 |
| Photo by John Bazen 12/20/15 |
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Berkshire Scenic Railway Holds Holiday Rides / iBerkshires.com
Berkshire Scenic Railway Holds Holiday Rides / iBerkshires.com - The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Investigation Into Tampering Underway After Red Line MBTA Train Departs Without Operator
(SOURCE: NECN.COM)
Authorities are investigating whether someone tampered
with safety equipment on a Red Line train in Massachusetts, causing the Boston-bound
train to depart Thursday morning without an operator and with passengers on board.
Gov. Charlie Baker said in a press conference Thursday
some of the train's safety controls appear to have been manipulated.
"It's pretty clear the main control that drives the
train was tampered with," Baker said. "I think the big issue on
this is whether it was a negligence issue or something else."
The MBTA released a statement saying the incident
happened shortly after 6 a.m., when the train departed Braintree Station. The
train made no stops and continued past North Quincy Station, when workers were
able to cut power to the third rail, bringing the train to a stop.
Baker said in the press conference the third rail was cut
off a couple minutes after the train left, but the momentum of the train caused
it to coast through several stations before it ground to a halt.
The stations highlighted in yellow were affected during
the Red Line incident Thursday morning.
Passengers were asked to get off the train, which was
then taken out of service and examined. Massachusetts Department of
Transportation officials said the train operator suffered non-life threatening
injuries. It's unclear how the person was hurt, but Baker said the operator got
out of the train to check on the signal.
"Passenger safety is the highest priority for the
MBTA and this highly troubling incident is under investigation by Transit
Police detectives," MBTA General Manager Frank DePaola said in a statement
Thursday.
Meanwhile, FBI officials in Boston said they're aware of the incident and
are letting MBTA Transit Police investigate "at this moment." Baker
said MassDOT and public saftety officials are also investigating.
In a statement, Baker said he's "grateful no
passengers were injured in this troubling incident and will be monitoring the
investigation closely."
He said the incident appears to be isolated.
According to the MBTA, the Red Line accommodates more
than 250,000 riders every day during the week.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
RI First Responders Train for Rail Derailments
(SOURCE: TurnTo10 -
CENTRAL FALLS, NBC 10 NEWS — Rhode Island emergency responders had a refresher on managing a train derailment Wednesday, but without heading to the scene.
They used a tabletop exercise to help them prepare for every possible contingency.
Two rail disasters this year were in their minds.
An Amtrak Northeast Regional train derailed in May, killing eight people and severely injuring 200 on board.
A freight train derailed and caught fire in Tennessee in July. It was carrying highly flammable and toxic gas. More than 5,000 residents were evacuated. Shelters were put in place. Officers were hospitalized for breathing in fumes.
"We always want to take the lessons learned from real world events as well as exercises and incorporate that into our planning," said Matt McCann of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Ethanol and heating fuel oil is unloaded at the Port of Providence, and the Providence and Worcester Railroad runs through Rhode Island, transporting all types of hazardous materials.
The railroad line passes the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, where federal officials and emergency responders met Wednesday to make sure their plan works.
"On the rails across the country, we haul freight, we haul people, we haul hazardous materials, chemicals. So this scenario is a rail car that has a leak," said Peter Gaynor, director of the Rhode Island EMA.
"It requires collaboration from the whole community to respond and recover from these events," McCann said.
"These incidents have no boundaries. It may happen in Cumberland, but it's going to affect Central Falls, Pawtucket, maybe even into Massachusetts," Gaynor said.
Planners say it's not if but when something will happen, and emergency responders are making sure when they get that 911 call they are ready.
They used a tabletop exercise to help them prepare for every possible contingency.
Two rail disasters this year were in their minds.
An Amtrak Northeast Regional train derailed in May, killing eight people and severely injuring 200 on board.
A freight train derailed and caught fire in Tennessee in July. It was carrying highly flammable and toxic gas. More than 5,000 residents were evacuated. Shelters were put in place. Officers were hospitalized for breathing in fumes.
"We always want to take the lessons learned from real world events as well as exercises and incorporate that into our planning," said Matt McCann of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Ethanol and heating fuel oil is unloaded at the Port of Providence, and the Providence and Worcester Railroad runs through Rhode Island, transporting all types of hazardous materials.
The railroad line passes the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, where federal officials and emergency responders met Wednesday to make sure their plan works.
"On the rails across the country, we haul freight, we haul people, we haul hazardous materials, chemicals. So this scenario is a rail car that has a leak," said Peter Gaynor, director of the Rhode Island EMA.
"It requires collaboration from the whole community to respond and recover from these events," McCann said.
"These incidents have no boundaries. It may happen in Cumberland, but it's going to affect Central Falls, Pawtucket, maybe even into Massachusetts," Gaynor said.
Planners say it's not if but when something will happen, and emergency responders are making sure when they get that 911 call they are ready.
One of Norfolk Southern's New SD9043MACs Appears on Pan Am
 |
| NS ex-UP SD9043MAC #7317 on loaded Bow NH coal train, Westford MA (11/20/15) |
Berkshire Scenic Railways Clears Key Hurdle, Christmas Rides Uncertain
(SOURCE: Berkshire Eagle - Adam Shanks)
NORTH ADAMS — A federal green light has raised hopes that the Berkshire Scenic Railway's Hoosac Valley Service could be up and running before Christmas.
A decision issued by the Surface Transportation Board last week should allow the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire the 4.6 miles of railroad between Adams and downtown North Adams from privately owned rail company PanAm Southern.
Scenic Railway operators and state and local officials are working feverishly to close the deal before the holidays, a prime time for theme rides that could attract customers.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Hoosac Valley Service stated that, despite the federal ruling, PanAm and MassDOT still must close on the sale.
"We remain hopeful this can be accomplished before the weekend of Dec. 19, but at this time we are not able to offer Christmas trains," the post stated. "If that should change, we will immediately announce a schedule."
The state is purchasing the stretch of railroad, which had exclusively been used for freight, to allow the Stockbridge-based Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum to run its Hoosac Valley Service scenic train rides between Adams and North Adams.
Unveiled in 2013, the Hoosac Valley Service is expected to draw thousands of train enthusiasts, tourists, and locals to take a slow ride between neighboring towns in the Berkshire Scenic Railway's restored rail cars.
The proposed agreement between PanAm and MassDOT provides the private company with an easement for continued use of the rails, and the planned weekend Scenic Railway rides would not conflict with ongoing freight transportation.
MassDOT first applied for approval of the transaction with PanAm on Aug. 14, according to the decision by the Surface Transportation Board, which oversees railroad sales in the United States. However, MassDOT later filed a motion to dismiss that application, claiming that the board's approval was not actually necessary because MassDOT "would acquire neither the right nor the ability to provide railroad common carrier service over the railroad assets, and it would be contractually precluded from interfering with [PanAm's] operations."
In its decision, the Surface Transportation Board agreed with MassDOT, stating that the transaction did not require its approval.
Initially, the train will operate between American Legion Drive in North Adams and Renfrew Street in Adams. The state also has plans to extend the rail further, less than one mile, from Renfrew Street to a newly constructed Adams Station on Hoosac Street in Adams.
The state-backed project got off to a well-received, but temporary, start over Columbus Day weekend thanks to a one-time agreement for use of the railway. Since then, the railway has been waiting for a permanent agreement to begin rides again.
NORTH ADAMS — A federal green light has raised hopes that the Berkshire Scenic Railway's Hoosac Valley Service could be up and running before Christmas.
A decision issued by the Surface Transportation Board last week should allow the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to acquire the 4.6 miles of railroad between Adams and downtown North Adams from privately owned rail company PanAm Southern.
Scenic Railway operators and state and local officials are working feverishly to close the deal before the holidays, a prime time for theme rides that could attract customers.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Hoosac Valley Service stated that, despite the federal ruling, PanAm and MassDOT still must close on the sale.
"We remain hopeful this can be accomplished before the weekend of Dec. 19, but at this time we are not able to offer Christmas trains," the post stated. "If that should change, we will immediately announce a schedule."
The state is purchasing the stretch of railroad, which had exclusively been used for freight, to allow the Stockbridge-based Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum to run its Hoosac Valley Service scenic train rides between Adams and North Adams.
Unveiled in 2013, the Hoosac Valley Service is expected to draw thousands of train enthusiasts, tourists, and locals to take a slow ride between neighboring towns in the Berkshire Scenic Railway's restored rail cars.
The proposed agreement between PanAm and MassDOT provides the private company with an easement for continued use of the rails, and the planned weekend Scenic Railway rides would not conflict with ongoing freight transportation.
MassDOT first applied for approval of the transaction with PanAm on Aug. 14, according to the decision by the Surface Transportation Board, which oversees railroad sales in the United States. However, MassDOT later filed a motion to dismiss that application, claiming that the board's approval was not actually necessary because MassDOT "would acquire neither the right nor the ability to provide railroad common carrier service over the railroad assets, and it would be contractually precluded from interfering with [PanAm's] operations."
In its decision, the Surface Transportation Board agreed with MassDOT, stating that the transaction did not require its approval.
Initially, the train will operate between American Legion Drive in North Adams and Renfrew Street in Adams. The state also has plans to extend the rail further, less than one mile, from Renfrew Street to a newly constructed Adams Station on Hoosac Street in Adams.
The state-backed project got off to a well-received, but temporary, start over Columbus Day weekend thanks to a one-time agreement for use of the railway. Since then, the railway has been waiting for a permanent agreement to begin rides again.
Recent New England Model Railroad Announcements
Been a while, here's a little update for those who follow them!
N SCALE
HO SCALE
O SCALE
Atlas:
40' Sliding Door Box Car – Rutland
(3rd Quarter 2016)
Monday, December 7, 2015
Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington #9 Hits the Rails!
The following information and photo is from the WW&F Facebook page:
"Engine 9 runs around coach 3 at Alna Center. This is the first time the locomotive has pulled coach 3. This trip is a result of years of work. A steam test was done Friday and adjustments were made a good part of Saturday. #9 moved under her own steam power at 2:45 on Saturday afternoon and ran well so a short test train was run."
"Engine 9 runs around coach 3 at Alna Center. This is the first time the locomotive has pulled coach 3. This trip is a result of years of work. A steam test was done Friday and adjustments were made a good part of Saturday. #9 moved under her own steam power at 2:45 on Saturday afternoon and ran well so a short test train was run."
 |
| December 4, 2015 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)