The
Wiscasset Newspaper ran
this article May 29th about the new Rockland Branch operator.
Fair use quotes. Maine Switching Services is the Cumberland & Knox's parent company:
Return of freight rail runs renews prospect of Wiscasset excursions
Maine Department of Transportation's Rockland rail branch, that includes Wiscasset, is starting to see regular rail traffic again; it's freight and, by fall, might be excursion, too. Wiscasset Economic Development Director Aaron Chrostowsky mentioned the prospect of excursion rail in a May 27 email advising the public to "use caution around the rail line" because, starting May 29, a train would be coming through again, for an estimated two to three trips a week, on freight runs. And the new operator answered Wiscasset Newspaper's questions May 28 about the excursion part.
"We are aiming to begin excursions on the Rockland Branch by fall of this year," Maine Switching Services' government affairs manager, Finn Kelly, said via email. "We would like to have trains ready to roll for the foliage season.
"We have met with the town of Wiscasset to discuss what options are available to build a new station stop. This is a collaboration to create both economic growth and business interest for both the town and the railroad," Kelly said. The following issue (June 4th) contains
this editorial, also written by Susan Johns. Again, fair use quotes:
Back to the rails
For the last several years, people have only been able to ride the rails off and on in Wiscasset, mostly off, unless they worked on a freight train. It feels like Maine Switching Services' upcoming run at excursions might be the one, though. It has a lot going for it feasibility-wise. So, unless you do not believe in psssenger rail, let's wish them well and maybe hop on board (with a ticket) this fall to show them we want to, and will, ride.
In the meantime, how lucky are we? Just drive next door to Alna, or onto the Boothbay peninsula, and you can already ride. Not to shopping in Bath or Damariscotta or Rockland, but at least time spent at Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum on Alna's Cross Road or Boothbay Railway Village on Route 27 is a walk around and/or ride into history, held together and grown by people who really love the rails and their "ties" to our towns' pasts.
