Even in the pre-Guilford era, Northern New England was in decline as both a producer and a consumer. The Interstate system siphoned away significant amounts of time-sensitive traffic. MEC's decision to go it alone -- think the Independence class of locomotives and the maintaining of traffic through St. J for rate-division advantage -- worked against appearances of cooperation with the B&M, further marginalizing the B&M's attractiveness. On top of those issues, throw Conrail and improvements to its physical plant before the decision to sell it off was made, and the B&M, especially west of Ayer, would have seemed a risky acquisition.
"A gray crossover is definitely not company transportation."