Where's Randy?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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Well, I can tell you from first-hand experience, he’s very busy!

I had the delightful pleasure to visit him at his new-ish railroad, the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway. I’m telling you folks, you need to keep an eye on this operation–and not just because it has similarities to the Wisconsin Central that this home-grown dairy-state girl misses so much.

In many ways, the MM&A is similar to the WC: terrain, operating conditions, residents’ personality types, and the fact that lumber and paper mills comprise a large portion of the business. In other, very critical ways, though, it’s radically different: The lines’ histories, the volume of shippers online, and the general relativity of population and customer density. Also, Maine is a very harsh operating environment–much worse than Wisconsin. Right now the article I’m writing on the MM&A is scheduled for the March issue, I think. Keep your eyes peeled, because I’m very excited about this one.

As for other parts of my visit, well, I’ll start with Monday. I spent the entire day in the headquarters at Hermon, Maine, just outside Bangor. The senior executives are impressive with their knowledge and passion. Really, they’re a wonderful group of people dedicated to making this very isolated railroad a success. But they’ve had their challenges, including a major shipper going bankrupt the day the railroad’s sale was finalized, another shipper whose factory had a boiler explosion and fire, a couple serious derailments, and deferred track maintenance. Despite this, they seem to be making the right decisions in keeping costs in line with reduced revenue and still spending money where it needs to be spent to secure the railroad’s future.

Tuesday I went to Derby to visit the shop. And Randy’s home away from home. This complex is so cool, I don’t know where to begin describing it. It’s a far bigger shop than I would have expected for a short line, but it makes sense when you realize how very remote the railroad is. There

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Now you got me itching to get a copy…and visit Maine…although I dont know how well a swamp rat like me will take to the cold and all!

Trust Randy to go to work somewhere where it counts…instead of just being a cog in the gearbox of some “big” railroad, he went where his talent and knowledge were needed and where he can make a difference.

Good deal, it makes what we do that much more “fun”.
Ed

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Kathi

Thanks for the trip report and preview of the story. I figured Randy would do well. I assume he has the local dialect down pat and served you well as an interpreter. (My knowledge of Maine comes from the Non Sequitur strip.)

Ed. You could go in July. Stop by here and I’ll loan you my heavy winter coat.

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Mayun. Isn’t that just north of New Hampsha?

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[tup][tup][tup]

Kathy: Stow away with Randy when he comes this way. I always manage to be be out of pocket when he makes his semi-annual trips this way. Getting paths to cross is tough. Still have not succeeded in catching either one of you. Thanx for the update.

I’ve had the pleasure of working and teaching with some of the ex-WC folks on the engineering side. Where we met Jay and missed Kathy . Real railroaders and good people -ALL.

Ed: Go in the fall and watch the leaves turn. I know you and Aimee can handle something a little more moderate in temperature. (Jay:[swg][swg][swg])

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Funny I was about to post a “Where’s Kathi?” topic …
I had not realized our old Forum colleague Randy Stahl had left Fond du Lac but he made it clear how he felt about the WC takeover. Glad to hear he’s found an interesting new home. We all look forward to your article Kathi and with luck Randy will find the time to make more postings with his insider’s knowledge of railroading.
Remind me sometimes to tell the story of how Kathi Kube tricked me into asking a VERY embarassing question of a guy at the Janesville roundhouse open house a year ago … I am lucky I did not end up with a bloody nose.
Dave Nelson

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Kathi, glad you had fun! Those old WC folks sure like that color scheme… and that GE looks purty in it!

One nit-pick… When you talked about the “B&A”, I thought at first you meant “Boston & Albany”… Bangor & Aroostook was always the BAR! (Also a popular hangout for many of us from Wisconsin…[}:)]

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Kathi,
12 pages, lots of words, a good map, and a complete roster…PLEASE !

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Can’t wait to read the article.

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You know their paint scheme looks vaguely familiar. I just can’t put my finger on it.[:o)] [:D] [8D]

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Aw, you were so good natured about that! And it really was terribly funny, right? [:D]

Kathi

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Alright already, One of you must tell the story. The suspence is too much.[;)]

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Kathi, did you by chance make it to Caribou?

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Another Maine “Moose-Gooser”? MM&A?[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

I’ll bet the hunting and fishing is pretty good up there also.

Sam

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'Fraid not. I went as far south as Searsport, north to Sherman (I think), west to Greenville, and east to Old Town, off I-95. The farthest east railroad point I went to (again, I think) was Lagrange. All in all, I think I covered some pretty good territory, but next tiime I need to build in enough time to make it at least to Madawaska in the northeast, and Farnham and St. Jean in the west. One of the many challenges that face this railroad is the geographic territory it covers, and the relative sparse population and manufacturing in that area.

And don’t worry, there absolutely will be a map with the story, as well as a roster, and as many cool photos as I can fit.

Kathi

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Alright, Chad. The Wisconsin & Southern celebrated its anniversary just about the same time we came out with our August 2005 issue. In his editorial that month, Jim wrote his open letter, “Dear Police Chief.” Accompanying the text was a photo I took from behind some friends who were shooting the train. These guys happened to be very near when Dave came up to the TRAINS table. He was awfully good natured when I asked him to walk up to one of my friends and ask him to autograph his photo. It was very funny, and very well received. Thank goodness Dave has such a great sense of humor and was willing to help me tease a friend! See? Not so scandalous… [;)]

Kathi

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AW"RIGHT
Better renew my subscription[:D][:D][:D][:D]
Sam

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We were very pleased to host such a gracious guest . The employees of the MMA are very happy that all of you are interested in our little railroad !!!
Randy

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Not so … The Boston and Albany folks were just ahead of the REAL B&A people when they were handing out reporting marks. Ask anyone in THIS area, THIS is the B&A .
Randy

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Thanks for comming clean with the storey Kathi. And yes Randy we are interested in your “little” railroad. I know you are busy these days but please try and pop in form time to time to let us know how it’s going. I can’t wait to see the article.