- Maine Coast Railroad
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Maine Coast Railroad Reporting mark MC Locale Maine Dates of operation 1990–2000 Predecessor Maine Central Railroad Successor Safe Handling Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) Headquarters Wiscasset, ME The Maine Coast Railroad was a railroad company that operated on tracks owned by the Maine Department of Transportation between 1990 and 2000.
History
The company started operations in 1990 after a contract was awarded to the Massachusetts Central Railroad (MCER) to operate the Rockland Branch between Brunswick and Rockland, Maine.[1] The MCER chose to create a new railroad to operate the line, named the Maine Coast.[1] During its first year, the railroad handled little traffic, but in 1991 a large cement producer on the line began shipping its product via rail.[1] As a result of this increase in traffic, the Maine Coast acquired additional locomotives.[1] In 1994, using funding from the Maine Department of Transportation, trackage in Rockland was rebuilt to allow freight to be transferred from the railroad to barges.[1] The railroad closed on December 4, 2000 after losing their lease to the tracks.[2] The lines formerly operated by Maine Coast Railroad are now operated by Maine Eastern Railroad.[1]
Traffic
It offered both freight service and passenger service.[3] The passenger trains operated between Wiscasset and Warren, Maine.
Freight traffic largely consisted of cement products outbound from and coal inbound to Dragon Cement and Concrete in Thomaston.[1] There was also limited perlite and plastic products that moved along the line.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Confalone, Mike and Posik, Joe (2005). Rail Across New England, Volume I. Goffstown, New Hampshire: Railroad Explorer. pp. 38. ISBN 0-9725320-1-3.
- ^ Gibbs, Paula (2000-10-12). "Maine Coast Railroad Going Out Of Business". Boothbay Register. http://boothbayregister.maine.com/2000-10-12/railroad.html.
- ^ "History of Railroads in Maine". http://www.kenanderson.net/aroostook/railroad.html. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
Categories:- Defunct Maine railroads
- Companies operating former Maine Central Railroad lines
- United States rail transportation stubs
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