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

Berkshire & Eastern Begins Operations over Pan Am Southern 9/1/23

September 1st 2023 marked the beginning of The Berkshire & Eastern's running of Pan Am Southern, what was once a partnership between NS and Pan Am Railways.  With the purchase of Pan Am by CSX, a befuddling new agreement has been reached with G&W for running the west half of the old Boston & Maine as B&E...  Try to sort it all out by reading the articles below:

NEW Berkshire & Eastern RR page via Genesee & Wyoming's website:  https://www.panamsouthern.com/

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/its-official-berkshire-eastern-to-take-over-pan-am-southern-operations-on-sept-1/

https://www.railwayage.com/freight/short-lines-regionals/berkshire-eastern-readies-for-pas-operations/

https://railfan.com/berkshire-eastern-to-start-operations-friday/

Video Captures Amtrak Train Hitting SUV in Andover MA

 (SOURCES: https://www.necn.com/on-air/as-seen-on/video-captures-amtrak-train-hit-suv-in-andover/3050097/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bmw-struck-by-amtrak-train-in-andover-woman-injured/ar-AA1gP6KP) 

An SUV was struck by an Amtrak train Saturday in Andover, Massachusetts, injuring one woman -- and it was all caught on camera.

Andover police say they responded to the incident on Pearson Street at Railroad Street around 9:20 a.m. and found a BMW X1 with significant front-end damage.

One woman was taken to Lawrence General Hospital with minor injuries, police said.

Amtrak says no passengers or crew members on the train were injured.

Surveillance video from a business nearby captured the terrifying moments as the Amtrak train slammed into the front-end of the SUV. It appears to show the driver going over the tracks as the crossing arms start coming down. The driver then backs up and continues to back up further when the train then collides with the SUV.

According to police, the driver was stopped on the tracks waiting to enter the intersection when she saw the crossing lights turn on and the gates come down. Police say she panicked and tried to back up before the front of her car was struck by the oncoming train, causing her to spin around.

Neighbors who spoke to NBC10 Boston on Saturday night said while they didn't see the moment of impact, they did see the aftermath and were glad to hear that the driver wasn't seriously hurt.

"I heard the train honking. It does that sometimes but lately it seemed like it's been more frequently and then I saw some police cars go by, so that's when I looked out the window and saw that the car had hit where the signal goes down," one woman said. "The entire engine was exposed, everything, it was just kind of compressed... It looked pretty bad."

Back in July, investigators say an 85-year-old man was killed by an Amtrak train near the Andover station. Prosecutors say the pedestrian was waiting for a southbound train to pass before being hit by a train going north -- right after the southbound train cleared the intersection.

Authorities say Amtrak police are investigating what happened Saturday in this latest incident.

Amtrak Begins Procurement for Construction of New Connecticut River Bridge

 (SOURCE:  https://media.amtrak.com/2022/10/amtrak-begins-procurement-for-construction-of-new-connecticut-river-bridge/

https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Amtrak-Begins-Procurement-for-Construction-of-New-Connecticut-River-Bridge.pdf)

Infrastructure improvements will enhance travel on the Northeast Corridor

WASHINGTON – Amtrak announced today it will be entering into the procurement phase in early 2023 to select a contractor for the construction of a new Connecticut River Bridge, which will be delivered via design-bid-build delivery method. The bridge replacement will allow for better reliability and decreased delays for travelers due to trains traveling on more modern infrastructure. As part of a more than $500 million investment from Amtrak, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Amtrak intends to award the contract in late 2023. Construction is expected to start in early 2024.

“Building a new Connecticut River Bridge is one of several projects Amtrak is advancing that signifies we’re in a new era for rail,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason. “We thank our partners for their support, and we look forward to awarding the contract so we can get shovels in the ground for a project that will improve reliability of the NEC and train travel in Connecticut and beyond.”

“Necessary improvements to Connecticut’s rail infrastructure are on the way,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) “The Connecticut River Bridge is an essential part of the Northeast Corridor’s busy rail line, and in dire need of repairs. I have proudly fought for federal support of Connecticut’s rail to make these types of upgrades possible and to improve rail service for the traveling public.”

“Connecticut’s proximity to New York and Boston is one of our state’s economic strengths, but these benefits are in jeopardy after years of underinvestment in our transportation system. Finally, this is changing. A new Connecticut River Bridge will fix what’s been a major chokepoint on the Northeast Corridor, improving services and reliability while cutting down on commute times,” said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT).

Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti said, “Thanks to the Federal Railroad Administration’s and the Connecticut Federal delegation’s continued support of Connecticut’s rail infrastructure and our ongoing partnership with Amtrak, much-needed improvements to the Connecticut River Bridge are on the horizon. This area is a critical piece of infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor, and through this project, services will improve, and speeds will increase. We look forward to working with Amtrak and all our partners on this important project.”

The Connecticut River Bridge, first built in 1907, is located on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between the towns of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme and is used by Amtrak, CTRail’s Shore Line East, and freight trains. The project will involve building a two-track, electrified, and resilient movable bridge structure equipped with new track, signal, catenary, power, communication, controls, and security features. The new bridge structure is expected to have a useful life of 150 years. As part of the project, the selected contractor will also perform any environmental mitigation required by the permitting/NEPA process.

Interested contractors should monitor Amtrak’s Procurement Portal located here for further solicitation information, submittal requirements, and an upcoming online presentation of the project and the procurement process which will be published in the coming months. Attendance at the online presentation is not a prerequisite to submitting a proposal, but is highly encouraged. The online presentation will include a non-binding question and answer session.

This is one of several major infrastructure projects that Amtrak’s newest department, Capital Delivery, is advancing. Earlier this year, the procurement launch was announced for the replacement of the B&P Tunnel in Maryland and Amtrak will be announcing similar procurement opportunities in the coming months.

VIDEO: MBTA Tie Job at Waverley/Belmont MA 9/28/22