Bangor & Aroostook (Ah-ROOS-took): "Maine's Potato Road." From 1870 to 1890, potato production in Aroostook County increased 60-fold despite high freight charges.
Organized under the General Laws of Maine on February 13, 1891
Freight business thrived into the late 1950's when the railroad, helped by toy-train maker Lionel's version - became famous for its red-white-and-blue refrigerated boxcars for potatoes that proudly proclaimed, "State of Maine Products."
Bangor & Aroostook's passenger service was a modest affair, although the railroad took good care of its passengers. The B&A continued to make money through the depression and into the 1950's. Bus operations in the northeast was the beginning of the end for passenger service.
Bowing to railroad trends, the railroad began to shrink it physical plant in 1962. As a result, the next few years saw the end of potato traffic.
The blue and off-white gave way to solid blue as a main engine color.
The last new B&A rails were laid on the international link from Van Buren across the St. John River to Leonard, N.B. in 1915
In 2001, the B&A went into bankruptcy. The railroad was sold to Rail World for $55M in 2003. After 111 years, the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad ceased to exist.
Bangor & Aroostook (Ah-ROOS-took): "Maine's Potato Road." From 1870 to 1890, potato production in Aroostook County increased 60-fold despite high freight charges.
