Claremont Concord sale to G&W

[RickKfoury]

One of the smallest shortline railroads in the country, the Claremont Concord in NH, has been sold to Genesee & Wyoming. The CCRR once connected its namesake cities on a long ex-B&M branch but was cut back between 1960 and 1977, and now is only 2 miles of track in Claremont. They also own and operate a few miles of the old B&M Northern Mainline in Lebanon, NH. The railroad has a handful of customers in Claremont and Lebanon, right along the Connecticut River. They currently own three Alco S4s and a GP10. I got a chance to head up there this week and photograph two of their Alcos. One of which, #102 is of great importance to me. This locomotive, built for the Delaware & Hudson, was one of the last engines to ever run to the city of Keene in the early 1980s, the city which I am currently modeling in Railworks and know very well. When it ran to Keene, it was owned by the Green Mountain Railroad and was their #305. Unfortunately, it is unknown whether G&W will keep the Alcos to operate on the lighter rail or sell/ scrap them. They still have friction bearings so they would be fine to run on the CCRR tracks, but moving them on the mainline would be difficult. The other Alco I photographed, #105, is ex-Canadian National. Gotta love these old Alcos. My tour giude, Mr. Wilder Moffit, worked with #102 for both the GMRC and the CCRR. He was very adamant about not being a railfan but said that over time he grew to love these old Alcos, just by working with them. The CCRR used to own a fleet of GE 44 tonners and he said that after running one of those, you'd be begging for an Alco

[RickKfoury]

Here she is in happier times as Green Mountain #305, in the east yard in Keene, NH. The operation between Brattleboro and Keene was found to be not-profitable and was cancelled in 1983.

[BillS]

Excellent photos and info, Rick Thanks!

[KPryor]

Great photos and background info on them. I love seeing/hearing about short lines like this. Wish there were more of them still active.