The clouds increased as we drove, and by the time we reached
New Sharon it was socked-in again. So much for the blue sky
and sun! We arrived around 11 a.m. and found the New Sharon
Switcher posed at the north end of the yard, with soot-cov-
ered Alco RS32 701 for power. We didn’t have to wait long for
the action to pick up as northbound Kennebec Sub Train KA2
(Kennebec Jct.-Allagash) came into view (24). On the point was
another surprise – Alco C424 241. A talk with another railfan
revealed that the 241 was one of two former Conrail (ex-Erie-
Lackawanna) units that had gone through a rebuild program
at GE-Hornell, New York, along with several other C424s that
went to the Delaware & Hudson. The unit had been in service
only a couple of weeks, and wore a brand-new paint design.
We all agreed the new look was striking!
24
24: The New Sharon Switcher pauses at the north
throat of the yard at New Sharon as KA2 passes the
New Sharon post office.
Journey to Allagash - 8
25
25: Alco C424 241 passes the station sign for Atlantic
Jct. as KA2 makes a setout at New Sharon yard.
KA2 had a setout for the yard so we shot the 241 at the Atlantic
Junction station sign (25). A pair of GP38s trailed. We could see
cars being unloaded under the shed at Franklin County Feeds.
After KA2 departed for Madrid, and the switcher tied up, we
crossed the tracks and grabbed lunch over at Ken & Sadie’s
Country Store, and waited for P1, the local down from New
Portland. It wasn’t long before AGR 202, running long-hood
forward, crept past the old passenger station, now utilized by
MOW crews (26-27). The 202 and crew didn’t hang around
long, and in less than an hour the abbreviated train departed
for New Portland (28-30).We followed the job back to the
St. Regis pulp mill, where we grabbed a couple of interesting
shots as the 202 spotted a lone B&M boxcar in the pulp load-
ing shed (31-32). After this, it was lunch in New Portland and
a deadhead back to New Sharon. By the time we got back in
town it was nearly dark. The 701 was making a final spot at the
grain mill. We grabbed a neat shot as the setting sun popped
MRH-Feb 2014
