The Granite Railway, America's First Railroad - Quincy MA

I recently visited the birthplace of railroading in America... the Granite Railway in Quincy MA.  Almost all of the ROW is now gone, lost to the building of neighborhoods and the Southeast Expressway (I93/US1/MA3) in the 1950-1960s.  As a railfan AND casual rockhound, I found the area fascinating, but was also extremely disappointed at the loss of infrastructure artifacts, lack of maintenance, and general feeling of "EH, who cares?" in the area.  There is a museum down the road that is trying to showcase the area's granite quarrying history, but it was closed that day, and from what I saw through the fencing it isn't big on the railway itself.  I hope to visit in the future when they are open.  I also want to take more photos on a cloudy day, as the sun was really wreaking havoc with my camera.

Shown below are the two commemorative tablets attached to the granite obelisks at the foot of the railway incline.  They appear to have replaced original cast-metal ones. 

Amtrak NextGen Acela Debuts on August 28, 2025

(SOURCE: CBS News/Amtrak)

WASHINGTON – All aboard the future of East Coast travel! Starting Thursday, Aug. 28, customers can travel on Amtrak’s NextGen Acela – America’s high-speed train – connecting the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., New York City, and Boston.

This historic launch introduces:

More trains: 28 brand-new trains entering service through 2027
More seats: 27% more seats per departure
More service: Expanded weekday and weekend schedules

“NextGen Acela is more than a new train—it’s an evolution of travel,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “In just a few weeks, history will be made with the debut of NextGen Acela as we launch a new standard for American train travel.”

What to expect

How to book your seat: Amtrak offers a simple and flexible approach to booking, seat selection, itinerary management, and even changes in the event of disruptions through the Amtrak mobile app, Amtrak website, and at station kiosks. As the official launch date approaches, customers should look for more information from Amtrak about how to locate and select the NextGen Acela train options. In the coming months, Amtrak will be operating both the current Acela equipment and the NextGen Acela trains as the new trains transition into the fleet.

Premium onboard features: The new NextGen Acela offers an elevated experience, with features and amenities that today’s savvy travelers expect, plus everything they need to be productive along the way: free, high-speed 5G-enabled Wi-Fi, as well as individual power outlets and reading lights.

More trains on the way: Five sleek new trainsets will be in service initially, with more trains joining the fleet through 2027.

Built in America, for America

The NextGen Acela fleet was assembled at Alstom’s facility in Hornell, NY by skilled Machinists Union workers, using components from over 180 suppliers across 29 states—creating approximately 15,000 U.S. jobs.

Part of a bigger transformation

NextGen Acela is a key component of Amtrak’s broader fleet modernization plan, which includes:

New Amtrak Airo trains debuting on the Amtrak Cascades, Northeast Regional, and East Coast routes.
New, more efficient Long Distance locomotives.  

Upgraded interiors in Coaches, Dining Cars, Sleepers, and Sightseer Lounges—featuring new seat cushions, upholstery, lighting, and finishes

Amtrak plans to introduce all 28 new NextGen Acela trains by 2027 — broadening travel opportunities throughout the Northeast Corridor.


https://media.amtrak.com/2025/08/amtrak-nextgen-acela-debuts-on-august-28/

https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Amtrak-NextGen-Acela.pdf

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/video/amtrak-launching-nextgen-acela-trains

New Rail Company Restarts Operations on Rockland Line

 (SOURCE:  Maine Public - Nicole Ogrysko) 

Freight operations are resuming on the Rockland Branch railroad. The Unity-based company Maine Switching Services finalized a lease agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation earlier this week to begin using the nearly 57-mile long freight line.

"We are reactivating signaling systems at railroad crossings to allow for freight rail to resume," said Finn Kelly, government relations manager and spokesperson for Maine Switching Services. "We do have customers who are actively wanting to move their products now."

Customers include Dragon Cement Products in Thomaston, which will use the freight line again to move products, Finn said.

The Rockland line's previous operator, Midcoast Railservice, stopped operations in August after Dragon Cement stopped production. A subsidiary of the German company Heidelberg Materials is closing on its acquisition of Dragon Cement.

Maine Switching Services is not yet proposing to add passenger rail service on the Rockland branch, though Kelly said it remains a goal for the company. It's also exploring the possibility of offering scenic train excursions.

Midcoast Railservice had been working with Amtrack, Maine DOT and the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Downeaster, to add passenger service between Rockland and Brunswick. But those plans died out when Midcoast ceased operations last summer.

Maine Switching Services has, however, submitted a proposal with Maine DOT to restore rail service on the 33-mile stretch from Brunswick to Augusta, known as the Lower Road corridor. The company said the corridor is viable for passenger rail.

But the proposal is at odds with recommendations from the Lower Road Rail Use Advisory Council,
a group of nearby residents, town officials and some state lawmakers. The council wants DOT to remove the railroad track and construct a recreational trail from Brunswick to Gardiner.

Kelly said Maine Switching Services is talking with trail advocates and believes both groups could achieve their respective goals.

"They want to see economic development. They want to see environmentally friendly and accessible transportation, and those are the same things that we want," Kelly said.

The Legislature is considering a bill that would authorize DOT to remove the tracks for trail construction