Trains, will they become a thing of the past in Aroostook?

As the State Senate gets ready to consider a new bond, that would include 17 million dollars to purchase the railroad line in Northern Maine; I find myself thinking about how much the rail has changed in my lifetime. Growing up, I can remember waiting at times in my Dads car at a railroad crossing for the train to pass, while counting the cars on the train. Often times it would come very close to 100. Now it is doubtful if there has been a train that large in this area in almost a decade.

The loss of farmers has hurt the railroad. There used to be potato houses everywhere, and all near a track. Now the handful of farmers left in our area ship their crop by truck. You can have a load of potatoes to market in Boston in 7 hours or so by truck, while it takes at least four days by rail.

The railroad closed the train station/ rail yard in Houlton a few years back, and sadly, for good reason. There is just no use up here for it. I understand that the companies that do use the rail, want to continue to use it; but I have to believe that they can adapt, in time, without it.

From Oakfield to Houlton, I believe the only stops now are at LP in New Limerick, and Tate and Lyle's Starch Factory in Houlton. Rumor has it that TATE will be closing within the calendar year, and LP has been hurting with the decline in the building industry. It is not inconcievable that they, too, could eventually close if the economy doesn't shift.

Then what do we have? More vacant rails. Unless someone can convince me that these business will stay open, and some others will also take advantage of the rail, I'd be hard pressed to vote for this bond if the Senate approves it.

That's the View From my Couch.