Railfan Trip to New England - 4

Hi, Thursday, May 3 Jim Kleeman and I photographed the Massachusetts Central.

This was my first visit to this railroad so I was especially pleased to have this opportunity. Fortunately, Jim had been here before and so knew the good photo spots.

After learning the train had left town and would be switching at their transload facility in Gibbs Crossing, MA we headed there. Eventually the train pulled up to the crossing where we waited (above and below). On of the crew got off the engine and came to speak to us. He asked if we were friends of Steve Carlson and told us Steve had called earlier asking that they watch out for a couple of older gentleman who were friends of his. We were able to learn the operation plan for the day from this crewman.

Our next stop was the crossing just beyond the yard.

The crew stopped to switch in Ware, MA. One move was accomplished with an 0-2-2-0 producing two man power.

After crew was done switching they put their train together and left town.

There is a nice open spot in South Barre where Rte 67 crosses the tracks (above and two below).

On arrival in Barre the crew backed a cut of cars down a steep grade

to an industrial park behind these buildings (above and three below).

Then the locomotive went back to the train and brought down a load of pipe.

We stopped for lunch in Gilbertville in what looked like the former station. When we heard the train blow for a crossing north of town we ducked outside for a photo.

Parked on a siding in Ware is former Southern Railway 2100, an NW5. All in all, 13 were built, ten for the Great Northern and two for Union Belt in Detroit. Four remain. We were told Mass Central intends to repair number 2100 and return it to service. However, there is no timetable for doing this.

The last business to be switched was Kanzaki Specialty Papers in Ware.

After spotting its cars the engine returned light.

We noticed this old factory building at Thorndike in the morning as we drove to the transload at Gibbs Crossing. It is the home of O. C. Lighting (above and below).

Our final location was the place in Palmer where the Mass
Central interchanges with CSX (former New York Central/Boston and Albany). The New England Central (former Central Vermont) crosses CSX here and the former station is now a restaurant. While we waited for the Mass central we heard a horn on the New England Central. On going to check it out we found these two GP38s in pre G&W paint.

Finally the Mass Central crew arrived at the interchange, backed its cars east out of site and returned with its pickup (above and below with the pickup).

Thanks for looking.