Inside the Dever Road Shops

I was in New Brunswick last week and I had the opportunity for a quick tour of NB Southern's Dever Road shops.

Outside the shops, HLCX 6315 was parked with NBSR 3703 parked on an adjacent track giving it a boost.


The battery cables were a bit larger than what you would use for your car! I was in 6315's cab for a few minutes and I have never seen such a bare-bones cab. It had the control stand and two chairs and that was it. No desk, no hot plate, no fridge, and no electronics of any sort other than a speedometer. Amazingly, 6315 led the westbound freight the next evening after some frantic equipment installation!

There was only one engine inside the shops, Maine Northern 9801.


This was the first time I've seen it in its Maine Northern lettering.


The shop has two tracks for working on the engines, and the rest is devoted to repairing MOW equipment and car repair.

Once NBSR is finished leasing engines, they should have 28 engines. With only two tracks for servicing they are going to be tight for space! Maybe it's time to look at expanding the building?

Here's a view of the rest of the shops with a Kershaw brush cutter in the building.


Here are some locomotive trucks being rebuilt.


Behind the shop there are a variety of old boxcars being used for storage. The CP Rail is starting to show through on this old car.


NB Southern's sole Jordan spreader #402896 is parked back there, as well as caboose 79624.


Back at the shops, ex-UP engine HLCX 911 was beside the shop with NBSR 3702. NB Southern refuels its engines there, right beside the shop. This was my first view of 911.


I appreciated the opportunity to go inside the shop and hopefully I'll get a chance to do so again.

MNR 9801 and the Dragon Boat Train

David Morris sent along these photos of Maine Northern 9801 from Saturday. NB Southern ran several trains out to Renforth Wharf in Rothesay, NB and back to carry people to and from the Saint John Dragon Boat Festival, like they did in 2009 and I think in 2010.

As you can see, it was quite foggy.


I believe all of these photos were taken at Harbour Station.


Passengers board NBSR 5448 and the other cars.


Thanks for the photos, David!

NB Southern in Northern Maine, and Post #2000

Ron Tilley posted a series of photos he took in Maine in early August 2011. They feature the new Maine Northern operations, with NBSR locomotives, leased HLCX 911 and even leased MMA 2000. There are also shots of the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic (MM&A) on the remnants of their track. I encourage you to go see the album.

In other news, I believe this is post #2,000 for me on this blog. I started this in July 2005 and have been plugging away ever since. Thank you for being along for the ride and we'll see you at #3,000 and beyond.

Maine Northern 9801 in McAdam... and CN 4102

Brian Barchard sent along a few shots of Maine Northern Railway #9801 in McAdam. He spotted it there on the afternoon of August 20 (Saturday). They came into McAdam with a bunch of empty log cars. After dropping them in the west yard, they wyed the engine, and presumably left.



I guess it came back to McAdam a few days later, because Gary Lee shot it there on August 23. It looks like it was coming off the wye.


Brian also mentioned he saw CN 4102 heading west through Harvey toward McAdam on the evening of August 21. As it turns out, Gary was out and saw it shunting the yard in McAdam that night.


CN 4102 has been working in Saint John. Kevin Gaudet caught it and CN 4132 as part of CN 406 on June 11 heading to Saint John.


Matt aka Saintjohnrailfan shot the same train in Hampton, closer to Saint John.


Good railfan coverage all over!

Maine Northern Leased Units En Route

The four Helm GP38-3 leased units are on the way. All four traveled through Ontario via CN, in two batches. It appears HLCX 906 and 911 went through Ontario on July 3rd, so they should be showing up in New Brunswick very soon. HLCX 913 and 917 were last report in St. Louis waiting for paperwork.

Thanks to Kevin Burkholder, Doug Renshaw, David Othen and Dave Dineen for the information.

NB Southern Leased Power Update

Back in May I mentioned that the Eastern Maine Railway (NB Southern's American counterpart) would be leasing four Helm GP38-3 units. One of those units (HLCX 909) was deemed unsuitable and a different engine has been substituted.

According to this Surface Transportation Board filing, the four leased units are HLCX 906, HLCX 911, HLCX 913 and HLCX 917.

Expect at least two of them to be shipped at any time.

Maine Northern 9801

NBSR 9801 has been relettered and renumbered to MNR 9801, for the new Maine Northern Railway.

The what? The Maine Northern Railway Company is the new name for the northern Maine lines to be operated by NBSR.

MNR 9801, NBSR 2317 and NBSR 2319 are now in Maine and will be operating on the line. The official opening date is June 15 (tomorrow). This is not the "permanent" power as it will be rotated back to Saint John as needed for servicing, so northern Maine should see a variety of green and yellow engines.

Good luck to J.D. Irving in their new enterprise in northern Maine!

PS - there is a good article in MaineBiz about the transition, featuring an interview with Ian Simpson, general manager of the Eastern Maine Railroad (NBSR's Maine half). Presumably Ian will be the GM of MNR as well.

The MNR will employ up to 30 people and will be based in Oakfield and Squa Pan.