New England Depot: May 2011

Saturday, May 28, 2011

NS Geometry Train on the Fitchburg

The Norfolk Southern geometry train was in town this past week, and as a result, numerous slow orders were put in place along the Fitchburg west of Ayer MA. Interesting, given the very recent track-work blitz by Pan Am Southern...

Monday, May 23, 2011

Haverhill City Councilors Fearful Of Railroad Bridge Collapse

A decades old railroad bridge is causing concern in Haverhill.

City Councilor William Ryan said the 92-year-old bridge over the Merrimack River is deteriorating and has been repaired several times recently.

"You can reach your hand in between the stones that are holding it up and the steel up," Ryan said.

Ryan said Haverhill’s mortar, concrete and stone blocks that hold the footings on the bridge have washed away. He’s fearful that the structure will collapse.

The bridge is used by Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority trains 26 times each weekday. The bridge is also used daily by the Amtrak Downeaster and by local freight trains.

When using the bridge, freight trains have been limited to 5 mph and commuter trains may not exceed 15 mph.

READ WHOLE ARTICLE: Haverhill City Councilors Fearful Of Railroad Bridge Collapse - WCVB Boston

Thursday, May 19, 2011

1875 Boston & Albany Railroad Check

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

CAMA Now Officially Owns Hawaii Railway #5

Baldwin Builder's Photo - CAMA Website

The Connecticut Antique Machinery Association has purchased Hawaii Railway #5, an active 3 foot gauge steam locomotive made in 1925 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. The locomotive is located in Kent, CT on their museum grounds. There is other railroad equipment, too, like the 1918 Vulcan 0-4-0 and 1909 H.K. Porter 2-8-0 steam locomotives.

ROSTER SHOT: Pan Am/Guilford/ST GP9 #52

ROSTER SHOT: Pan Am/Guilford/ST GP9 #52 at Ayer MA

Suspicious Package at New London CT Delays Trains

The State Police bomb squad has detonated a suspicious package at a Connecticut bus station that caused delays on a nearby Amtrak line.

The package was discovered late Tuesday morning in New London and forced the closing of streets around the station and evacuation of nearby buildings.

An Amtrak spokesman said trains began moving again at about 1 p.m. after being halted on the Boston-to-New York route. The trains had been stopped as a precaution because the bus station is near the train station.

There were no reported problems with Amtrak trains or tracks.

A State Police spokeswoman said authorities did not immediately have details about the package.

READ: Suspicious package found at New London bus station