Train Time At AS
Exactly five minutes after shooting Amtrak train 682 and three minutes after shooting the head end of L080, the Keolis work train crew headed east through thru the curve at CPF AS at MP BW25.8 (measured from North Station in Boston) on Main 2 of the Keolis/MBTA Western Route mainline in this view looking down off the old Salem Street bridge from the opposite side.
The north side work train crew will take the train a mile east up to CPF FR then reverse direction back down Track 17 following L080 into the yard to set out the CSXT geometry train before cutting off light with their locomotive and scooting back to BET.
The three car train consists of CSXT 994366 (Geometry/theater car TGC3), 994365 (support car Hocking Valley), and 994369 (crew car Grand Rapids) with its assigned one of a kind unit, CSXT 9969, an ex MARC GP40WH-2. Double headed on the east end is MBTA GP40MC1129 in the 'cranberry' heritage scheme and on the west end is MBTA F40PH-3C 1033. The train had to be capped with MBTA locomotives due to the fact that 9969 is not equipped with ACSES PTC equipment necessary to lead on the MBTA lines.
The T measures and tests its lines quarterly, but with no equipment of its own has always relied on Amtrak's Corridor Clipper car for this work. For whatever reason Amtrak is no longer able to support this so other arrangements were made. An Ensco truck tested all South Side lines except the Worcester Mainline and the MBTA/Keolis contracted with CSXT to borrow their train which was handed off in Worcester. It was used to test east from Worcester, the Grand Junction Branch, and the eastern route on Wednesday then later this morning will head out and test the New Hampshire and Fitchburg Routes. Finally on this morning it tested the Western Route to as far as this point before wrapping up. With the T in the process of building two GEO cars of its own it seems unlikely that this will ever happen again but around here you just never know!
In the background beyond the power substation can be seen the steeple of the South Congregational Church that dates from 1868.
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Friday May 23, 2025
Train Time At AS
Exactly five minutes after shooting Amtrak train 682 and three minutes after shooting the head end of L080, the Keolis work train crew headed east through thru the curve at CPF AS at MP BW25.8 (measured from North Station in Boston) on Main 2 of the Keolis/MBTA Western Route mainline in this view looking down off the old Salem Street bridge from the opposite side.
The north side work train crew will take the train a mile east up to CPF FR then reverse direction back down Track 17 following L080 into the yard to set out the CSXT geometry train before cutting off light with their locomotive and scooting back to BET.
The three car train consists of CSXT 994366 (Geometry/theater car TGC3), 994365 (support car Hocking Valley), and 994369 (crew car Grand Rapids) with its assigned one of a kind unit, CSXT 9969, an ex MARC GP40WH-2. Double headed on the east end is MBTA GP40MC1129 in the 'cranberry' heritage scheme and on the west end is MBTA F40PH-3C 1033. The train had to be capped with MBTA locomotives due to the fact that 9969 is not equipped with ACSES PTC equipment necessary to lead on the MBTA lines.
The T measures and tests its lines quarterly, but with no equipment of its own has always relied on Amtrak's Corridor Clipper car for this work. For whatever reason Amtrak is no longer able to support this so other arrangements were made. An Ensco truck tested all South Side lines except the Worcester Mainline and the MBTA/Keolis contracted with CSXT to borrow their train which was handed off in Worcester. It was used to test east from Worcester, the Grand Junction Branch, and the eastern route on Wednesday then later this morning will head out and test the New Hampshire and Fitchburg Routes. Finally on this morning it tested the Western Route to as far as this point before wrapping up. With the T in the process of building two GEO cars of its own it seems unlikely that this will ever happen again but around here you just never know!
In the background beyond the power substation can be seen the steeple of the South Congregational Church that dates from 1868.
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Friday May 23, 2025