This area is actually based around the Bangor to Bucksport Maine DEM provided by Fishlipsatwork. I have taken the DEM and did some artistic reworking to include a wye junction at Plymouth (Bucksport), added in the Sandypoint (Winterport) line, and the South Bristol Industrial Railway, which is based in reality around an abandoned industrial spur in the greater Bangor area that once served the Bangor International Airport. The mainline continues on its way past Bristol (Bangor) and connects to Guilford and the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad at Northern Junction (North Maine Junction). From there it continues on from there to Laurel Valley Ski Area, via the Mountain Division, and then eventually on to Lynnwood, which is located on the orginal Enfield and Eastern.
There are three main interchange yards located along this portion of the route. Starting in Plymouth, there is a small yard that serves the local industries and the switcher/local interchanges cars up as far north as Bristol. There are on rare occasions Plymouth to Sandy Point freight runs, and the switcher from Plymouth will occassionally serve the handful of industries in North Bristol, Brewer and Orrington areas. This area is usually served out of the yard in Bristol. The Bristol yard has its own local switcher that interchanges cars with the Northern Junction local, and industries located in North Bristol, Brewer, South Brewer, and Orrington. Northern Junction is the most substantial yard with its interchange with the BAR and Guilford. There are turning loops
and a large wye there to turn the trains as well as a large engine servicing facility. A local from Northern Jct. interchanges cars with the South Bristol Industrial Railway, which serves the industrial park along the main line.
The SBIR was originally a remote portion of the once extensive electric operations located in the greater Bristol area. This portion of the line served a lakeside beach and park. The line did interchange with what was the then MEC at the current interchange point along the main, but that was for coal for its power station and a few packages for its LCL service. Today this is the only connection to the SBIR since the former line to Bristol was severed when a four-lane highway was built during the 1950s. With its two GP-9s and mostly single-track, this 2 mile shortline handles a substantial amount of business located in this wooded industrial park. Recently with a new bio-fuels plant moving in, the prospects for this shortline look good.
The greater Sandy Point area is served by the Sandy Point Industrial. This two 44-tonner operation handles the small number of industries located along the waterfront, and connects to the SP branch at a small interchange yard near the station. The tracks leading to the station are handled via a switchback because of the steep grade up hill to the yard. There is a small grassy run around located along the waterfront so the engines can switch ends to push the cars into the industries. This line is seeing tough times due local political pressures that want the waterfront turned into a yuppy haven. Hopefully the railroad will win over, but sadly the prospects are not looking too good.
The Sandy Point branch is a new addition to the Enfield and Eastern. This line was intially built as the Sandy Point and Bristol and ran under wires as an interurban. The line flourished during the early 20th century primarily with its tourist trains out to the point. The Maine Central purchased the line in 1922, and the line was converted to steam operation then. The branch soldiered on with less and less traffic, and passenger service was offically terminated in 1950 as the automobile took away the passenger service, and freight moved to trucks. The Maine Central served this branch with a daily from Bristol. There were perhaps a car or two, sometimes more during the summer when the fishing industry is at its highest peak. There was talk off and on of restarting
passenger service to Bristol, but that never happened so the station rotted away and was torched during the early 1970s. The hulk sat there boarded up and forgotten beside the tracks that had more grass than freight cars. When Guilford took over during the early 1980s, they immediately embargoed the branch when a nor'easter came through and washed away a portion of the connecting line.
In more recent times, the area has seen a boom in business with its beautiful location along the river, and its attractive Georgian brick buildings making up the bulk of the town. As the town reinvented its self from a fishing village to tourist maven, a group of locals formed a tourist railroad. This line initially ran to where the washout ocurred, and returned. The power was that used by the Sandy Point Industrial along with some old rebuilt (more like just repainted) passenger cars). The service was quite sucessful, and saved the line from becoming a rail trail. The state purchased the complete line and the washout was repaired. Today Amtrak and GEPTA (MBTA) provide cars and equipment for passenger service between Sandy Point, Bristol, and Plymouth. The
total trip time is about 50 minutes between Plymouth and Sandy Point. At this point there are no plans for passenger service further than Plymouth at this time, although discussions have taken place off and on about extending service to Laurel Valley and to Enfield. The problem with this would be either a reverse move at Bristol, a run around the wye there, or a new connection. The new connection would be the most difficult due to the terrain and the number of buildings along the right-of-way in this area.
The Enfield and Eastern runs numerous shortlines, all wholly-owned subsideries, in addition to its own operations. These smaller companies are scattered through out the region and are responsible for much of the smaller switching and terminal operations. These lines, like their owner, operate various equipment from many manufacturers, with the youngest equipment around 45 years old, and the oldest around 60. The E&E operates primarily EMD power with a smattering of Alcos here and there. Sadly the Alcos are disappearing as they age and the parts are more difficult to get. The mainline locomotives consist of GP38s and GP40s purchased on the used market from Conrail and other oeprators in the northeast. This regional rail service handles a a variety of freight ranging from food products to gravel. In the greator Bristol area, the rail line handles warehousing and logistics services for regional trucking companies, scrap metal, plastics, biofuel, manufactured goods, gravel, and sand.
Over in the Screenshots forum, I have uploaded some pictures of the passenger service from Sandy Point to Plymouth and some of the switching by the SBIR.
There are three main interchange yards located along this portion of the route. Starting in Plymouth, there is a small yard that serves the local industries and the switcher/local interchanges cars up as far north as Bristol. There are on rare occasions Plymouth to Sandy Point freight runs, and the switcher from Plymouth will occassionally serve the handful of industries in North Bristol, Brewer and Orrington areas. This area is usually served out of the yard in Bristol. The Bristol yard has its own local switcher that interchanges cars with the Northern Junction local, and industries located in North Bristol, Brewer, South Brewer, and Orrington. Northern Junction is the most substantial yard with its interchange with the BAR and Guilford. There are turning loops
and a large wye there to turn the trains as well as a large engine servicing facility. A local from Northern Jct. interchanges cars with the South Bristol Industrial Railway, which serves the industrial park along the main line.
The SBIR was originally a remote portion of the once extensive electric operations located in the greater Bristol area. This portion of the line served a lakeside beach and park. The line did interchange with what was the then MEC at the current interchange point along the main, but that was for coal for its power station and a few packages for its LCL service. Today this is the only connection to the SBIR since the former line to Bristol was severed when a four-lane highway was built during the 1950s. With its two GP-9s and mostly single-track, this 2 mile shortline handles a substantial amount of business located in this wooded industrial park. Recently with a new bio-fuels plant moving in, the prospects for this shortline look good.
The greater Sandy Point area is served by the Sandy Point Industrial. This two 44-tonner operation handles the small number of industries located along the waterfront, and connects to the SP branch at a small interchange yard near the station. The tracks leading to the station are handled via a switchback because of the steep grade up hill to the yard. There is a small grassy run around located along the waterfront so the engines can switch ends to push the cars into the industries. This line is seeing tough times due local political pressures that want the waterfront turned into a yuppy haven. Hopefully the railroad will win over, but sadly the prospects are not looking too good.
The Sandy Point branch is a new addition to the Enfield and Eastern. This line was intially built as the Sandy Point and Bristol and ran under wires as an interurban. The line flourished during the early 20th century primarily with its tourist trains out to the point. The Maine Central purchased the line in 1922, and the line was converted to steam operation then. The branch soldiered on with less and less traffic, and passenger service was offically terminated in 1950 as the automobile took away the passenger service, and freight moved to trucks. The Maine Central served this branch with a daily from Bristol. There were perhaps a car or two, sometimes more during the summer when the fishing industry is at its highest peak. There was talk off and on of restarting
passenger service to Bristol, but that never happened so the station rotted away and was torched during the early 1970s. The hulk sat there boarded up and forgotten beside the tracks that had more grass than freight cars. When Guilford took over during the early 1980s, they immediately embargoed the branch when a nor'easter came through and washed away a portion of the connecting line.
In more recent times, the area has seen a boom in business with its beautiful location along the river, and its attractive Georgian brick buildings making up the bulk of the town. As the town reinvented its self from a fishing village to tourist maven, a group of locals formed a tourist railroad. This line initially ran to where the washout ocurred, and returned. The power was that used by the Sandy Point Industrial along with some old rebuilt (more like just repainted) passenger cars). The service was quite sucessful, and saved the line from becoming a rail trail. The state purchased the complete line and the washout was repaired. Today Amtrak and GEPTA (MBTA) provide cars and equipment for passenger service between Sandy Point, Bristol, and Plymouth. The
total trip time is about 50 minutes between Plymouth and Sandy Point. At this point there are no plans for passenger service further than Plymouth at this time, although discussions have taken place off and on about extending service to Laurel Valley and to Enfield. The problem with this would be either a reverse move at Bristol, a run around the wye there, or a new connection. The new connection would be the most difficult due to the terrain and the number of buildings along the right-of-way in this area.
The Enfield and Eastern runs numerous shortlines, all wholly-owned subsideries, in addition to its own operations. These smaller companies are scattered through out the region and are responsible for much of the smaller switching and terminal operations. These lines, like their owner, operate various equipment from many manufacturers, with the youngest equipment around 45 years old, and the oldest around 60. The E&E operates primarily EMD power with a smattering of Alcos here and there. Sadly the Alcos are disappearing as they age and the parts are more difficult to get. The mainline locomotives consist of GP38s and GP40s purchased on the used market from Conrail and other oeprators in the northeast. This regional rail service handles a a variety of freight ranging from food products to gravel. In the greator Bristol area, the rail line handles warehousing and logistics services for regional trucking companies, scrap metal, plastics, biofuel, manufactured goods, gravel, and sand.
Over in the Screenshots forum, I have uploaded some pictures of the passenger service from Sandy Point to Plymouth and some of the switching by the SBIR.
Last edited: