10-03-2012, 09:30 AM
It might be worth pointing out, then, that Guilford is an example of modern rail economics, trying to maximize line haul without the expenses of switching and intermediate yards. The typical railfan experience with Guilford is watching a through train go by anywhere between eastern Maine and western Massachusetts, or watching switching at East Deerfield, which is a large yard. If you wanted to stay with Guilford, you'd want to focus either on the remaining branch lines in Maine, the stub line to Manchester, NH, or what's left of the Connecticut River line. Other options if you wanted to stay with a New England prototype might be the Providence and Worcester or the New England Central, which have slower-paced operations with a little more local activity, or refocus your interest on earlier time periods, where there were many more branch lines and small yards.