W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
General Topics => Archives (General) => Topic started by: Ed Lecuyer on January 21, 2009, 10:13:35 PM
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B&ML Shutdown has been converted from the pre-July 2008 WW&F Discussion Forum.
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Ira Schreiber wrote:
See the following dated February 5,2008
http://www.unitytrainmuseum.org/ (http://www.unitytrainmuseum.org/)
Stephen Hussar replied:
http://railmerchants.net/swedish/rolling_stock_inventory.pdf (http://railmerchants.net/swedish/rolling_stock_inventory.pdf)
Mike Fox replied:
Yes. This has been on the local news several times over the last week. Looks like it is going to come to an unfortunate ending.
Mike
Bill Sample replied:
On another site I saw that the City Point Central Railroad & Museum was attempting to purchase the Brooks station, the former workplace of Linwood Moody, for preservation. I believe their site is
http://www.citypointcentralmuseum.org. (http://www.citypointcentralmuseum.org.)
Who would have thought the WW&F would outlast the B&ML, albeit with "broken service?" Guess there are too many rail attractions in Maine for the number of available patrons, and only the strong, like the WW&F, have a good future. How many rail attractions have started up (and shut down) in the past 25 years?
At least now, after we rebuild the line to Albion, we can continue northward without worrying about the Belfast branch obstruction. (http://images/smiles/icon_wink.gif)
Ira Schreiber replied:
Actually Bill, the B&ML fixed plant is owned by the State of Maine. B&ML was only the operator. As such, we will still have to deal with the State on our quest to reach Quebec......
John McNamara replied:
A bit over a hundred years ago, the appeal of narrow-gauge railroads was the low construction cost and low operating cost. With the failure of the B&ML, we may be seeing a return of this concept, this time in the museum business. We have been able to build a fine railroad largely by hand due to light weight construction, build buildings and cars suitable to a small size, and maintain our small cars and motive power. If we were a standard gauge operation, our expenses and the necessary ticket prices would be a lot higher. (I must admit that MNG has been a struggling narrow gauge, but their initial debt burden, their NIMBY neighbors, and their high cost location have been factors that would have been even more painful had they been standard gauge.)
James Patten replied:
I think I'd rather deal with crossing a State-owned railroad, than dealing with crossing a Pan-Am owned railroad (we'll have to deal with Pan Am eventually on our way north....).
gordon cook replied:
I can't even imagine taking the rods down on 7474 or even a smallish 2-6-2.
Jason said firing the Conway engine was actually WORK!
So, I second that emotion.
Although, if somebody offered me the chance to pull the throttle on 8444 or 4449 I don't think I'd pass....
_________________
Gawdon
Joe Fox replied:
Well, I just got news that I will be having a job interview with Conway Scenic sometime soon, so maybe I will be able to get a chance to at least ride in the cab once during my seasonal job, if I get a job over there that is. Talk to you guys later.
Joe
ETSRRCo replied:
The equipment is listed for sale here. http://www.railmerchants.net/ (http://www.railmerchants.net/)
_________________
Eric Bolton
East Tigard & Southern Railroad Co 1889-1958
Bruce Wilson replied:
Well, I just got news that I will be having a job interview with Conway Scenic sometime soon, so maybe I will be able to get a chance to at least ride in the cab once during my seasonal job, if I get a job over there that is. Talk to you guys later.
Joe
Best of luck to you Joe, please let us know how you make out with the interview.
_________________
Wanted: Photographs by Linwood Moody, Phil Bonnet, Lawrence Brown and other first generation narrow gage rail enthusiasts. Also seeking collectibles, ephemera and correspondence offered by and exchanged between narrow gage enthusiasts.
Joe Fox replied:
I will be sure to do that. Talk to you guys later.
Joe
jockellis replied:
The nice thing about being a fireman is that you've got a built-in weight loss program. I've never seen a photo of a fat fireman on a locomotive without a screw. Meanwhile, the engineers nicknamed "Cornbread" seem to expand to fill the amount of room available in the cab.
In the good old days of steam, firemen had to study with International Correspondence School for its boiler course. At least I think I read that. Does the modern fireman have to go through the same thing or is it OJT?
I ask because someone pointed out that there are so few qualified engine service crewmen in the WW&F that an expanded schedule might be hard to do.
Jock Ellis
James Patten replied:
As the State governs the WW&F's boilers, our steam crew go after a High Pressure Boiler Operator's License with the State.
Joe Fox replied:
Jock, I believe that an extended schedule might be easy to do. That would be something to look into though. However, the tourist season doesn't really start until after Mermorial Day.
Joe
CPC replied:
The Moose might be sick but he isn't dead. You guys down there at the WW&F will have to come and ride a real railroad not that toy railroad (http://images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif) Don't start believing that you will be able to cross the B&ML on your attempt to get to Quebec. We stopped you once and we can do it again.
On another note.....If all the rail attractions in the State would work together maybe we could stay in business for a few years and benefit from each other. It seems that some are in a rush to push aside other organizations in their pursuit to preserve. Why don't we all meet and preserve our entire State railroad heritage! I know I live in a Utopia.
petecosmob replied:
Now THAT'S a Utopia I could live in! (http://images/smiles/icon_wink.gif)
Any room in there for a Navy vet?
Joe Fox replied:
CPC,
That is a good idea of yours, but we all know it will probably never happen. But, when people ask what other railroads are around, most of our volunteers say Boothbay, Maine Eastern, MNG, and B&ML. Well, last year any way. The narrow gauge railroad musuems of Maine have meetings to see how each museum is going and what not. James could provide more info the meeting if you would like to know more. I don't know exactly what goes on at those meetings, cause I have never been.
Joe
James Patten replied:
At our last joint two footer museum meeting we thought about joint marketing between the railroad preservation organizations, at least through Maine Tourism Association at out of state functions. Bob Ryan of Boothbay Railway Village was going to follow up with MTA about that, to find out what they would want.
mfrancoeur replied:
Joining hands is the only way to move forward.
I think the coolest example would be the installation of the diamond at the WW&F crossing of the B&ML in preparation for when the WW&F reaches Burnham.
petecosmob replied:
Joining hands is the only way to move forward.
I think the coolest example would be the installation of the diamond at the WW&F crossing of the B&ML in preparation for when the WW&F reaches Burnham.
LOL!
Well,...
...maybe if you just build north from what's already there in Albion...
Hmm..... that'd be a nice little run for a little Whitcomb! (http://images/smiles/icon_wink.gif)