Midcoast RailService: The Shortline on Short Time? INSANE Chase Down the Rockland Branch!

Midcoast RailService has quickly become one of the most popular New England shortlines, as photogenic B23-7s haul cement trains along the incredibly scenic Rockland Branch. A year after Midcoast began operation, I'm heading to Rockland to chase the railroad west to Brunswick.
Featuring Midcoast RailService train RB-2 with FGLK 2308 and FGLK 2310, at the following locations:
Rockland, ME
Thomaston, ME
Warren, ME
Waldoboro, ME
Newcastle, ME
Wiscasset, ME
Woolwich, ME
Bath, ME
Brunswick, ME
Also featuring Amtrak's Downeaster and CSX L077/Pan Am Railways PO-3.
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[@northernohiorailfanningpro8899]

Great production as always Harrison! Always finding a way to keep us updated on what’s goin on up there. It’s a shame that they lost the concrete business, but keep an open mind for the future!

[@Messivert_]

Me sitting here just rooting for an L/A area connection to Portland lol I believe there were federal funds moved just recently to fund passenger service to Rockland, extending the Downeaster.

[@MillersRailfan]

Absolutely beautiful photography

[@Maine_Railfan]

The final cement cars shipped out on Monday. Only outbound loads from now on will be scrap loads, where dragon is cutting up abandoned equipment and the whale belly hoppers.

[@NorthernNewEnglandRailfan]

guess the old equipment will be interesting. Is there any hope for it not being a trail?

[@LRSX]

Another fantastic production Harrison! Thats so cool you get to see the NYC units in maine! Its cool to see the Finger Lakes Compamy growing, always rooted for them, another cool regional railroad. I hear ya on that light thing, sometimes we just got to make the most of what we are dealt. NRFF is very similar NB with light issues. Take care! Fantastic Bridge scenes!

[@NorthernNewEnglandRailfan]

Got lucky with that! Double header, Downeaster, and PO-3, nice chase!

[@DieselElevators]

I remember chasing FGLK 2310 on the Finger Lakes when she was still here. Honestly I didnt know she got moved up north, nor that FGLK had another operation off site. The combination of the canadian E Bell and the Nathan P3 was a favorite of mine out of their fleet.

[@trainglen22]

The B23-7's look great in the NYC colours.

[@jontaylor6068]

Awesome. So it was official. I heard things with the FGLK, I didn’t follow up on it. FGLK majority all units are NYC but they do have an original Conrail paint livery and Lehigh Valley as well.

[@DH2906PRODUCTIONS]

NYC had a good paint scheme. No wonder why shorelines and other small railroads choose to replicate it.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Dash-7's? Wow, I didn't think there were any around anymore. Great show as always Harrison! And don't you just HATE those electronic crossing bells? Yuck!

[@buffaloarearailfan9928]

Great Video as Always!

[@Niroka07]

Remember me North country trains I was the one there with you recording as well that kid that you saw that was me

[@NorthCountryTrains]

Yes! Nice to meet you that day!

[@Niroka07]

Hi how are you doing

[@OldcampRanch]

Very cool👍🏻

[@Steve-xf4uv]

Except for that siding in Brunswick, the line seems to be in pretty good condition. Shame there isn't more traffic. I had planned to visit this line in May but it may be gone by then.

[@benhartin5499]

Nice chase, just a few things. CMQ tried to grow business, however the remaining cement contracts either went to barges or trucks shortly after they took over. Which wasn't because of CMQ, but more so poor track conditions on BCLR in Mass, a interchange rate battle between CSX and Pan Am, and Lafarge switching to Ciment Quebec as their new supplier. Also LO77 is still technically PO-3.

[@NorthCountryTrains]

Thanks for the info!

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

I can say with 100% certainty that it had nothing to do with BCLR track conditions.

[@benhartin5499]

@@SouthCoastRailVideos It did, CSX didn't want to interchange with them because the interchange tracks were in poor condition. Ryan Ratledge worked to try and smooth things over between CSX and Pan Am, but with the issues on BCLR it was all for nothing.

[@RDC2003]

They ran their last train with One perlite car last Thursday, after 2 years, it’s over.

[@NorthCountryTrains]

I’m very sad that my title turned out to be the right prediction. I had high hopes for Midcoast and genuinely thought they would succeed despite the odds.

[@RDC2003]

@@NorthCountryTrains yeah I did too, but at least I saw them last year at their peak (got them with both locos and 20 cars)

[@bigrobss]

what is fglk 2310 b32-7? it should be b23-7 instaed

[@NorthCountryTrains]

Good catch- that was a typo

[@a.gordonkontrath1768]

A sad ending to a to a promising endeavor. The foreign owners pulled the plug on the main revenue stream for this line. The cement plant. For economic reasons, so they reported. I suspect they went GREEN! Coke and natural gas fueled production process. Only a theory though.