Vermont Rail System (VTR, GMRC, WACR, CLP, NYOG)

[Fritz]

Hello,
I just wanted to remind you that the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce will again be running train rides out of St. Johnsbury as part of the Colors of the Kingdom Festival on 16 September 2017. It sounds like we will have six cars from the "Green Fleet" and, hopefully, the VTR GP40-2W 311 on the north end (cab car/coach 1317 will be on the south end). The rides will follow the old CP Lyndonville Subdivision south along the Passumpsic and Connecticut Rivers through the villages of Passumpsic, East Barnet, Barnet, McIndoe's Falls, Bell, and East Ryegate. For those not familiar with this route, this is a beautiful section of track along the namesake rivers of the Connecticut & Passumpsic Rivers Railroad. Trains will depart the St. Johnsbury Welcome Center (the old Canadian Pacific railroad station) at 0930, 1130, 1330, and 1530, and rides will last approximately one and half hours. Tickets cost $13 for an adult and $7 for a children (12 and under) and can be purchased ahead of time at the Catamount Arts website (http://www.catamountarts.org) or in the old ticket office on the day of the festival. Even if only following trackside, please consider purchasing a ticket to support the operation of these trains.
Have a great day,
Fritz

[newpylong]

Are there any highway salt distribution facilities in New Hampshire that get
salt by rail or does all the salt originate from the pier in Portsmouth? The
VRS services several salt distributers in VT. Maybe such a facility could be
located at Hazens or elsewhere between St.J. and Groveton.

Claremont in NH gets salt by rail via the old C&C which is now owned by the NEC.

Also West Lebanon.

[NHV 669]

Barrett Trucking off the SLR in Stark, NH recieves salt cars as well. One of their clerks recently asked about a move of salt cars north on WJNP on VRS' train sightings FB page; sure seems like a long trip up and around to get those cars from the VRS to the SLR. I believe the loads originate from Cargill.

[Dick H]

The AAPRCO Special Convention Train, two Amtrak locos and 18 private cars
is scheduled (at last report) to arrive Bellows Falls on Sunday, 9/17 at 1830
hours on the NECR from Springfield. At Bellows Falls, they will get a VRS
pilot and take the GMRC to Rutland and overnight there, before proceeding
to Burlington on Monday for their convention. CP Rail nixed the original plan
to overnight at Saratoga, before proceeding to Burlington.

I have not seen any postings on their progress, since they ran on the Adirondack
Railway on 9/14. Short video from Railroad Rambler here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3hxRkwVTBQ&t=21s