Just Visiting
A pair of New Hampshire Northcoast Railroad units look a bit out of place sitting on the east end of the wheel machine track at the Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility more commonly known by its historic name BET (short for Boston Engine Terminal as the former Boston and Maine roundhouse and shop that once stood on this site was called). While you may think it is the the fact that they are freight units in passenger land that makes them look out of place, the real truth is that it is how spotlessly clean they are compared to anything else to be found around here that really makes them stand out!
The GP38-2 due of NHN 3825 (blt. Sept. 1978 as CR 8244) and FURX 5509 (blt. Mar. 1970 as high nosed straight GP38 SOU 2801) had been dropped off a couple nights prior to test their newly installed cab signal system and updated ACSES PTC software. Due to problems on Tuesday they spent the night here for further testing the next morning. I hung around despite the gloomy weather, and drove to Waltham to shoot these rare visitors on the normally passenger only Fitchburg Line. Alas further problems required some software to have to be driven down from Ossipee so the run didn't happen before I had to go home for bed. Alas all I have to show for my time staying over after work is this....oh well, that's how it goes sometimes.
Sitting at right is MBTA F40PH-2C 1071 with a blown turbo. It is slated not to be repaired and will be next in line to head to Wabtec in Erie for rebuild into a 3C.
Somerville, Massachusetts
Wednesday September 22, 2021
Just Visiting
A pair of New Hampshire Northcoast Railroad units look a bit out of place sitting on the east end of the wheel machine track at the Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility more commonly known by its historic name BET (short for Boston Engine Terminal as the former Boston and Maine roundhouse and shop that once stood on this site was called). While you may think it is the the fact that they are freight units in passenger land that makes them look out of place, the real truth is that it is how spotlessly clean they are compared to anything else to be found around here that really makes them stand out!
The GP38-2 due of NHN 3825 (blt. Sept. 1978 as CR 8244) and FURX 5509 (blt. Mar. 1970 as high nosed straight GP38 SOU 2801) had been dropped off a couple nights prior to test their newly installed cab signal system and updated ACSES PTC software. Due to problems on Tuesday they spent the night here for further testing the next morning. I hung around despite the gloomy weather, and drove to Waltham to shoot these rare visitors on the normally passenger only Fitchburg Line. Alas further problems required some software to have to be driven down from Ossipee so the run didn't happen before I had to go home for bed. Alas all I have to show for my time staying over after work is this....oh well, that's how it goes sometimes.
Sitting at right is MBTA F40PH-2C 1071 with a blown turbo. It is slated not to be repaired and will be next in line to head to Wabtec in Erie for rebuild into a 3C.
Somerville, Massachusetts
Wednesday September 22, 2021