RailRoadFan.com

Thank goodness i got out to Massachusetts in 2014 and again in 2016 to railfan the Pan Am from Millers Falls Massachusetts the interchange with the New England Central and XO tower in Mechanicville NY there's a lot of speculation as to who the buyer will be it's gonna be interesting.

I hope they change the name. IMO worst name for a railroad ever.

AARR wrote:I hope they change the name. IMO worst name for a railroad ever.

Well the rich owner bought the Pan Am name and if he didn't use it, that could cause the trademark protection to be lost.
Let us not forget his creation of the Springfield Terminal in order to bust the unions.

Guilford had really nothing to do with the railroads either. Ive heard Mellon named it after his hometown in Connecticut.

I've heard the whole reason from the change to Guilford to Pan Am was basically a rebranding scheme since the Guilford name had kinda taken on a negative reputation.

Needless to say I think it was just putting makeup on a pig.

MQT1223 wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:29 pm

I've heard the whole reason from the change to Guilford to Pan Am was basically a rebranding scheme since the Guilford name had kinda taken on a negative reputation.

Needless to say I think it was just putting makeup on a pig.

Lipstick on a pig. Lipstick.

Interesting development in the last couple days. A freshly painted GP40-2W number 507 was released from the shop in Guilford Rail System paint everyone seems baffled as to what's going on. I like it myself i would go out there but with this COVID 19 stuff i don't know if that would be a good idea.

penn central wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:47 am

Interesting development in the last couple days. A freshly painted GP40-2W number 507 was released from the shop in Guilford Rail System paint everyone seems baffled as to what's going on. I like it myself i would go out there but with this COVID 19 stuff i don't know if that would be a good idea.

I believe its similar to what Pan Am did a few years ago with their Heritage GP9's that they later sold off. To keep ownership and reporting marks they had to apply it in a certain sense. I bet no one thought they'd ever see a freshly painted Guilford unit. I wonder if it has Springfield Terminal reporting marks.

MQT1223 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 10:25 pm

penn central wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:47 am

Interesting development in the last couple days. A freshly painted GP40-2W number 507 was released from the shop in Guilford Rail System paint everyone seems baffled as to what's going on. I like it myself i would go out there but with this COVID 19 stuff i don't know if that would be a good idea.

I believe its similar to what Pan Am did a few years ago with their Heritage GP9's that they later sold off. To keep ownership and reporting marks they had to apply it in a certain sense. I bet no one thought they'd ever see a freshly painted Guilford unit. I wonder if it has Springfield Terminal reporting marks.

MEC reporting mark

I saw pictures this morning. It is also my understanding that the Guilford, MEC, ST, and B&M side of the railroad are the aspects for sale and that the Pan Am name itself is not... wonder if this has anything to do with it. I'm also under the impression that this unit is commemorating someone, as it has what looks like initials on it.

Pan Am has seen the writing on the wall. The rail industry is terrible at thinking ahead at times and the increasingly rate of ageing boxcars has unfortunately outpaced the anemic investment in new boxcars. Half of the current fleet of boxcars is plate F with the other half (pre 90's) set on retirement within the next ten years. Which PSR railroads are inclined to build new boxcars in a declining paper industry?

According to Trains Magazine, CN and CP may be interested in the Pan AM because either one would then gain access to Boston. Access to Boston would provide direct service from there into Canada and west to Chicago. Would this be enough for genuine interest from either railroad? Curious about everyone's thoughts. Thanks.

David Lang

Boston has very few railroad served industries. CSX left the city and turned whatever customers they had over to Pan Am. You need to get past Worcester or Ayer to see any real non-commuter service in Mass.

It was announced in the Trains News Wire that they (CSX) have sent the merger App into the STB and they say the Genesee and Wyoming will maintain and operate the Pan Am Southern portion of there trackage and connect with the NECR, P&W, and the CSOR (Connecticut Southern) I added all the mileage of all 4 G&W railroads that equals almost 1.500 miles wow this also includes all trackage rights, The new G&W operation will be called the Berkshire and Eastern.

I thought NS would object because it could hurt their gateway into Boston but it appears I was wrong

AARR wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 07, 2021 11:15 am

I thought NS would object because it could hurt their gateway into Boston but it appears I was wrong

Actually the NS will own 50 percent of the Pan Am Southern and CSX the other 50 percent there gonna have the G&W maintain and operate it, And NS will get trackage rights on CSXs Boston LIne from the Albany NY area to Worcester Mass to connect with the line to Ayer Massachusetts from what i read everything east of Ayer Massachusetts is gonna be 100 percent CSX its gonna be a interesting operation and that NS will still operate two pair of manifest freights between Albany NY and East Deerfield Mass witch is on the old B&M's western half.

Vermont Rail System having a fit about this - as well they should. Don't know if it will help them by objecting to the sale, but I do understand their uneasy feeling being surrounded by G&W and their multiple North/South routes that would emerge...

Man o' War

I wish there was a handy map for all of this. I think I could visualize all of the possibilities much better with a map.

GP30M4216 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 10:00 pm

I wish there was a handy map for all of this. I think I could visualize all of the possibilities much better with a map.

Go to the Genesee & Wyoming website and find the maps for their New England clusters - this can give you a better idea of what things look like with regard to competition in the area.

Man o' War

Here we go the STB approved the takeover by CSX i was wondering if the G&Ws Berkshire and Eastern will use some of Pan Am's power short term because 600 miles is alot to digest in such a short time there talking June 1st i like it myself because it shakes things up lets face it. It was stale and wore out on Pan Am and traffic became stagnate over the years and the B&M became riddled with slow orders and also the Vermont Rail System gets trackage rights into East Deerfield yard.