Pan Am Railways
In March of 2006, Guilford Transportation Industries’ rail properties were rebranded under the name Pan Am Railways, sharing the trade name of the well-known airline, which GTI had purchased out of bankruptcy in 1998 and continues to operate under the Pan Am brand.
In March of 2006, Guilford Transportation Industries’ rail properties were rebranded under the name Pan Am Railways, sharing the trade name of the well-known airline, which GTI had purchased out of bankruptcy in 1998 and continues to operate under the Pan Am brand.
Guilford Rail System
Guilford Transportation Industries dates from 1977, when Timothy Mellon of Guilford, Conn., helped form a holding company that in June 1981 entered railroading by acquiring, and placing under GTI, the Maine Central and its subsidiary Portland Terminal. GTI in June 1983 acquired the Boston & Maine, and its subsidiary Springfield Terminal, a tiny former Vermont interurban. Guilford eyed expansion west and in January 1984 acquired the Delaware & Hudson from Norfolk & Western. After two labor strikes, GTI, to cut costs, leased parts of MEC and B&M to Springfield Terminal, which had different work rules. An attempt to do the same with D&H was rebuffed, so GTI cast D&H into bankruptcy (D&H was sold in 1991 to Canadian Pacific). GTI called its lean network of B&M, MEC, and ST the Guilford Rail System.
Guilford Transportation Industries dates from 1977, when Timothy Mellon of Guilford, Conn., helped form a holding company that in June 1981 entered railroading by acquiring, and placing under GTI, the Maine Central and its subsidiary Portland Terminal. GTI in June 1983 acquired the Boston & Maine, and its subsidiary Springfield Terminal, a tiny former Vermont interurban. Guilford eyed expansion west and in January 1984 acquired the Delaware & Hudson from Norfolk & Western. After two labor strikes, GTI, to cut costs, leased parts of MEC and B&M to Springfield Terminal, which had different work rules. An attempt to do the same with D&H was rebuffed, so GTI cast D&H into bankruptcy (D&H was sold in 1991 to Canadian Pacific). GTI called its lean network of B&M, MEC, and ST the Guilford Rail System.
Boston & Maine Railroad
Boston & Maine’s oldest component was the Andover & Wilmington, opened in August 1836. By 1843 it and two other railroads consolidated as the Boston & Maine, which through numerous consolidations amassed a 2000-mile network blanketing Massachusetts and reaching not only Portland, Maine, but northern New Hampshire and Vermont and eastern New York State. After a dozen deficit-ridden years, B&M went bankrupt in March 1970. Rather than go into Conrail, B&M stayed independent and revived, and was bought by Guilford in 1983.
Boston & Maine’s oldest component was the Andover & Wilmington, opened in August 1836. By 1843 it and two other railroads consolidated as the Boston & Maine, which through numerous consolidations amassed a 2000-mile network blanketing Massachusetts and reaching not only Portland, Maine, but northern New Hampshire and Vermont and eastern New York State. After a dozen deficit-ridden years, B&M went bankrupt in March 1970. Rather than go into Conrail, B&M stayed independent and revived, and was bought by Guilford in 1983.
Maine Central Railroad
Maine Central was incorporated in 1862 to consolidate the Androscoggin & Kennebec and Penobscot & Kennebec, whose earliest predecessor dated to 1846. In 1870 MEC converted from 5-foot, 6-inch gauge to standard gauge and soon came under control of the Eastern Railroad, a control that passed to Boston & Maine in 1884. B&M control ended in 1914, but the two kept a corporate affiliation that lasted until December 29, 1955. After control by firms outside railroading, MEC was sold to Guilford Transportation Industries in June 1981.
Maine Central was incorporated in 1862 to consolidate the Androscoggin & Kennebec and Penobscot & Kennebec, whose earliest predecessor dated to 1846. In 1870 MEC converted from 5-foot, 6-inch gauge to standard gauge and soon came under control of the Eastern Railroad, a control that passed to Boston & Maine in 1884. B&M control ended in 1914, but the two kept a corporate affiliation that lasted until December 29, 1955. After control by firms outside railroading, MEC was sold to Guilford Transportation Industries in June 1981.
