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Central Maine & Quebec/Canadian Pacific - Block Signals?

Number 90Number 90OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hopefully there is at least one Forumite who is familiar with this track from Montreal, across Maine, to St. John, New Brunswick.

I believe that, back when Canadian Pacific originally owned it, there were block signals, at least on the United States portion of the line. The horrible runaway at Megantic a few years back, revealed that there were no signals on that portion, but the passenger train that used to run to St. John may have had something to do with block signals in the U.S., because of the requirement that a signal system must be in effect to run at 60 MPH or greater on passenger, and 50 MPH or greater on freight.  This does not apply in Canada.

I am wondering, first, if there were ever any block signals, and second, if so, whether they are still in service.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can furnish information.

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gnnpnutgnnpnutOGR Forum Member

Hi Tom:

Not familiar with this line, but work / worked with some folks that worked on the mechanical side in Montreal, and a person that was a RFE on the Sherbrook Division prior to retirement from CP.  I'll see if I can confirm what I've written below.

The latest ETT I could find for the Sherbook Division is Timetable #25 dated April 27, 1975.  At this time, under CP, the section of track from Megantic to Lennoxville was operated under train order.   I found an Employee Timetable at this link:

https://www.traingeek.ca/files...ontreal-19750427.pdf

Page 43 and 44 have the timetable for the section of line that you are interested in.  In the timetable referenced, there was a short CTC section between Lennoxville and Sherbrook.  I doubt very much that this line was signalled  from Lennoxville and Megantic between the date in this timetable and when the line was sold off, but I obviously could be wrong. 

Regards.

Jerry

Last edited by gnnpnut
Number 90Number 90OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Thanks for the info, fellows.  Special thanks for the timetable scan, Jerry, lots of work involved in that!  I thrive on the information in employee timetables.

That part of the North American railroad network has always held special interest to me, due to the terrain as well as the dual language operation, and it was home to Canadian Pacific FA1s and its small fleet of 1949 E8's.  There are a lot of special rules on that territory, particularly around White River Junction.

And I have ridden at 80 MPH in the cab of a Canadian RDC on a non-signaled railroad.  Those guys really knew their timetable.  Good railroaders up north.

Last edited by Number 90

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