Rusted Reminders Of Busier Days
With the disappointing news recently that Rousselot will be closing their Peabody plant by the end of 2023 I decided I better make the effort to photograph CSXT's ex Pan Am local BO-1 (technically I guess L055 now) making the trip up the Eastern Route to Salem and the freight only Danvers and South Reading Industrial Tracks to access the plant.
The closure of this plant will bring to the end all freight operations north of Everett Junction on the Eastern Route unless any new customers materialize along the commuter zone. With rail operations to end around June, well before the plant finally shuts down, now is the time to get out.
Having made the 17 mile run up from BET in Somerville the crew has shoved down to the runaround at the remains of North Street Yard and is now running around their train to head out to the the plant about 2 1/4 rail miles away.
I framed this up to include collapsed signal mast at left and the rusted door to the cabinet at the base of the former semaphore. Still emblazoned with the US&S logo it serves as a reminder to the days when this was an important branch that also served as an alternate through route via Danvers Junction and even had daily passenger service with Budd cars as late as 1958. Alas there has long been little need for signals an these days this wobbling twice a week local freight is all that remains, with even it too about to come to its conclusion finally ending all rail service along these rails.
Holding down the job is CSXT's ex Pan Am GMDD GP40-2W MEC 507 (blt. Jul 1974 as CN 9472) which was given this mysterious retro fresh Guilford gray paint job at Waterville in August 2020 and has been frequently assigned to BO-1 since then.
If you've not seen it, here is one of several news articles on the closing of the plant which has been in operation in some form for over 200 years! www.salemnews.com/news/peabody-rousselot-plant-to-close-a...
Salem, Massachusetts
Thursday March 9, 2023
Rusted Reminders Of Busier Days
With the disappointing news recently that Rousselot will be closing their Peabody plant by the end of 2023 I decided I better make the effort to photograph CSXT's ex Pan Am local BO-1 (technically I guess L055 now) making the trip up the Eastern Route to Salem and the freight only Danvers and South Reading Industrial Tracks to access the plant.
The closure of this plant will bring to the end all freight operations north of Everett Junction on the Eastern Route unless any new customers materialize along the commuter zone. With rail operations to end around June, well before the plant finally shuts down, now is the time to get out.
Having made the 17 mile run up from BET in Somerville the crew has shoved down to the runaround at the remains of North Street Yard and is now running around their train to head out to the the plant about 2 1/4 rail miles away.
I framed this up to include collapsed signal mast at left and the rusted door to the cabinet at the base of the former semaphore. Still emblazoned with the US&S logo it serves as a reminder to the days when this was an important branch that also served as an alternate through route via Danvers Junction and even had daily passenger service with Budd cars as late as 1958. Alas there has long been little need for signals an these days this wobbling twice a week local freight is all that remains, with even it too about to come to its conclusion finally ending all rail service along these rails.
Holding down the job is CSXT's ex Pan Am GMDD GP40-2W MEC 507 (blt. Jul 1974 as CN 9472) which was given this mysterious retro fresh Guilford gray paint job at Waterville in August 2020 and has been frequently assigned to BO-1 since then.
If you've not seen it, here is one of several news articles on the closing of the plant which has been in operation in some form for over 200 years! www.salemnews.com/news/peabody-rousselot-plant-to-close-a...
Salem, Massachusetts
Thursday March 9, 2023