They acquired a locomotive, but scam outfit Boston Surface RR (of vaporware Providence-Worcester private passenger service fame) also did that (briefly...until it was repossessed for nonpayment of lease). Leasing a unit is not hard. It's everything else in the business plan that's hard, and so far there's nothing to suggest that there's anything substantive in Casco Bay's business plan. Certainly not for the Berlin Sub, which in addition to the trail plans has already had CSX
rip out the Yarmouth Jct. diamond and junction track connection leaving the branch presently inoperable to where any prospective customers might be located. They *might* have a leg to stand on with CSX's plans to start subletting rights to low-rent shortlines on the Waterville-Augusta and Bangor-Bucksport branches to drum up more poor-man's business than the CSX behemoth itself is interested in self-seeking. But those branches would likely be competitive bids vs. the Maine Switching Services outfit that now runs the Rockland Branch, so Casco Bay is no shoo-in for those either unless they can raise some cash and show some meat to their business plans.
I'm not ready to declare them an outright scam like Boston Surface (or that fly-by-night Golden Eagle RR that wanted to operate the Mountain Division several years ago) because the yet-to-come CSX sublet opportunities have real (if small) business potential. But Casco Bay is definitely over-promising something they can't deliver with the Berlin Sub claims, which is not a good omen for their reputation.
