Blasting Thru Derby
For the first time in seemingly weeks Friday was predicted to be perfect bluebird weather. Coupled with the news just released the day prior that the Pan Am Railways acquisition by CSXT had been approved I figured I should skip my beloved ex Boston and Albany for once and go to the old Boston and Maine before the changes come. While it won't happen overnight, it will be quicker than we expect before blue dip or ugly patched GEs are rare and intermodal trains on District 3 are but a memory.
With that in mind a look at the turnover revealed that a 22K was tied down at Fitchburg scheduled for an early recrew to bring into Ayer and that an EDPO was out of East Deerfield headed east and counterpart POED was moving with work at Graniteville before going west. Throw in regular AYPO building in Ayer and it was an unusual busy morning to the point that you actually had to make a choice what you wanted to focus on!
After getting some nice morning shots of tied down 22K and a few MBTA trains a friend in Ayer said POED was going west first before the two eastbound freights and he recommended this spot that I'd never shot at before. Here is a big POED manifest hustling west on Main 1 through the interlocking at CPF Derby (MP 42.8/322.8) behind three C40-8s. The spring buds are just beginning to offer some color to the scene as a harbinger for tbr vast changes this railroad will see in the ensuing months.
Leominster, Massachusetts
Friday April 15, 2022
Blasting Thru Derby
For the first time in seemingly weeks Friday was predicted to be perfect bluebird weather. Coupled with the news just released the day prior that the Pan Am Railways acquisition by CSXT had been approved I figured I should skip my beloved ex Boston and Albany for once and go to the old Boston and Maine before the changes come. While it won't happen overnight, it will be quicker than we expect before blue dip or ugly patched GEs are rare and intermodal trains on District 3 are but a memory.
With that in mind a look at the turnover revealed that a 22K was tied down at Fitchburg scheduled for an early recrew to bring into Ayer and that an EDPO was out of East Deerfield headed east and counterpart POED was moving with work at Graniteville before going west. Throw in regular AYPO building in Ayer and it was an unusual busy morning to the point that you actually had to make a choice what you wanted to focus on!
After getting some nice morning shots of tied down 22K and a few MBTA trains a friend in Ayer said POED was going west first before the two eastbound freights and he recommended this spot that I'd never shot at before. Here is a big POED manifest hustling west on Main 1 through the interlocking at CPF Derby (MP 42.8/322.8) behind three C40-8s. The spring buds are just beginning to offer some color to the scene as a harbinger for tbr vast changes this railroad will see in the ensuing months.
Leominster, Massachusetts
Friday April 15, 2022