This gave me an excuse to pull out my old Boston and Maine passenger timetables. From 1956 until April 27, 1958 the public system timetable had 40 pages, the last one before the circus BM was April 29, 1956. The last one with 40 pages was April 27, 1958. The next one dated June 19, 1958 had 28 pages and the next one after that was dated October 26, 1958 and this consisted of 8 panels; one with cover, one for references, equipment and notes, two for the Conn. River, 3 for Boston - Portland and Boston - Concord and Laconia, 1 for Boston - Williamstown and the Conway Branch. By October 30, 1960 it was down to six panels showing service from Boston to Wells River and Montreal via CP (one Budd Car went through), White River Junction 2 round trips one of which was the Montreal train, Concord with 6 round trips, Portland with 4 round trips and the Conway Branch with 1 round trip. By April 30, 1961 they had combined the two folders in to one showing everything and the only through service remaining was Boston - Portland 3 round trips, Concord 6 round trips 2 of which continued to White River Junction and one of these continued to Wells River and the CP to Montreal and finally Springfield - White River Junction with 3 round trips and an additional round trip as far as Brattleboro. By this time there wasn't very much left, everything was Budd Cars except on the Conn River.
Patrick McGinnis was responsible for the massive passenger cuts in Northern New England throughout this period although in time most if not all of the probably would have occurred anyway no matter what. Mail and express was on the way to the airport and the interstate highway and passengers were too. McGinnis just speeded up the bad situation and made it worse. If the State of Massachusetts had not stepped up to the plate with some money the commuter trains would have gone the same way too. Too bad somebody did not see the light to save the corridors like Boston - Concord, NH, Boston - Portsmouth, NH and Boston - Portland Maine all of which had a future but nobody saw it. Just look at the success of the Boston - Portland service today. I rode most of this stuff at one time or another, good memories of good trips.
Noel Weaver
