Bangor and Aroostook Railroad
| Company type | Railroad company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad, Bangor and Katahdin Iron Works Railway |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Fate | Acquired by Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway |
| Successor | Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway |
| Headquarters | Bangor , United States |
Area served | Aroostook County, northern Maine, United States |
| Products | Rail freight and passenger services |
| Parent | Iron Road Railways (1995–2002), then Rail World (until 2003) |
The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad was a rail company in the United States that operated primarily within Aroostook County in northern Maine. Its vividly colored boxcars achieved widespread recognition across the nation during the 1950s. The railroad utilized first-generation diesel locomotives, which were eventually retired and preserved as museum exhibits. Faced with economic downturns in the 1980s and the collapse of major industries in northern Maine, BAR sought acquisition and ultimately discontinued operations in 2003, with the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway taking over its routes.
History
Established in 1891 through the consolidation of the Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad and the Bangor and Katahdin Iron Works Railway, the company was based in Bangor, Maine. Its rail lines expanded swiftly: by 1894 reaching Oakfield and Houlton; by 1895 extending to Fort Fairfield and Caribou; Ashland was added in 1896; Limestone followed in 1897; Van Buren was connected by 1899; Fort Kent by 1902; Searsport on Penobscot Bay was linked in 1905; and additional branches were developed to connect important towns throughout the early twentieth century. In 1915, an international bridge linking Van Buren with St. Leonard, New Brunswick, was completed, integrating BAR’s network with Canadian railroads.
Starting in 1895, BAR transported potatoes using heated boxcars—a reliable source of income through the Great Depression that represented half of its revenue after World War II. During the 1950s, BAR operated the nation's second-largest fleet of refrigerated railroad cars, second only to Santa Fe. A cooperative arrangement with Pacific Fruit Express enhanced seasonal produce shipments. Nevertheless, poor interchange service with Penn Central Transportation Company during the winter of 1969–70 resulted in substantial crop damage, prompting many potato farmers to permanently shift away from rail freight.
Beginning around 1900, inbound chemicals and outbound paper products from mills located along the Penobscot River at Millinocket and East Millinocket became significant contributors to BAR’s revenue stream. By 1925, new paper mills opened in Madawaska, shifting freight emphasis toward pulpwood and wood chips as potato shipments declined. During World War II, Searsport’s port facilities served as a vital ammunition loading site, while throughout the Cold War era BAR transported coal and aviation fuel to Loring Air Force Base. The company's iconic red, white, and blue boxcar paint scheme of the 1950s was replaced during the Vietnam War period by a more economical oxide red color adorned with large white reporting marks.
The rail line from Brownville Junction to Katahdin Iron Works was abandoned in 1922, with track removal completed by 1933.
Passenger operations
Up until the 1950s, Bangor and Aroostook ran an afternoon service called the Aroostook Flyer along its mainline from Bangor—where it connected with Boston & Maine's Penobscot train arriving from Boston—traveling through Brownville, Sherman, Oakfield, Presque Isle, Caribou, and terminating at Van Buren opposite St. Leonard, New Brunswick. A morning local train named the Potatoland followed this same route but extended westward from Van Buren to St. Francis.
Train numbers #9 northbound and #12 southbound were scheduled to connect with the Penobscot, running from Bangor to Derby before turning west toward Greenville. At Greenville, passengers could transfer onto Canadian Pacific tracks heading to Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. Greenville also served as a junction for CP’s east-west Atlantic Limited service and other trains linking Montreal with Saint John, New Brunswick. Additionally, BAR operated a branch line running north from Oakfield to Fort Kent on the way to St. Francis.
Postwar Developments
Passenger rail service operated by BAR concluded in 1961. The bus routes, which began in 1936, persisted under the Bangor and Aroostook name as part of Greyhound's network connecting Aroostook County to New York City until 1984. Between 1962 and 1964, the Greenville branch line was dismantled. Throughout the 1970s, several track sections in Aroostook County were abandoned due to a reduction in potato freight demand.
In 1964, BAR combined with Punta Alegre Sugar and Railroad Company, resulting in the creation of Bangor Punta.
Decline and Ownership Changes
Iron Road Railways took over BAR in 1995. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2002, its rail lines were sold in 2003 to Rail World, which integrated them into the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MM&A). In 2010, the state of Maine acquired 133 miles of track extending from Millinocket northward to the Canada–US border for $20 million; operations on this segment were contracted to Maine Northern Railway, a subsidiary of Irving Oil. MM&A continued to operate the line southward to Searsport until its own bankruptcy prompted by the 2013 Lac-Mégantic disaster; this southern section was then sold to Fortress Investment Group and rebranded as the Central Maine and Quebec Railway (CMQ). The CMQ was later purchased by Canadian Pacific in 2019 as part of its strategic expansion into New England and Canada's Maritime Provinces.
Rolling Stock
The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad managed a fleet of approximately 150 steam locomotives, mostly manufactured by Manchester Locomotive Works and its successor company, the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). The most prevalent type was the 4-6-0 model, with close to 60 units in service. Diesel power was introduced during the late 1940s, including versatile models such as the EMD GP7 and EMD GP38. Among these were eight EMD BL2 "branch line" locomotives, which were early predecessors to EMD’s GP series. Numerous first-generation diesel engines remained in operation until they were eventually retired and placed in museums. During the 1950s, BAR’s distinctive red, white, and blue boxcars contributed significantly to its national brand visibility.