Rockland Branch
The Rockland Branch is a railroad from Brunswick, Maine to Rockland, Maine. A charter was granted in 1849 to build a railway from the Portland and Kennebec Railroad on the west side of the Kennebec River to Rockland. Construction through the rocky headlands of the Atlantic coast proved more expensive than anticipated. The Knox and Lincoln Railroad commenced service to Rockland in 1871 using a ferry to cross the Kennebec River between Bath and Woolwich. The Knox and Lincoln was leased by Maine Central Railroad in 1891, and became Maine Central's Rockland Branch in 1901. Maine Central purchased the Samoset destination hotel in nearby Glen Cove (a part of neighbouring Rockport) in 1912, and offered direct passenger service for summer visitors from the large eastern cities. Carlton bridge was completed in 1927 to carry the railroad and U.S. Route 1 over the Kennebec River. Maine Central sold the Samoset hotel in 1941,[1] and the last Maine Central passenger train to Rockland was on 4 April 1959.[2] The State of Maine purchased the branch in 1987 to prevent abandonment. The line has subsequently been operated by the Maine Coast Railroad, the Maine Eastern Railroad,[3] and, beginning in 2016, the Central Maine and Quebec Railway.[4] In 2019, Canadian Pacific Railway agreed to purchase the Central Maine and Quebec, thereby inheriting the operation of the Rockland Branch.[5] The acquisition was completed on June 3, 2020.[6]
In 2021 Finger Lakes Railway (FGLK) subsidiary Midcoast Railservice (MCRI) took over operations of this line.[7]
On August 16, 2024, Midcoast Railservice filed a petition to discontinue service on the line. This is due to the closure of their main customer, Dragon Cement, closed their plant on the line. According to Midcoast, the line was operating at a loss, generating only 5 cars per month.[8]
Maine Switching Services
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Main region(s) | Maine |
| Fleet | 3 leased diesel locomotives[9] |
| Parent company | Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad |
| Locale | Waldo County (B&ML line) Brunswick to Rockland (Rockland Branch) |
| Dates of operation | 2020–present |
| Predecessor | Midcoast Railservice (2024, on the Rockland Branch) |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Other | |
| Website | maineswitching |
In January 2025, the Maine Department of Transportation announced that the line will be operated by a company called Maine Switching Services,[10][11][12][13][14] which also operates freight trains on the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad.[10][9][15] MSS now operates freight trains on the Rockland Branch, and plans to operate excursion trains beginning in the fall of 2025.[10][15]
| Reporting mark | Number | Builder | Type | Build date | History | Status | Assigned to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTEX | 1524 | EMD | MP15 | 01/1982 | Ex-UP Y1371, nee-MP 1371 | Operational | ND Paper, Rumford, ME. | Owned by Maine Switching Services |
| 1585 | EMD | GP9u | 05/1955 | Ex-DSSR 1585, nee-CP GP9u 1585, nee-CP GP9 8533 | Operational | Sappi Paper, Skowhegan, ME. | Owned by LTEX | |
| 3902 | EMD | GP39-3M (rebuilt GP35) | 02/1964 | Ex-BNSF 2514, nee-ATSF GP35u 2814, nee-ATSF GP35 1314 | Operational | Owned by LTEX |
Route mileposts
- Milepost 0: Brunswick junction with Maine Central Lower Road and Lewiston Branch
- Milepost 8.7: Bath with Bath Iron Works shipyard
- Milepost 9.5: Woolwich
- Milepost 20: Wiscasset interchange with narrow-gauge Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway from 1895 to 1933
- Milepost 27.1: Newcastle
- Milepost 28.9: Damariscotta Mills
- Milepost 31.7: Nobleboro
- Milepost 38.5: Waldoboro
- Milepost 45.3: Warren
- Milepost 52.4: Thomaston large cement plant
- Milepost 56.6: Rockland ferry connections to Penobscot Bay[19]
References
- ^ Peters, Bradley L. (1976). Maine Central Railroad Company. Maine Central Railroad.
- ^ Johnson, Ron (1985). The Best of Maine Railroads. Portland Litho. pp. 41–42, 45–46, 48, 55, 57&61.
- ^ "The Maine Central Railroad Rockland Branch and The Lime Rock Railroad". sullboat.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ "Central Maine & Quebec to take over route of Maine Eastern". Trains Magazine. September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ^ "Canadian Pacific to Buy Rail Company That Runs Rockland Branch". Courier Publications, LLC. November 26, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ "Canadian Pacific completes Central Maine & Quebec Railway acquisition". Railway Gazette Group. June 4, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ Railfan and Railroad Magazine, "From Maine Coast to Midcoast," July 2024 Issue
- ^ "Midcoast Railservice, Inc.-Discontinuance of Service Exemption-in Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc Counties, ME".
- ^ a b c "Maine Switching Services - RailroadfanWiki". railroadfan.com.
- ^ a b c Johnston, Bob (9 January 2025). "Maine DOT selects Maine Switching Services as Rockland Branch operator". Trains. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Maine Switching Services, LLC - Home". maineswitchingservices.com. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Maine Switching Services - Home". maineswitching.com.
- ^ "Rail News - Maine Switching Services to operate Rockland Branch Railroad. For Railroad Career Professionals". Progressive Railroading.
- ^ Franz, Justin (10 January 2025). "Maine Selects New Operator for Rockland Branch". Railfan & Railroad Magazine.
- ^ a b Luczak, Marybeth (10 January 2025). "Small-Road Briefs: MaineDOT, Pinsly, OmniTRAX". Railway Age.
- ^ Fuller, Steve (October 5, 2008). "Brooks Preservation Society continuing to make tracks". The Republican Journal.(subscription required)
- ^ Fuller, Steve (December 1, 2008). "Rail revival continues in Brooks". The Republican Journal.(subscription required)
- ^ Cooper, Bruce C. "A Surviving Shortline Contemporary of the Central Pacific Railroad: The Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad". BMLRR.com.
- ^ Maine Central Railroad (1917). Hand-Book of Officers, Agents, Stations and Sidings. Edwin B. Robertson. pp. 7–8.