Calais Branch - Recent History

Recent History

The last passenger train from Bangor to Calais ran on 25 November 1957. Diesel-era freight service often used ALCO RS-2s, RS-3s and RS-11s between Bangor and Calais as long as those Maine Central locomotives remained operational. A GE 44-ton switcher working out of Calais over the light rail of the Eastport branch was believed to be the last use of that model locomotive in regularly scheduled freight service on a class I railroad until the Eastport branch was abandoned in 1978. The paper mill at Woodland provided most of the traffic in the later years of operation. The mill originated or terminated over 6,000 carloads in 1973, while cumulative pulpwood and lumber loading at Ellsworth, Franklin, Cherryfield, Columbia Falls, Whitneyville, Machias, and Dennysville contributed less half that volume.

The section from Brewer to St. Croix Junction is currently abandoned and was acquired by the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) in 1987 for the purpose of preserving the rail corridor. The tracks are still intact, however they and the roadbed have been sporadically maintained by the state over the past two decades and significant deterioration has occurred.

In January 2006 the 30 mi (48 km) segment of the Calais Branch from Brewer to Washington Junction, east of Ellsworth was leased by owner MaineDOT to the not for profit Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust. The Trust is currently working on rehabilitation of the line to begin excursion service from Ellsworth to Green Lake that will be called the Downeast Scenic Railroad.

Track from Washington Junction To Calais has been torn up for scrap.