maine Central Railroad
Successor Safe Handling
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Headquarters Wiscasset, ME

The Maine Coast Railroad was a railroad company that operated on tracks owned by the Maine Department of Transportation between 1990 and 2000.

History

The company started operations in 1990 after a contract was awarded to the Massachusetts Central Railroad (MCER) to operate the Rockland Branch between Brunswick and Rockland, Maine.[1] The MCER chose to create a new railroad to operate the line, named the Maine Coast.[1] During its first year, the railroad handled little traffic, but in 1991 a large cement producer on the line began shipping its product via rail.[1] As a result of this increase in traffic, the Maine Coast acquired additional locomotives.[1] In 1994, using funding from the Maine Department of Transportation, trackage in Rockland was rebuilt to allow freight to be transferred from the railroad to barges.[1] The railroad closed on December 4, 2000 after losing their lease to the tracks.[2] The lines formerly operated by Maine Coast Railroad are now operated by Maine Eastern Railroad.[1]

Traffic

It offered both freight service and passenger service.[3] The passenger trains operated between Wiscasset and Warren, Maine.

Freight traffic largely consisted of cement products outbound from and coal inbound to Dragon Cement and Concrete in Thomaston.[1] There was also limited perlite and plastic products that moved along the line.[1]

Motive Power

The Maine Coast operated with a small roster of Alco and Montreal Locomotive Works locomotives, including a former Maine Central S-1 (No. 958); a former Norfolk & Western and Central Vermont RS-11 (No. 367); and two Providence and Worcester M420s (Nos. 2002 and 2004).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Confalone, Mike & Posik, Joe (2005). Rail Across New England, Volume I. Goffstown, New Hampshire: Railroad Explorer. p. 38. ISBN 0-9725320-1-3.
  2. ↑ Gibbs, Paula (2000-10-12). "Maine Coast Railroad Going Out Of Business". Boothbay Register.
  3. ↑ "History of Railroads in Maine". Retrieved 2007-12-04.


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