MAINE CENTRAL
This page will cover the Maine Central as it was in the mid-1970's, specifically 1976 and 1978. Operating throughout the lower half of Maine plus the mountain division to St. Johnsbury, VT, the railroad moved large amounts of pulp wood from the forests and paper products from the numerous mills. Their primary connection was with the Boston and Maine at Portland. Other interchange points were Danville Jct. (CN), St. Johnsbury (CP) and of course the Bangor and Aroostook at Northern Maine Jct., just outside Bangor. A number of branches reached out to most points in the lower half of the state. In the mid-1980's, the railroad was bought by Guilford and many changes have taken place. Many branches were either abandoned or sold to short line operators. There were two mainlines between Portland and Waterville, with one going via Lewiston, known as the back road and the other via Augusta, known as the lower road. The line via Augusta was taken out of service under Guilford. The mountain division was abandoned with some portions now operated by a short line and used for tourist trains in the summer season.
Lets visit the railroad as it was some thirty years ago....
Portland Terminal area Portland to Bangor main Branches Mountain Division