MEC Bangor,ME Roundhouse / Engine Facility 08/04/1980

[@buixrule]

There's so much awesomeness going on here. I'm speechless at the history recorded here. That MEC 563 is an awesome piece.

[@nhrrman]

I have at least a hundred hours more of Mooses videos to put on, I have no idea if there is any vintage Rigby, but its all going on eventually. I would like it too, my grandparents lived in Portland and I started going to see Rigby in about 1960. I can remember the station on Congress St. too! Thanks for watching, Craig

[@pdxrailtransit]

What a great video! Thanks much for posting. Really touching how the older man could still move with such grace and economy of motion, despite his infirmities.

[@nhrrman]

Glad you liked it and yes the older gentleman knew his stuff!

[@erbenton07]

I just stumbled onto this video. I worked with every one of these guys for years (started in 76). Wow! I had no idea anyone had ever filmed it.

[@hemihead68]

my grandfather brought me down to this terminal where one of the guys let me start one of the locomotives there in the roundhouse !! I've since spent 34 great years in the railroad industry and loved it all in part due to that gentleman (I have a pic somewhere of him) and my grandfather, great memories and great people !!

[@OutdoorsWithJohnUSA]

When I got to Bangor in the mid 90's this area was gone. Thnks for sharing

[@nhrrman]

My pleasure John, Glad you liked it. Craig

[@GP9railfan]

John Roy, It's so wrong that this is all gone now. What a shame. Great video! Brings back lots of fond memories when the 'ol pine tree route was still around.

[@cvgeeps]

The old dude in the vid has probably been around since steam ran on the MEC

[@MsMadmolly]

Live outside of Bangor and remember this area, makes me hate Gilford even more. These videos are a blast from the past. Thanks for sharing them.

[@drum3433]

Preiceless video of an era that has passed but still missed.

[@steventurner820]

The 563, theres a picture online that has it sandwiched between the 263 and 593 on a train through my hometown. Said line is now out of service and a target for Rails To Trails.

[@nhrrman]

Hi James, I'll have to watch the video again to be sure, but he's probably checking coolant and motor oil levels...maybe looking at filters. There's also a throttle control inside the hood for maintenance purposes, Most light maintenance/repair to the diesel, generator/alternator and electrical system takes place though the hood doors. Craig

[@mvg2x34]

I love these videos. Good people made good money both at the RR and the industries served. The way American mfg was decimated and declined at the hands of American leadership in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s is a shame. All these types of industries were saved and protected in Western Europe, Brasil, Mexico and China and Canada for that matter. Mainers were left in the lurch.

[@lexpo181]

Very great! Alex

[@nhrrman]

Thanks, glad you liked it! Craig

[@snydedon9636]

Too bad those guys talking down about that elderly trainman. Most people could only wish they could still be working at that age, myself included. He doesn’t appear to be in very good shape but is probably there because he loves the job.

[@andrewtreece3708]

That old guy moved with grace when he needed

[@drum3433]

Wow, 44 tonner, RI u-25bs!!!

[@nhrrman]

You're welcome, I've got a bunch on now, and more to come. Thanks for watching, Craig

[@mikeytrains1]

Really nice footage! Looks like the MEC was in a bit of rough shape.

[@skeezix91]

That is just too cool! I love it!

[@Nurvington]

Did you guys call the B&M The 'Broken and Mangled?' Funny. Anyway, good to see these up close and personal material. I grew up on the LIRR in the 80s & 90s but these regions I was most interested in, which I didn't get to see until much later on. I suppose missed a lot until now. Thanks for posting, Craig.

[@GP9railfan]

Digitized gold right here!

[@RailPreserver2K]

Doesnt one of there roundhouses still exist?

[@Turbo231]

Love it!

[@THOMAS81Z]

Love this footage soooo maine lol

[@MyBlueLantern]

I like the color commentary by John Millard.

[@danielfantino1714]

Thanks for that look on the past and to Moose. Some comments said everything is gone. I don´t know location but according to Google Earth, enginehouse is still used by an industry on Diesel shop road, Hermon. Is it the good one ?

[@Maine_Railfan]

Thats the old Bangor and Aroostook facility. The MEC one was torn down in the late 80's.

[@danielfantino1714]

@@Maine_Railfan thanks my friend for answering. Sad. Those old bricks buildings had atmosphere. Steel rectangular modern ones have no personality. They can represent any type of industry. As steam went to the ghost, so did water tower, turntable and finally roundhouse. Chers from up north 👋

[@Maine_Railfan]

@@danielfantino1714 Thats for sure, with advancements in technology they were able to close all the shops except East Deerfield and Waterville sadly. Waterville still has an active round house, but I know CSX is trying to shut down the whole shop complex as soon as they can.

[@danielfantino1714]

@@Maine_Railfan mergers = less railroads, hence less shops.

[@nhrrman]

Yeah, John is quite the interviewer!

[@nhrrman]

You're welcome Carey!

[@fredlohmann1448]

COOL!!

[@nhrrman]

Oh yeah, Nice Camaro!

[@EFC429]

9:41 "The B&M: The Broken & Mangled"

[@luigitorchia8866]

Is this yard still being used.

[@GP9railfan]

No it’s all gone now. Ripped up unfortunately when they put in the I-395 bridge

[@Maine_Railfan]

The 395 bridge, concert venue and Hollywood slots now occupy the former yard.

[@bill605able]

door three has goober stash

[@penskepc2374]

People can hate Pan Am(Guilford) all they want but at the very least northern New England railroads are still dominated by a New England company unlile anywhere else in the US.

[@GP9railfan]

Pan Am sucks. They gutted the Branch lines before abandoning them, and thousands of jobs were gone forever when Timothy Mellon took over from US Filter Corp. The MEC was a once proud Railroad, and doing well until the ST/GRS takeover.

[@Maine_Railfan]

@@GP9railfan the branch lines were struggling when MEC had them. MEC would have had to have dumped more track and cut more staff had they remained independent. Guilford cut all the fat off, so when the paper industry fell, they weren't impacted too hard. MEC on the other hand would have been pushed into bankruptcy. Ultimately ending up as part of Conrail, which would have been 150 times worse than Guilford. All of the branches Guilford dumped were offered to other operators, however they weren't profitable so no one bit on them.

[@jeffreyaumand6447]

Guilford sucked!!!!

[@bill605able]

another name for the peanut

[@Mountaindivisionrailfan252]

M3 at 10:01

[@Brian4449]

Who are the poeple talking?

[@jeffreyaumand6447]

Guilford ST Pan Am all sucked, of course they were all the same. A big shit show - BIG TIME!!