Rockland Branch Discussion

CSX M426-22 passed through Springfield MA at 0036 Friday 6/23/23 with AllEarth RDC AEAX 2003 on the marker - presumably heading to the Midcoast Railservice at Brunswick?

As has been planned for months... Coastliner nameplate and all.

They actually have a skeleton site set up for the service at https://www.coastlinerexcursions.com (I got the link from the Midcoast Rail Service site). No prices or timetable yet.

Deb Fox, their passenger management person, has stated that the car will be on static display in Bath for Heritage days 6/30 to 7/3.

Plans are also to run short excursions during Lobster Fest in early August.

Their About page has information about what they will offer

After a seven-year absence, seasonal passenger excursions on the scenic 57-mile route resumed as of July 15, 2023...

Ten Thousand Percent better than Boston Surface Railroad's website. Links to social media, TOS, privacy, ticketing etc don't go anywhere yet. Tip: get that Facebook page going ASAP, lol.

13 loads headed west today; PO-3 has 3 empty cement and AEAX 2003 coming for them.
[Edited at 16:14]

2003 was dropped at Harding's, it will be a static display for Bath Heritage Days, 6/30 - 7/3.

4 cars west today.

[Edited at 17:28]

11 empties back east.

Since the dock for shipping cement was closed, I take it the cement rail shipments are increased traffic for the branch and the railroads involved. What is the destination for the cement?

From TRAINS:

TRAINS wrote:BATH, Maine — The first stage of what Midcoast Railservice President Mike Smith says is a “sequential laboratory experiment” he expects to culminate in scheduled passenger service between Rockland and Brunswick, Maine, is set to begin this weekend at Bath Heritage Days.

On display at Bath, about 9 miles from the Brunswick terminus of Amtrak Downeasters runs from Boston, will be a Budd Rail Diesel Car modified by Midcoast’s parent, Finger Lakes Railway. Visitors will be able to tour the car Friday, June 30, to Monday, July 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The RDC, which Midcoast now brands as a “Coastliner,” recently arrived from Finger Lakes’ Geneva, N.Y., shops, where it was upgraded with an Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant bathroom. Once a second car arrives, train crew qualification runs will begin on the 56-mile Rockland-Brunswick route that Midcoast leases from the state of Maine to operate both freight and passenger service.

Read more at: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... -in-maine/

11 hoppers west for Brunswick today.

[Edited at 18:46]

4 hoppers and 2003 east on the return trip.

4 cars west today.

[Edited at 16:28]

8 empties east.

A lot of work to get back to where Maine Eastern was years ago. Looks like tie downs for wheelchairs opposite the bathroom? Hope the bathroom ventilation is well designed! Where do the bicycles go? I assume no cafe RDC car.

8 hoppers west today.

[Edited at 19:29]

12 cars back east.

The Coastliner Excursions site has been updated, and while there are still no social media links, it does say that their planned first public trips will be during the Lobster Festival at the beginning of August.

Following a period of training and testing, the first official public activity will be offered during the annual Maine Lobster Festival at Rockland, August 4-6. Four daily introductory round trips are planned on a first-come, first-served basis from Rockland station to the Thomaston waterfront.

They also say the eventual plan is to offer a daily round trip between Brunswick and Rockland, as well as a short-turn going as far as Newcastle.

12 hoppers west today.

[Edited at 14:03]

10 back east.