A Day Long Awaited

[Guilford343]

'Nuff said, enjoy the pics! :)

http://www.freewebs.com/panamrailfan/photos101307.htm

[CSX4878]

I would have had the SD45 leading the train rather then the D9-40CW.

Anyways.. 681 looks pretty clean then what it use to look like.. hmm..

I caught a SD26 before during the night in Lewiston, but never saw 681 yet.. and go figure too.. It was even up this way too.

Ohwell.. once I got to see 6 GP40's pull 90 cars, so that was cool. (EDNM and EDWA combined)

[CRQ5508]

it's about firggen time you caught the 681... nice shots man! now if only i could catch that last ex MEC GP38....

[CSX4878]

>it's about firggen time you caught the 681... nice shots man!
>now if only i could catch that last ex MEC GP38....


I actually saw that.. and it's not MEC, it's B&M.
It was the second engine on the EDRU train on the Rumford Branch through downtown here.. no pictures though. :(

[CRQ5508]

I know it says Boston and Maine. But trust me it's MEC. here are the give-aways.
1) It's a GP38. B&M ordered GP38-2s
2) It's equipped with Dynamic Brakes. B&M ordered theirs without dnamic brakes.
3) Rides on standard Blomber trucks. B&Ms GP38-2s rode on M-type Blombergs (the type with the dampening strut)
4) location of the bell over the engineers window. MEC rebuilt their GP38-2s, and relocated the bell over said window.
I don't know why GRS labeled it for B&M, but then again. they labeled the GP40-2LWs as MEC.... go fiure.

[Guilford343]

Thanks, Tom! Yeah.. I would've loved to see the SD45 leading, that would be sweet.. :D

[CSX4878]

Hmm, I should have looked before I said anything...

"BM 252 Ex MEC 252 GP38"

There are two possibilites for the lettering..

1)During the merger of the companies, the MEC 252 (now BM) most likely was on B&M Trackage, and was ordered to be repainted in East Deerfield or somewhere on the BM Line.
2)They may have wanted dynamic GP38's for the BM system at one time before disableing them.

Also, the GP40-2LW's
Same as about, I believe they where lettered to MEC because they where sent directly to Waterville, (MEC trackage)
I think that is how it works.. because they still classify Portland, ME and east MEC tracks, and Portland, ME West, B&M Tracks.

[jay611]

they more than likely later installed the dynamics. Serals No. checks out

32661 7946-2 GP38 MEC 252 BM 252

Cheers,

Jason Underwood
Newport News, Virginia
CSX Peninsula Sub MP.16
Jay611@cox.net
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t66/BCR2014/rnte2.jpg

[mword77]

No, they were delivered with dynamics.
I believe that it changed "ownership" as a paper deal. Probably to do with tax purposes. Remember, the whole railroad operates as the Springfield Terminal not B&M or Maine Central.
The dynamics are a mute point now as when Guilford took over, all units with dynamics had them de-activated which was also B&M policy I think.

[CSX4878]

>No, they were delivered with dynamics.
>I believe that it changed "ownership" as a paper
>deal. Probably to do with tax purposes. Remember, the whole
>railroad operates as the Springfield Terminal not B&M or
>Maine Central.
>The dynamics are a mute point now as when Guilford took over,
>all units with dynamics had them de-activated which was also
>B&M policy I think.


Yes with that all said though. the Tracks are still classified as MEC, B&M, and ST.
And it would make sense that, with the GP40-2LW's being delivered to a yard that is on the MEC line, that they'd get the MEC lettering.

As for the no dynamic thing. Yes that is correct that the B&M had that as a policy. The Dynamic Brakes where not that useful at the time. I talked with a former B&M Employee that use to run both Steamers and Early Diesel Engines across the B&M West End (Fitchburg to Mechanicville.)

[jac_murphy]

>I would have had the SD45 leading the train rather then the
>D9-40CW.

Not sure if the crew would feel the same way as you. :-)

Jacques

[Guilford343]

LOL.. Well its leading a train right now.. so it can't be that bad! ;)

[CRQ5508]

honestly that train was full of goodies. One of the last two SD26s remaining in existance. Same with the high hood SD45 (only other is ex GRS 684 now operating on MRL) and an NS C40-9W leading long hood forward. Now I know they bought said dash-9s with conventional control stands, but I thought only the standard cab versions were operated long hood forward. Not to mention this loco is on foreign rails, AND the crew could have easily switched to one of the trailing locos facing the correct way, to lead... As the saying goes (and Stephen, you know this one well...........) Just another day on Guilford Rail System....

[CSX4878]

..NS has trackage rights all the way to Waterville, Maine..

Anyways, NS also operates anything long hood forward, even the new SD70M-2's.