47. MRH14-01-Jan2014-L.pdf - page 54

After about 15 minutes, the cop returned and advised that
there were two trains in the picture, both on the Androscoggin
Sub. Southbound CPIP (Canadian Pacific-International Paper)
was out of Jackman a couple of hours ago and northbound
BM2 (Bethel-Madrid) was working at Dixfield. It looked like a
meet would take place at Carthage. This was enough info to
get us started. We thanked the gentleman and headed south to
find a spot to set up for CPIP.
Several miles out of Madrid we found Sandy River Jct. This was
the location where the White Mountain Branch split off the
Androscoggin Sub. We hung around for about an hour watch-
ing the clouds thicken and lower. It was obvious there would be
no sun today. Just when we thought we couldn’t wait any lon-
ger, finally there was a horn in the distance, and then a head-
light on the horizon! We grabbed the cameras, fully loaded with
Kodachrome 64, and got into position. A haze of smoke made it
clear there was ALCo power on the train, but the colors of the
lead unit were strange … not the typical Allagash green and gold.
Turns out it was AGR Bicentennial MLWM420 200, flying solo!
Behind the 200 was a short slug of green Canadian Pacific paper
boxcars. Despite the dreary conditions, the 200 made a fine sight
crossing the bridge over the Sandy River and passing the station
sign for Sandy River Jct. (1). The chase was on!
We leaped into the car and sped ahead to Weld. We had just a
minute to jump out and grab a shot as CPIP drifted into town,
(2) where he took the siding. The crew headed over to the
Weld General Store. A quick chat revealed that BM2 (Bethel-
Madrid) had stalled on wet rails at Homan Summit, south of
Carthage, and had to double the hill. The dispatcher held CPIP
at Weld. The meet would be here.
2
2: CPIP stops shy of the Route 156 crossing in
downtown Weld.
3a
3a-3b: ALCo C425 251 leads BM2 around the big
curve at Knox Farm.
Journey to Allagash Part 1 - 3
MRH-Jan 2014
1...,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53 55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,...123
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