Nostalgia & History > Switcher Saturday North Stratford RR

This former Maine Central Alco S-1 is at Beecher Falls, VT in Aug 1983. The North Stratford served a furniture plant (Ethan Allen if I remember correctly) in Beechers Falls (Canaan), and connected with the former GT at North Stratford. The line shut down in 1989.

They also had a 44 tonner in the same attractive scheme.

Brian N.

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MEC/North Stratford 959 surves on the Hobo Railroad tourist line in New Hampshire

Tom Coughlin
Stow, MA

Well done roster photos.
Bob

Nice catch!  Yes, you’re correct that Ethan Allen Furniture was the main customer in Beecher’s Falls.  For decades this was the end of a long branch that diverged from the MEC mountain division at Quebec Junction in the town of Carroll, NH.  The junction’s name is a legacy of the line’s original terminus at Lime Ridge, QC.  The middle of the branch from Coos Junction (Lancaster) to North Stratford was abandoned prior to WWII, in favor of trackage rights over the B&M and GT via Groveton, NH.  There are two remaining sections for the branch - Waumbek Junction to Groveton, which provides the Conway Scenic with its only rail connection to the rest of the world, and a few miles north of North Stratford, serving a tank car repair operation.  Beyond that a few miles of remaining track are used for long term car storage.

Dave