Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad (BML) Discussion

[Mikejf]

Received word tonight that the turntable was seen in the Rigby yard last night. Loaded on an 89 foot flat. No other equipment seen.

[thebigham]

Some pics:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3510931" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3510932" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3510938" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3510939" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Fritz]

Hello,
The 5 TTTX flats and 1 QTTX heavy-duty flat - loaded with the three passengers cars, the wheel sets, the tender, and the steam locomotive - went west on this morning's SLQ 393. They crossed the U.S. Canada border at Norton right at 0900 this morning. Hopefully, I'll be able to upload some photos later tonight or this weekend to RRPictureArchives.
Cheers,
Fritz

[MEC407]

Photo by Richard Deuso: http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=209247" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MEC407]

Photo by Dan Tweedle: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=440207" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MEC407]

Photos and video by David Othen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPqGPu4CVZ0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[highrail]

Kind of a trivia question related to this type of move...I am intriqued by what it must take to make the units, particularly the locomotive, secure and tied down for transit. Given the general movement of the flat on the rails, how is possible to keep the unit from moving at all without damage to the flat or the metal components of the engine? What special precautions must be taken in terms of preventing the wheels of the engine from rolling at all? Thanks

[Watchman318]

Photo by Dan Tweedle: {snip}

Kind of a shame to see it go, but if it's just a matter of "culling the herd" so the remaining equipment can get any needed attention, then it's okay.
I think the closest I've ever been to the B&ML was some years ago when I dropped off some Operation Lifesaver materials at the Common Ground Fair. Now there's one aspect of it I won't get to see first-hand some day. Oh, well.

Odd side note: I think at least one company made an HO model of the building in the near background of Dan Tweedle's photo. Somehow Suydam sticks in my mind, with the cardstock being just about the same color as the 1:1 building in the photo. Maybe I'll have to model some puddles on the roof of mine.

[Mikejf]

Highrail, all the wheels were blocked with wedges that look like they were welded to the car. Then on one of the photos there was what seemed to be 2 dozen chains that secured the locomotive to the car.

When I was involved with shipping equipment by rail, Stevedores would inspect or instruct the best way to tie down the load. Those guys were good.

[highrail]

Mikejf,
great, useful info, thanks. It must be quite a skill to make it all work.

[thebigham]

Sad news from NERail:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=210448" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=210447" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=210446" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Abandoned Upper Bridge passenger platform (MP 1.0)
The portion of the B&ML grade from Pierce Street (at the Footbridge) in Belfast to the turn out at the City Point Central Railroad Museum (MP 2.5) is now closed and will soon be railbanked and torn up to be converted to a pedestrian and bike rail trail. This is the now abandoned Upper Bridge (MP 1.0) passenger platform from which the Brooks Preservation Society, the B&ML's current operator, ran excursion trains until the Fall of 2012. Operations were moved to the station and yard at the City Point Central Museum in the spring of 2013

Photographed by Bruce Cooper, July 20, 2013

[Cosmo]

Those EIGH-HOLES!

[p42thedowneaster]

I suppose there could be an upside to the story...since the Belfast yard is gone there really isn't much need to head in that direction (I would assume). Now, perhaps the new trail will help generate bike traffic toward City Point, allowing folks, who otherwise would never have known about it, a chance to check it out. The Brooks Preservation crew may even find that they have a captive audience of families willing to learn and perhaps even take a ride or come back some other time. Since it's only a 2.5 mile ride I can truly see people making City Point a worth while destination. Folks might even park their normal bikes and try out a rail bike for awhile. Hopefully the trail won't attract many unwanted visitors after dark..

[thebigham]

http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=210503" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=210505" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=210504" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

View from BML#50, a 1946 GE 70-tonner, approaching Westcott Stream in Waldo, ME

I took this image while riding on the runningboard of BML#50, a GE 70-ton diesel-electric locomotive that is almost as old as I am having been bought new by the Belfast & Moosehead Lake RR in 1946. In the 67 years since then it has run more than a million and a half miles -- the equivalent of three round trips to the Moon -- while never traveling at more then 20 mph (and usually less) over the 33.07 miles of track of the 142-year old B&ML running through the fragrant pine forests and fertile farmlands of rural Waldo County between Belfast & Burnham Junction. Here the locomotive is about to cross Westcott Stream about 5 miles inland from Belfast approaching Waldo, ME.

Photographed by Bruce Cooper, August 17, 2013.
Added to the photo archive by Bruce Cooper, August 18, 2013.
Railroad: Belfast & Moosehead Lake.

[GE45tonner]

Really want to check out this railroad when I'm in the area. Love the motive power.