OCS East
Another look back to a favorite from 2018. This was a spectacular 125 mile chase of Pan Am's pretty little streamliner 125 miles from the East Portal of the Hoosac Tunnel to Ayer and then down to Worcester. Here they are seen at passenger train speed eastbound on Main 2 just past the MBTA commuter rail stop here at MP 319 (from Mattawamkeag, ME) on Pan Am's Freight Mainline or MP 39 (from Boston North Station) on the Keolis/MBTA Fitchburg Line.
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.
They are pulling the three car train consisting of dome car 102, lounge car 101, and observation/business car 100.
ST100 was originally Norfolk and Western business car 102 that was rebuilt and streamlined in 1957 from diner 1011 that was originally built by ACF in 1934. It was purchased by the D&H in 1976 and then passed to Guilford in 1984 and was retained after the 1988 bankruptcy and divestiture of the D&H.
ST101 also came from the D&H but was one of four originally built by Budd for the D&RGW in 1950 for use on the Denver-Salt Lake Prospector and was numbered 1290 named the Castle Gate. After that train was discontinued in 1967 the D&H acquired it and named it Champlain.
And ST102 was also built by Budd in 1950 for Wabash's Chicago to St. Louis "Blue Bird" and originally wore #201. It later became N&W 1611 until stored at Roanoke in 1966. In 1971 it went to Amtrak where it stayed for 22 years before ending up in private hands for 20 more years until PAR bought it in 2013.
Shirley, Massachusetts
Thursday August 16, 2018
OCS East
Another look back to a favorite from 2018. This was a spectacular 125 mile chase of Pan Am's pretty little streamliner 125 miles from the East Portal of the Hoosac Tunnel to Ayer and then down to Worcester. Here they are seen at passenger train speed eastbound on Main 2 just past the MBTA commuter rail stop here at MP 319 (from Mattawamkeag, ME) on Pan Am's Freight Mainline or MP 39 (from Boston North Station) on the Keolis/MBTA Fitchburg Line.
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.
They are pulling the three car train consisting of dome car 102, lounge car 101, and observation/business car 100.
ST100 was originally Norfolk and Western business car 102 that was rebuilt and streamlined in 1957 from diner 1011 that was originally built by ACF in 1934. It was purchased by the D&H in 1976 and then passed to Guilford in 1984 and was retained after the 1988 bankruptcy and divestiture of the D&H.
ST101 also came from the D&H but was one of four originally built by Budd for the D&RGW in 1950 for use on the Denver-Salt Lake Prospector and was numbered 1290 named the Castle Gate. After that train was discontinued in 1967 the D&H acquired it and named it Champlain.
And ST102 was also built by Budd in 1950 for Wabash's Chicago to St. Louis "Blue Bird" and originally wore #201. It later became N&W 1611 until stored at Roanoke in 1966. In 1971 it went to Amtrak where it stayed for 22 years before ending up in private hands for 20 more years until PAR bought it in 2013.
Shirley, Massachusetts
Thursday August 16, 2018