Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/ICC valuations/Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad

Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Reports, Volume 30

Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad

Location and General Description of Property

The railroad of Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad Company, herein called the Belfast and Moosehead Lake, is a single-track, standard-gage, steam railroad, located in the southern part of Maine. The owned mileage extends northwesterly from Belfast, Me., to Burnham Junction, Me., 32.896 miles. The Belfast and Moosehead Lake also owns yard and side tracks totaling 4.712 miles. Its road thus embraces 37.608 miles of all tracks owned. All of its property is leased to and operated by the carrier.

Corporate History

The Belfast and Moosehead Lake was incorporated on February 28, 1867, under the name of Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railway Company, and had no other predecessors. It was incorporated under the private laws of the State of Maine, for the purpose of building a railroad between Belfast and Moosehead Lake, Me., about 100 miles, with the exception of the distance between Newport and Dexter, the charter for which section was held by another company. By act of March 6, 1868, the corporate name was changed to Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad Company, the present company. Since May 10, 1871, the Belfast and Moosehead Lake has been operated under lease by the carrier. Its principal office is at Belfast, Me.

The detailed facts as to the development of the fixed physical property are given in Appendix 2.

Development of Fixed Physical Property

The Belfast and Moosehead Lake began construction of its road in August, 1868, after change of name from Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railway Company, no road being owned by the last-named company. The work was done by Ellis, Willson, Hogan and Company, of the Dominion of Canada, and in November, 1870, a line between Belfast and a connection with the railroad of the carrier at Burnham Junction, Me., a distance of 32.896 miles, was completed and opened for operation. The line was operated by the Belfast and Moosehead Lake until May 10, 1871, after which time it was operated by the carrier.

Leased Railway Property

On April 27, 1871, the property of the Belfast and Moosehead Lake was leased to the carrier for a term of 50 years beginning May 10, 1871, at a fixed rental of $36,000 per annum.