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NH STATE OFFICIALS CELEBRATED NATIONAL RAILROAD DAY
HOBO & WINNIPESAUKEE SCENIC RAILROAD
HOBO RAILROAD, LINCOLN, NH
April 12, 2012 marked the 143rd Anniversary since the driving of the "golden" spike for the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Point, Utah. Thus, joining the East Coast, West Coast and all points in between by rail. As you may have read from the Lin-Wood 7th Grade Social Studies class (Lincoln, NH led by Shaun Hagan) essays submitted in the previous newsletter - this opened up the whole of the United States for industry, settlement, travel, etc.
District 1 Executive Councilor, Ray Burton presided over the celebration with Ben Clark, Owner/President of Hobo & Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. Speakers were: NH DOT Commissioner Chris Clement accompanied by his son Ben Clement; Chair of the NH Rail Transit Authority Thomas Mahon; General Manager of the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad Edward Foley; and, Coordinator of the NH Highway Safety Agency Lifesaver Peter Thomson.
District 1 Executive Councilor Ray Burton read Governor John Lynch's proclamation, signed at the last Governor and Council meeting, stating in part "Railroads are an integral part of New Hampshire's multi-modal transportation.........."
NH DOT Commissioner Chris Clement pointed out that it takes three times as many trucks as trains to move the same amount of freight. A 75 car freight train has the same capacity as 280 trucks and uses less fuel. Commissioner Clement stated that he is looking at all forms of transportation including rail. "We want to have other modes of transportation, and we're hearing that more and more," Clement said.
As Manager of St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad Ed Foley pointed out, it takes one gallon of fuel to move one ton of freight 125 miles by road while only one gallon of fuel to move one ton of freight 427 by rail. Editor's note: It also costs less and is faster to maintain rail than highway.
The Chair of NH Rail Transit Authority Thomas Mahon spoke of the need to integrate New Hampshire transportation systems including rail for future business and tourism. Editor's note: Remember the weekend ski trains that visited various ski areas all over northern New Hampshire? My parents could take the train from Hingham, MA, pick up the ski train in Boston, be in NH by night fall and ski to their hearts delight for a weekend.
Coordinator of NH Highway Safety Agency Lifesaver Peter Thompson allowed that railroads are the lifeblood for northern New Hampshire. Editor's note: This could again be a big boost to tourism as well as industry. Remember the Spring, Summer, and Fall trains that brought families to our great state for vacations, the Grand Hotels, the small Bed & Breakfast Victorian houses? Maybe you stood along the tracks watching the vacationers unload their suit cases and trunks from the baggage cars to be transported to their destination?
The Winnipesaukee Railroad travels on some of the old route that went around the great lake providing convenient access and development. As you drive around the "Winni", you may notice buildings that had once been Depots and have now been made into homes. Rail is not only responsible for developing industry and commerce in New Hampshire, but it also opened up the beauty of our great "Granite" state to the rest of the world.
The new health issue now is the stress of driving to and from work. No one has yet to mention taking a train where you can read, sleep, play with your lap top, etc. and not worry about traffic, traffic jams, fuel, parking, the cost of parking, etc. As a kid we had the Old Colony Railroad on the South Shore of MA. Dad rarely drove into Cambridge so I would "run", as he walked, to the train in the AM. I would meet him at the train coming home at night but that would be an easy walk - he came home in the Club Car and was relaxed after a busy day at work. Steve's Dad would take the train from Greenbush, MA to the bank in Boston were he worked and would be rested (not frustrated and worn out) after an hour on the train. Kids relax on a train as well. Kids can watch the scenery, stretch their legs, read a book, sleep, etc. and you don't have to take your eyes off the road to make sure they are all right. You can even use your cell phone if you like.
Not only passenger travel has been greatly improved but freight hauling by train has made a gigantic leap. Cargo delivered to CA in shipping containers can be loaded 6 or better to a flat car, 100 +/- flat cars to a train, and moved across the country to NY in 2 to 3 days. A darn sight faster and cheaper than coming through the Panama Canal and/or piece by piece by truck. Not only "dry goods" but refrigerated units as well with fruit, vegetables, meat, etc.
Foster Leavitt of Saco, ME is a trolley aficionado who says that at one time you could make your way from Portland, ME to Florida by trolley. Hard to believe but I'm sure it is true. Foster is quite an encyclopedia on trolley and does some great models that are in libraries and historical societies in his area.
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