by gokeefe
In preparation for the "Coastal Connector" that will be added on as a seasonal weekend only extension of the Downeaster this coming summer I have been researching the service history.
The Maine Central Railroad operated year round scheduled passenger service on the Rockland Branch until 1958 when the Maine Public Utilities Commission granted their petition for discontinuance of all service.
At that time all coaches terminated at Portland (the parlors usually ran through). I was very curious to know just how long it had really been since coaches ran through from Boston North Station. I made some interesting discoveries along the way but the most recent example I was able to find was Train 57 which operated as a section of the heavyweight Flying Yankee to Portland and ran coaches all the way through from Boston in the summer of 1930.
There may very well be something more recent, perhaps in the mid to late 1930s but anything post war seems out for the moment.
It would appear that the extension of the Downeaster to Rockland will be the most historic service restoration ever done by Amtrak. I cannot think of a single example where Amtrak restored service that had not existed since before WWII.
The Maine Central Railroad operated year round scheduled passenger service on the Rockland Branch until 1958 when the Maine Public Utilities Commission granted their petition for discontinuance of all service.
At that time all coaches terminated at Portland (the parlors usually ran through). I was very curious to know just how long it had really been since coaches ran through from Boston North Station. I made some interesting discoveries along the way but the most recent example I was able to find was Train 57 which operated as a section of the heavyweight Flying Yankee to Portland and ran coaches all the way through from Boston in the summer of 1930.
There may very well be something more recent, perhaps in the mid to late 1930s but anything post war seems out for the moment.
It would appear that the extension of the Downeaster to Rockland will be the most historic service restoration ever done by Amtrak. I cannot think of a single example where Amtrak restored service that had not existed since before WWII.
gokeefe