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Maine Short Line Railroads: A Complete Guide

Published: March 31, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Central Maine & Quebec Railway (reporting mark, CMQ), Defunct:  Formerly known as the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic which took over the bankrupt and historic Bangor & Aroostook lines in 2003, beginning operations in the spring of 2014. 

This road was owned by Fortress Investment. Much of its trackage was located in Maine and southern Quebec with service extending into Newport and Richford, Vermont. The CM&Q operated over 500 miles.  It was added to Canadian Pacific's network on June 4, 2020.

Eastern Maine Railway (reporting mark, EMRY): The Eastern Maine Railway is owned by the New Brunswick Southern Railway and together serve a nearly 200-mile railroad between Saint John, New Brunswick and Brownville Junction, Maine in conjunction with allying road, the New Brunswick Southern Railway (reporting mark, NBSR).  The property is primarily former Maine Central and Canadian Pacific trackage.

New Hampshire Northcoast Corporation (reporting mark, NHN): This privately-owned short line has been in operation since 1986, operating the Boston & Maine's former Conway Branch between Ossipee and Rollinsford, New Hampshire right on the Maine border.  Its traffic consists primarily of aggregates.

Pan Am Railways (reporting mark, PAR), Defunct:  See Connecticut.

St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (reporting mark, SLR):  This short line is another G&W property, operating a large corridor 157 miles in length between Portland and Norton, Vermont at the Canadian border. 

The road handles a wide range of freight including aggregates, brick/cement, chemicals, food/feed products, forest products, intermodal, steel, and scrap.

Turners Island, LLC (reporting mark, TI): This small terminal railroad serves the 14 acre marine-rail cargo terminal located in South Portland, Maine.