Last Hurrah?
Pan Am Railways little four car business train races east thru CPF FG beneath classic Boston and Maine era searchlight signals at MP 48 (measured from Boston North Station via the old Fitchburg Route mainline) and also MP 328 (measured from Mattawamkeag, ME on Pan Am's freight mainline).
PAR 1 and PAR 2 are ex Canadian National FP9s 6505 and 6516 built in 1954 and 1957 respectively by GMDD. They passed from CN to VIA Rail in 1978 before being picked up by the Conway Scenic in 1995 when they expanded into Crawford Notch. After 15 years spent hauling tourists in the White Mountains 6505 & 6516 would become PAR 1 & 2 when traded to Pan Am Railways in March 2010 for GP38 252 and GP35 216.
Originating in Springfield, MA the train paused to pick up guests at Ayer station then disappeared and parked in the woods east of the Willows. Allegedly the agreements of sale were executed on board there this morning. Is this true? Who will be taking over the old Route of the Minuteman and the Pine Tree Route? How will traffic patterns and gateways change? Will business grow? Whither the fate of these gorgeous F units?
I suspect we'll have answers to all these questions and more very soon. But if this is the last ride for the F's I'm glad I was here alone on this gorgeous morning to capture the moment in time.
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Thursday November 19, 2020
Last Hurrah?
Pan Am Railways little four car business train races east thru CPF FG beneath classic Boston and Maine era searchlight signals at MP 48 (measured from Boston North Station via the old Fitchburg Route mainline) and also MP 328 (measured from Mattawamkeag, ME on Pan Am's freight mainline).
PAR 1 and PAR 2 are ex Canadian National FP9s 6505 and 6516 built in 1954 and 1957 respectively by GMDD. They passed from CN to VIA Rail in 1978 before being picked up by the Conway Scenic in 1995 when they expanded into Crawford Notch. After 15 years spent hauling tourists in the White Mountains 6505 & 6516 would become PAR 1 & 2 when traded to Pan Am Railways in March 2010 for GP38 252 and GP35 216.
Originating in Springfield, MA the train paused to pick up guests at Ayer station then disappeared and parked in the woods east of the Willows. Allegedly the agreements of sale were executed on board there this morning. Is this true? Who will be taking over the old Route of the Minuteman and the Pine Tree Route? How will traffic patterns and gateways change? Will business grow? Whither the fate of these gorgeous F units?
I suspect we'll have answers to all these questions and more very soon. But if this is the last ride for the F's I'm glad I was here alone on this gorgeous morning to capture the moment in time.
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Thursday November 19, 2020