Memories of The Maritimes:
Observing The Railways
Circa August 1964

Part II

By Don Scott, Coquitlam, BC

Trip to Canadian Pacific Facilities In New Brunswick-New Hampshire-Vermont- returning to New Brunswick. Then to Nova Scotia-Dominion Atlantic (CPR) Canadian National. Doing A Circle Back to Saint John via CPR's "Princess of Acadia" (1st) From Digby, N.S. (Note: New England States Omitted)

August 18
Returning  back to New Brunswick, went through Vanceboro, Maine at 2300 hours.

In CP/Maine Central yard near station-CPR streamlined light-weight express car which travels on a MEC merchandise train to Portland, then on B&M to Boston; all this after the "Gull" passenger service was withdrawn originating at Vanceboro, Maine-originally the through service Saint John-Boston.

In the yard was Maine Central GE 500HP yard engine # 13.

McAdam, N.B.

2330-Westbound "Atlantic Limited" enroute to Montreal:

Power: MLW/Alco's FPA-2 4096-RS-10 8460 series-Total 13 cars.

McAdam, N.B.
August 19, 1964

Early hours of the morning:
Westbound "Daysaver" freight train #951 originated at Saint John-terminates Vancouver. This train is know as the "Longest-Haul" Trans-Continental freight in North America. Power: MLW/Alco RS-3's 8451-8444.

Remarks: Freight power Saint John-Montreal can be found a few days later running south from Montreal-St. Johnsbury-Newport -Wells River and then on Boston & Maine to White River Jct. Vermont. A few days later can be observed back at McAdam and Saint John, N.B.-even running north on the Woodstock Division to and from  Woodstock- Aroostook-Edmundston. Same power can be observed at times on freights from Aroostook to Fort Fairfield, Maine connecting with the BAR and Aroostook Valley Railroad-a CPR subsidiary.

Around 0700:
"Atlantic Limited" train # 42 from Montreal enroute to Saint John arriving: MLW/Alco's RS-10 8468-FB-2 4463-Arrived with 14 cars:

Consist:

• Streamlined light-weight express-(lead car taken off by MLW/Alco S-4 6601.)
• Streamlined light-weight express
• Streamlined light-weight Postal Car & Express 3600 series
• 4601-Streamlined light-weight express-Inside CP Express containers for Nova Scotia
• 4808-streamlined light-weight baggage
• 2227-streamlined light-weight "Deluxe" coach
• 2135-Streamlined light-weight "Deluxe" coach
• 2235-Streamlined light-weight "Deluxe" coach
• 6562-heavy-weight Buffet-coach-Summer months-replacing stainless-steel "Skyline" Scenic-Dome
• Dunsmuir Manor-Streamlined stainless-steel light-weight sleeper
• Red Deer-heavy-weight(rebuilt) sleeper
• Reston-Same as above
• "Lake Winnipeg"-heavy-weight (Rebuilt) Buffet-Parlor-Compartment sleeper
• 4231-streamlined light-weight express.

Total 14 cars-arriving.

Remarks: CP car 4231 through express from Boston to Vanceboro, Maine from B&M and Maine Central.

The "Atlantic Limited" after a 30 minute stop at McAdam-including refuelling departed for Saint John-making connections with CP's "Princess of Acadia" (1st) for Digby, N.S. and Dominion Atlantic "Evangeline Dayliner" service eastbound to Annapolis Valley points and Halifax. The west bound "Dayliner" service from Halifax enroute to Yarmouth all arrive and depart close to shipside on Digby Wharf.

Other Observations at McAdam Same Morning:

• MLW/Alco yard engines switching: S-3's 6600, 6601
• Alco Yard engine S-2 7097 (belongs on Vermont Lines) either at St. Johnsbury, Newport etc.)
• Freight "Extra" northbound for Woodstock or Aroostook-MLW/Alco RS-23 8034
• Freight from Montreal Train #952 terminates Saint John: Power: MLW/Alco RS-3 8454-Alco FB-1 4400 Total 47 cars.
• Freight arriving from Saint John "White Flags" Power: Bessimer & Lake Erie(leased) F7-A 717A-MLW/Alco FB-1 4406 Total 100 cars.

Remarks: Alco FB-1 4400 originally built for Montreal-Vermont lines.

Remarks: Unit RS-3 8454 observed two days earlier at Wells River, Vt. on southbound freight # 902.

Evening at McAdam, N.B.-Same Day:

• "Oriental" freight arriving from Fredericton-connects with westbound
• Trans-Continental "Daysaver". Power: MLW/Alco's RS-18 8732-RS-23 8036
• Eastbound "Daysaver" freight from west arriving: Power: MLW/Alco RS-3 8434-Bessimer & Lake Erie (leased) F7-B 717B
• Westbound "Atlantic Limited" Next.

Remarks: Leased Bessimer & Lake Erie power also runs Saint John-Montreal-White River Jct. Vermont.

[ ARTICLES ]

©2000, Donald Scott, all rights reserved.