Geometry Extra
I still can't believe I've shot two different trains here in the span of five days! So here's another frame from a great Sunday that was worth sacrificing some sleep for.
This a rare MBTA/Keolis geometry train crossing Depot Street at MP BK36.3 on what is now known as the Milford Industrial Track. Basically a continuoution of the modern day Franklin Line, this spot is six miles beyond the end of regular commuter train operations at Franklin Forge Park station. As an MBTA owned and maintained route, once a year this train travels to end of track in the remains of Milford Yard just shy of Main Street to take measurements of the track structure per the T contract. The train consisted of MBTA cab car 1533, three blind coaches and AMTK 10002, the Corridor Clipper geometry car made from a modified Amfleet I. Providing the motive power was MassDOT GP40MC 1136 in its one of a kind blue scheme.
Conrail and then CSXT freights came to town three times a week until the last major customer closed in 2018. Since then virtually no trains (excepting these annual test trains and a few rare detours last summer) have traveled beyond the last two customers in Bellingham located not far past Forge Park.
At left is the Barney Fuel company building, and a still extant spur on the back side of the old building led to a coal shed that received an occasional carload from Conrail into the 1980s for local homeowners that still burned coal for home heating.
To learn more about this former New Haven line and three other rail routes that once radiated from this town check out the extensive detailed caption with this image of one of the detour trains that ran last summer:
Having swapped ends at end of track in the small yard just behind them they are on the pull no headed back railroad east to test on the return to Boston.
Milford, Massachusetts
Sunday January 24, 2021
Geometry Extra
I still can't believe I've shot two different trains here in the span of five days! So here's another frame from a great Sunday that was worth sacrificing some sleep for.
This a rare MBTA/Keolis geometry train crossing Depot Street at MP BK36.3 on what is now known as the Milford Industrial Track. Basically a continuoution of the modern day Franklin Line, this spot is six miles beyond the end of regular commuter train operations at Franklin Forge Park station. As an MBTA owned and maintained route, once a year this train travels to end of track in the remains of Milford Yard just shy of Main Street to take measurements of the track structure per the T contract. The train consisted of MBTA cab car 1533, three blind coaches and AMTK 10002, the Corridor Clipper geometry car made from a modified Amfleet I. Providing the motive power was MassDOT GP40MC 1136 in its one of a kind blue scheme.
Conrail and then CSXT freights came to town three times a week until the last major customer closed in 2018. Since then virtually no trains (excepting these annual test trains and a few rare detours last summer) have traveled beyond the last two customers in Bellingham located not far past Forge Park.
At left is the Barney Fuel company building, and a still extant spur on the back side of the old building led to a coal shed that received an occasional carload from Conrail into the 1980s for local homeowners that still burned coal for home heating.
To learn more about this former New Haven line and three other rail routes that once radiated from this town check out the extensive detailed caption with this image of one of the detour trains that ran last summer:
Having swapped ends at end of track in the small yard just behind them they are on the pull no headed back railroad east to test on the return to Boston.
Milford, Massachusetts
Sunday January 24, 2021