Dear Santa -- 2022

Dear Santa-
Thanks for delivering on the deal. Some positive things are actually happening. I know radio coverage is still spotty, but that can be fixed.
What I'd really like -- especially with the increase in flu and the persistence of Covid -- is the extension of paid sick-time to everybody under agreement.
Yours in hope,
-jaymac

There’s still a matter that’s on back order: the B&E takeover of PAS ops. Santa, please expedite this delivery!

PS: And NS running IM/auto trains over the B&A would also be sweet, Santa.

I hope it never happens and the traffic sticks to the B&M forcing them to invest more there. But it would be cool to see them moving over the Albany Main again.

Send the NIMBY's packing and restore the Eastern division as far as Portsmouth. Its becoming a destination city, the downtown area is infested with new hotels and the lot occupied by the successive stations is currently vacant.

At this point, it'd be easier to come up the B&M main that Amtrak uses up to Rockingham Jct, then rehab the few miles from there to Portsmouth. Maybe Santa could bring in some more double track for the main, for that matter!

Pics or it didn't happen

I'll see what I can do

I haven't been able to get any pics, but today's Portland Press Herald has a story on MaineDOT's new statewide transportation plan and coincidentally included a photo of the Tower PT roof being rebuilt:
Photo caption: "A worker from Twin Metal Roofing in Billerica, MA works with a crew to replace the roof on a lineside building at Rigby Yard in South Portland last fall. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer"

Given the full ice-and-water application, it looks like CSXT wants the structure to be around into the 22nd century.

That is something that needs to be done on any new roof due to local code regulations.

Congrats to the residents of South Portland and all the other local jurisdictions that require full ice-and-water. Unfortunately, the requirement isn't universal, and except for some fire-prone jurisdictions, metal roofing isn't a local requirement.

Here's a picture of the back of the yard office. New roof, new windows, and new concrete addition on the east side of the building. I couldn't get a picture of the front, but you get the idea.