Exploring the outside World

Last week Bruce and I headed for Northern Maine to visit the area serviced by MMA, the railroad which Bruce is planning to model for his home layout. The reason for the trip was to do research on the industries that are or were served by MMA (or BAR in the past). The plan was to find the industries on his list, and photograph the buildings and trackwork and record the cars which serviced the industry. We started on the Presque Isle Sub which includes Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Fairfield and Easton. There are a large range of industries on this sub, which include propane and oil dealers, grain silos, printing operation, engineered wood producer, veneer plant, frozen food operation and a potato flake plant. There are a few old warehouses and team tracks along the line, which it is hard to tell if they are still used or only used once and awhile.
The next day we visited the paper mills and yard in Millinocket. Since most of the trackage for the paper mill was inside the complex, it was hard to get pictures of what was going on. After leaving th mills, we followed the line north to Oakfield Yard. There were signs of old industries that were served in their day, but must were out of business now. Most looked like they were in the Forestry Industry.
After lunch we headed South to look at the industries below Millinocket. We ended the day in the port area of Searsport. This is the end of the line for MMA. We were not allowed in the Park because of "Home Land Security".
On our last day we spend in the Bangor area, visiting the main yard of MMA and the Industries in the area.
It was a very interest trip for me. While I am not modeling the MMA, the WRS is based in an area which is close in nature to the same area serviced by the MMA. Found a few different industries then you normal see on model railroads, which may make their way onto the WRS. Also was able to see the different arrangement of yards on the railroad.
Taking over one hundred pictures, many from a moving car, helped me to improve my drive by shooting skills.
Now it is back to planning the next phase of the WRS.