Royal Junction, at 197 Greely Rd, Cumberland Center, ME 04021 43°47'54.8"N 70°13'24.5"W, CPF 185, mp 184.8 is where the Maine Central main lines split. The Lower road went right and through Brunswick and Augusta to go to Waterville, but most trains to Waterville went left onto the Back Road through Auburn and Lewiston because it had lighter grades. Trains from Waterville came down the Lower Road to help even out the load.
MEC 343 & B&M 342 haul POWA through Royal Junction on April 8th of 2005. Video by John Erickson.
MEC 310, 505, & 507 haul PORI past Royal Jct. on August 27th 2005. Video by John Erickson.
AMTK 90220 & 124 take 688 through Royal Junction on March 18th of 2022. Video by John Erickson.
When Guilford decided that one line would have to be abandoned the Lower Road was the obvious choice. Still having shippers in Augusta and Brunswick they only abandoned the section from Augusta to Brunswick, then downgraded the speeds to 10 mph. Since then Amtrak has started running to Brunswick and this allowed the speeds to be brought up to 40 mph.