1889 Boston & Albany RR Stock Yard Receipt

1889 Boston & Albany RR Stock Yard Receipt

1916 Boston & Albany Railroad Milk Shipment Receipt

Boston & Albany Railroad Milk Shipment Receipt (1916)

CSX Rules Out Sale of Former Boston & Albany Line

SOURCE:  Times Union - Friday, January 26, 2018 

CSX Transportation, responding to a report earlier this week from trade publication trains.com, said Friday afternoon that a list of lines under review for possible sale was "inaccurate." The list included the former Boston & Albany line between Albany and Worcester, Mass., now operated by CSX.

"I can definitively say that this line is not for sale," a CSX spokesman told the Times Union. The trains.com report had led to speculation about potential purchasers and the continued operation of Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited over the line.

CSX has undertaken a review of its network "to be sure our assets are maximized for efficiency and add value to the company's long-term business needs," the spokesman said. But he added that the list published by trains.com "did not originate from anyone authorized to speak on behalf of the company and is not right."

CSX operates a major rail yard and auto distribution terminal in Selkirk. It had planned to close its hump yard there, used to sort individual rail cars into new trains, as it sought to reduce transit times, then Chief Operating Officer Cindy Sanborn told analysts at an investment conference last May.

Sanborn was replaced by James Foote as COO last autumn. Foote became CEO, succeeding E. Hunter Harrison, who was in the midst of rolling out his "precision scheduled railroading" concept at CSX, died in December.

Meanwhile, CSX  reversed course and the Selkirk hump operation remains.

Last autumn, CSX planned to consolidate train dispatching operations in Jacksonville, Fla., where the railroad is headquartered. But that move apparently has been delayed.

Foote plans to continue Harrison's efforts, which include precision railroading where trains operate on set schedules. Foote told regulators at the beginning of January that assets are better utilized, transit times and customer service have improved, and costs have been reduced.

Chester MA: 25th Chester On Track Event Along CSX - May 21, 2016

May 21, 2016

CHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

25th Anniversary Chester On Track

... located on the Boston & Albany (CSX)

Massive parade, Civil War, Blacksmith demos, CCC Camp, and early Irish railroad re-enactors. Train show & craft fair,1840 railroad station museum, in Historically Listed downtown. Garden tractor pulls; call to participate, 'one-lung' steam & gas engine demos, classic cars, duck race, petting zoo, bounce house, a number of 1920's-era freight cars, including wooden caboose, and 'Children's Boxcar' on display. Hike to the first American series of stone arch RR bridges on MA first Wild & Scenic River, tour a working granite quarry and archeological stone works, historic displays, food & more! FREE (donations accepted)

POSTCARD VIEW: Head-on Collision at West Brookfield, MA on the Boston & Albany - 1907

Boston & Albany RR Wreck, Palmer MA 1909

RPPC of a wreck on the Boston & Albany at Palmer MA, on what is now the CSX Boston Line.  The writing states "... the engine & first 3 cars passed over safely, then rail separated and wrecked these cars; 4 Pullman, 1 diner, 1 baggage... only 5 were hurt... "  The postmark is 4/30/09, the card was written on 4/29/09.

2014 Boston & Albany Railroad Calendars

Tucker's Hobbies in Warren MA is offering for sale 2014 Boston & Albany Railroad Calendars, featuring photography by Bob Buck.  Info can be found at their website. 

Recent New England Model Railroad Announcements

N SCALE

Atlas:  Alco RS-1 Locomotive – New Haven (due 2^nd qtr ’14)

Atlas:  53' Evans DPD Box Car – Vermont Rail patch (due 2^nd qtr ’14)

Atlas:  42' Pulpwood Flat Car – Maine Central patch, D&H

Atlas:  1932 ARA Box Car – Maine Central (due 2^nd qtr ’14)

HO SCALE

Atlas:  Alco HH600/HH660 Locomotive – Boston & Albany (due 2^nd qtr ‘14)

Atlas:  50' Double Door Box Car – Maine Central, New Haven (due 2^nd qtr ’14)

Atlas:  53' Evans DPD Box Car – Vermont Rail patch

Atlas:  1932 ARA Box Car – Maine Central (due 2^nd qtr ’14

Boston & Albany Inspection Locomotive 1907

This is a photo taken in 1907 by Stanley Smith of a B&A inspection locomotive.  Details on the back of the photo state that this is engine #31, later #200, named "The Berkshire".  It was a 4-4-0 scrapped in 1928.  The photo was taken at Beacon Park in Allston/Boston MA.  Ironic, as CSX has recently sold and vacated the yard there, ending any real freight presence in Boston.  It seems the city is more interested in adding college facilities than business and jobs...