Whitefield Ball Signal Freight Extra: Conway Scenic Railroad

On August 2, 2017, the Conway Scenic Railroad ran an extra to pick up two Maine Central freight cars from storage in Whitefield. GP9 1751 had been left at Crawford Depot the day before having led 252 and the Notch Train from North Conway. The crew left Crawford's with 1751 at about 7:00 AM and proceeded to the end of CSRX trackage at Hazen's in Whitefield. This day, however, the New Hampshire Central did not have an engine available to deliver the cars to the interchange. Instead, a New Hampshire Central boarded the locomotive and led it over the New Hampshire Central line to where the cars had been stored in Whitefield for 27 years. After some switching 1751 returned toward Conway, past the famous ball signal with the two freight cars in tow. I pretty much stumbled into this one and was glad I did! Enjoy

[@slr379x9]

If i was filthy rich I'd dump all the money necessary to reopen the Mountain sub and work to regain freight service and add customers. I dont see it ever happening being that its probably a financial stupid move. But I would to save the historic line

[@a22jp1]

why were not all the old cars not taken? I live next to them.

[@tropicalties3806]

The sunrise shots were killer in this video. Jimmy Moore was Engineer this day.

[@trainern8]

Thank you!

[@onrr1726]

I've got pretty of footage of 1751 when it was still on the Finger Lakes Railway in the late 90's and early 2000's. It mostly spent it's last years in Auburn, NY working under Remote control there switching cars at Nucor.

[@raymondleggs5508]

Ex new york central locomotive

[@TG-cf6qb]

Actually it's a former Finger Lakes Railroad unit, they traded it for the B and U Boat they had (which were problematic). It's a former B&O/Chessie GP9 unit

[@chrisbigham5056]

Yes!! How many cars are left on that siding now?

[@trainern8]

Not sure but they definitely weren't the only ones!

[@tomheath7146]

Chris Bigham I believe there was four there total. I took pictures a few years back.

[@chrisbigham5056]

There are pics of them at NERail.

[@Maine_Railfan]

@@chrisbigham5056 the only two left are hopper cars I think.

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Great catch! I think there were a couple more cars left on the siding that these two were on. Any idea what's happening to those?

[@trainern8]

South Coast Rail Videos Thanks! I think there are too but im not sure what is happening with those. I would love to see them get the rest though!

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

One of the cars is of New Haven heritage and may be the last of its kind (At least on the NH)....I hope they are not cut up!

[@trainern8]

Yikes I hope not too!

[@Maine_Railfan]

The box is exB&M the gondola which was converted to a bulkhead flat is exMEC. I think they moved them for a photo run-by.

[@thamnophisrex5895]

Is the diamond still in use?

[@Maine_Railfan]

Great catch!

[@trainern8]

Maine Railfan© thanks!!

[@lhsboyproductions3446]

Awesome Video! Are those new freight cars?

[@trainern8]

Thanks! New to Conway Scenic yes! They had been in storage on that line for many years

[@crossbuckmann8817]

Isn’t the railroad in whitefield abandoned?

[@trainern8]

Nope, just very seldom used. Every once and a while a train goes through for railcar storage, or a passenger extra, etc

[@michaelritcheson5472]

When did CSRR acquire this locomotive, or is it one they've had but with different paint? I think I saw this one in the middle of New York state 7 or 8 years ago and wondered if it was on its way to New Hampshire.

[@trainern8]

They acquired this locomotive from the Finger Lakes Railway in New York in late 2011 by trading B23-7 1943 and U23b 2820. It didn't arrive on their property until late 2012, because they had it sent out for some work first. Sounds like you definitely could have seen it!

[@StevenF91]

Great Video!

[@sftello]

What a treat to see the CSRR GP9 working the line all the way up to Whitefield. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@trainern8]

No problem! Thanks for watching!

[@brendangranger3684]

Why didn't they blow for some of the crossings?

[@trainern8]

Probably because they were flagging but I don't know

[@brendangranger3684]

Where in Whitefield were these cars stored? Is the CSRR gonna restore them?

[@brendangranger3684]

Those cars would be great for railfan's weekend, then they do the freight extra

[@trainern8]

They were tucked off just a little bit beyond the ball signal. Just beyond the crossing after the Dunkin Donuts. And yes I think they are going to eventually and I agree they would be great!

[@tooling_engineer]

Are the tracks to Littleton being taken up? They were in bad shape when I lived there.

[@trainern8]

I haven't heard that they are but they are definitely in rough shape

[@Maine_Railfan]

Nothing on the Mountain Division is.

[@ebtmikado]

Nice. How did you get to that vantage point?

[@trainern8]

Thanks! Which one? The one at the Ball Signal?

[@ebtmikado]

No, sorry. I meant to post that question on the Cog Railway video. I wondered how you got to that vantage point above Base Station.

[@trainern8]

Oh no problem! It was pretty tricky we actually went up the Ammonoosic Ravine hiking trail for a few minutes and then crossed the river and walked through the woods a bit to get there.

[@42Clumzy]

Did they take those cars all the way back to Conway?

[@trainern8]

42Clumzy They took them all the way to the station in North Conway

[@liamjmbtaandrailfan2791]

Hopefully they bring this back next year so I can ride it

[@Mountaindivisionrailfan252]

They don’t plan to run it again for a long time due to NHC trackage issues.

[@trainlover1017]

Nice video

[@eastcoastrailfanproduction6393]

nice

[@trainern8]

Thanks!

[@andrewwilson5631]

Awesome catch!

[@trainern8]

Andrew Wilson Thanks!