St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SLR/SLQ)

Coos93 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:33 pm Ok, so then why does 94 sit at the Hillside crossing after 93 is gone?

Re-lining the switches, awaiting clearance to proceed, could be any variety of reasons.

Thank you, CN...I will check the Gilead Historical Society and maybe the Grand Trunk Western Historical Society.

Hello,
I have been following these two discussions with interest:

Not sure why they wait at Berlin, but, as Casey noted, they do have to get clearances from the dispatcher to proceed. Whichever train is holding in Berlin will have to clear up their track warrant before the opposing train can proceed, and then they will have get a warrant once the opposing move has cleared their warrant. All of that could take some time, especially if the dispatcher is busy. Way back in the day, Berlin had yard limits, but I don't think that is true anymore.

As for Wednesday's trains, it seems like they ran really late and possibly met elsewhere, possibly Groveton. Given recent train lengths, there are not many locations they can meet between Island Pond and Lewiston Junction: Berlin (5,200 feet) and Groveton (5,400 feet) have the only sidings greater than 2,600 feet in length. Neither train reached their home terminals until after 0530, which is fairly late for them. I wonder if one of the trains was delayed and did not pass through Berlin until much later?

I am a bit confused by the discussion about the stored covered hoppers. I thought that we were talking about the two short sidings in the sand pit at Allen's (sometimes referred to as West Bethel), where they are largely hidden from U.S. Route 2. There is also a short spur in Gilead (and another in Pleasant River) that are very visible from U.S. 2 and are occasionally used for MOW equipment and maybe bad orders. I am curious what type of covered hoppers they are (cement, sodium chlorate, plastics, grain). Those are all that I see moving through Island Pond.
Best,
Fritz

Next time I go into Bethel I will take note to pinpoint the location of the covered hoppers. I remember the pipeline crossing Rt. 2 , you can only see the tops of the cars as one passes by the location and beyond the cars is a sand pit that is gated off at the west end by the switch.

Also, just a note still no hoppers parked at Presby in Berlin.

Looks like the sandpit entrance is almost directly across from the Antique store.

https://earth.google.com/web/@44.402744 ... _____wEQAA

Fritz wrote: ↑Sat Jan 11, 2025 9:22 amAs for Wednesday's trains, it seems like they ran really late and possibly met elsewhere, possibly Groveton. Given recent train lengths, there are not many locations they can meet between Island Pond and Lewiston Junction: Berlin (5,200 feet) and Groveton (5,400 feet) have the only sidings greater than 2,600 feet in length. Neither train reached their home terminals until after 0530, which is fairly late for them. I wonder if one of the trains was delayed and did not pass through Berlin until much later?

They had 20 or so cars to pick up at N. Stratford, and another 15 off the NHCR at Groveton.

Definitely could be Allen's which is West Bethel. Cars stored there over the years too. I once saw a power swap meet there with 394 and 393 (CN power had to go back on 93) that was rather interesting to watch... always been a fun RR to see up until the schedule went to nights

There was a line of cars sitting (where I assume) on the sidings in Oxford Friday afternoon....east of the NEPW warehouse, I am sure.

Just came back from Bethel. So yes, the hoppers are still parked there, and yes they are across the street from the antique barn, and it's on the border of Gilead and Bethel, so is this the West Bethel yard?

That's Allen's for sure

I just read the article posted by Johnpbarlow at Twin Mountain. It is sounding to me that interchange traffic between VRS and SLR at Groveton has increased since the VRS takeover. Also, does anyone have an opinion on the impact of traffic for SLR if VRS rehabs the Whitefield to St. J. Mountain Division? (just an added question; I wonder how enthusiatic any railroad even the VRS would be about a 'rail AND trail' concept?)

Any revenue traffic moved is an increase over the 0 cars moved between Sept. 2019 and last month that weren't bound for CSRX.

Assuming this new rumored traffic is originating/terminating on NHCR at points south of Lancaster, and travelling the WACR south to other connections, SLR wouldn't even be involved. The whole idea is to eliminate the circuitous route needed to get cars down this way at present.


Theres a westbound power move of 4024/3805/805 that should be by you soon; apparently they're headed to IP to grab cars and at Groveton as well; they cleared S. Paris just under two hours ago.

Now that is a different move!

I thought I heard something earlier.