The Last Visit?
This isn't the first time this beauty has been here, but to the best of my knowledge this is the first time it has been here alone sans its sister unit and train. And it is certainly likely that this is the last time PAR1 will ever be here. With Pan Am expected to disappear in the coming months assuming it is purchased as expected by CSXT the fate of the pair of FP9s and four car OCS is a point of much speculation. However, even in the absence of that pending change these units can not lead trains on MBTA territory any longer since PTC became active on the north side lines and Pan Am chose not to install ACSES in these units. Consequently, since the end of 2020 they have been restricted to leading only in New Hampshire and Maine, and anytime the OCS ventured west since the start of 2021 it has been led by properly equipped freight power. Given all that this may very well be the last time a Pan Am F unit graces the iron of Boston Engine Terminal, the strange modern incarnation of what was once the beating heart of PAR's predecessor the once mighty Boston and Maine.
Anyway, PAR1 was shipped down cold and dead from Waterville to Lawrence, and the Keolis/MBTA north side work train picked it up on Tuesday and brought it here to BET. It was parked overnight about 100 ft from my office in a very rare instance of something interesting happening on my otherwise decidedly unexciting railroad! On Wednesday morning the work train crew used F40PH-2C 1055 and wyed PAR1 so she'd be facing west for a trip out the old Boston and Albany to Worcester. She will be on display at the MBTA Worcester layover yard with some MBTA and Providence and Worcester equipment for a few hours on Thursday as part of the events associated with the New England Railroad Club's annual Railtech Conference: www.nerailroadclub.com/about-us/
So here is a shot of the crew coming in to the shop spur with 1055 to couple up to PAR1 so they can take her for a spin around the teminal.
PAR1 is a GMDD FP9A blt. Sep. 1954 as CN 6505 and passed from CN to VIA Rail in 1978 before being picked up by the Conway Scenic in 1995 along with sister unit 6515 when they expanded into Crawford Notch. After 15 years spent hauling tourists in the White Mountains the pair would become PAR 1 and 2 when traded to Pan Am Railways in March 2010 for GP38 252 and GP35 216.
Amazingly 1055 (EMD blt. Aug. 1987) could also now be considered noteworthy as one of only eight F40PH-2Cs remaining on the property, and one of only six in service. This particular unit is relegated to non revenue service only account its HEP doesn't work and eventually it too will head to Erie to be rebuilt into an F40PH-3C by Wabtec like its 36 siblings.
Somerville, Massachusetts
Wednesday March 30, 2022
The Last Visit?
This isn't the first time this beauty has been here, but to the best of my knowledge this is the first time it has been here alone sans its sister unit and train. And it is certainly likely that this is the last time PAR1 will ever be here. With Pan Am expected to disappear in the coming months assuming it is purchased as expected by CSXT the fate of the pair of FP9s and four car OCS is a point of much speculation. However, even in the absence of that pending change these units can not lead trains on MBTA territory any longer since PTC became active on the north side lines and Pan Am chose not to install ACSES in these units. Consequently, since the end of 2020 they have been restricted to leading only in New Hampshire and Maine, and anytime the OCS ventured west since the start of 2021 it has been led by properly equipped freight power. Given all that this may very well be the last time a Pan Am F unit graces the iron of Boston Engine Terminal, the strange modern incarnation of what was once the beating heart of PAR's predecessor the once mighty Boston and Maine.
Anyway, PAR1 was shipped down cold and dead from Waterville to Lawrence, and the Keolis/MBTA north side work train picked it up on Tuesday and brought it here to BET. It was parked overnight about 100 ft from my office in a very rare instance of something interesting happening on my otherwise decidedly unexciting railroad! On Wednesday morning the work train crew used F40PH-2C 1055 and wyed PAR1 so she'd be facing west for a trip out the old Boston and Albany to Worcester. She will be on display at the MBTA Worcester layover yard with some MBTA and Providence and Worcester equipment for a few hours on Thursday as part of the events associated with the New England Railroad Club's annual Railtech Conference: www.nerailroadclub.com/about-us/
So here is a shot of the crew coming in to the shop spur with 1055 to couple up to PAR1 so they can take her for a spin around the teminal.
PAR1 is a GMDD FP9A blt. Sep. 1954 as CN 6505 and passed from CN to VIA Rail in 1978 before being picked up by the Conway Scenic in 1995 along with sister unit 6515 when they expanded into Crawford Notch. After 15 years spent hauling tourists in the White Mountains the pair would become PAR 1 and 2 when traded to Pan Am Railways in March 2010 for GP38 252 and GP35 216.
Amazingly 1055 (EMD blt. Aug. 1987) could also now be considered noteworthy as one of only eight F40PH-2Cs remaining on the property, and one of only six in service. This particular unit is relegated to non revenue service only account its HEP doesn't work and eventually it too will head to Erie to be rebuilt into an F40PH-3C by Wabtec like its 36 siblings.
Somerville, Massachusetts
Wednesday March 30, 2022