View allAll Photos Tagged cp60
After Q436 and Q008 passed I got lucky with my only slash of sunshine here on this otherwise gray day. The hills of Central Mass are wildly ablaze on this warm afternoon along the rails of the old Boston and Albany Railroad. This view looks west at CP60 as West Springfield based local B740 backs a long string of auto racks down the controlled siding behind three classic EMD GP40-2s after having sprinted east down the mainline from Palmer and crossed over midway up the grade through the interlocking just behind them, whose signals are obscured by the racks.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday October 23, 2020
Wednesday was one of the slower days of my stay at home fall 'train-cation' and though it yielded only a few shots I do like the results.
I spent some time late morning on the east end of the old Boston and Albany. CSXT Selkirk to Portland manifest M426 had stalled on 1% grade of Charlton Hill with their head end just east of the interlocking at CP60 on what is now modern day CSXT's Boston Sub. With a train tied down on the siding up at CP57 and with M436 and I022 coming up behind them it was an interesting show. Ultimately the NC dispatcher in Jacksonville had the M436 tie their train down in Palmer on the siding and run light 15 miles east to CP64 to come up behind the marooned manifest. Once they finally got on the move as seen here: flic.kr/p/2nUJio1 and cleared the top of the hill I022 (Syracuse to Worcester priority intermodal) was let loose seen here behind a pair of two decade old GEs.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Wednesday October 19, 2022
It's now well into 'stick season' but here's one more I like from this go to spot not all that long ago.
Wednesday was one of the slower days of my stay at home fall 'train-cation' and though it yielded only a few shots I do like the results.
I spent some time late morning on the east end of the old Boston and Albany. CSXT Selkirk to Portland manifest M426 had stalled on 1% grade of Charlton Hill with their head end just east of the interlocking at CP60 on what is now modern day CSXT's Boston Sub. With a train tied down on the siding up at CP57 and with M436 and I022 coming up behind them it was an interesting show. Ultimately the NC dispatcher in Jacksonville had the M436 tie their train down in Palmer on the siding and run light 15 miles east to CP64 to come up behind the marooned manifest. Having finally knocked off the brakes and coupled up the M426 is digging back into the hill with their manned helper on the rear giving them the boost they needed. 22 yr old AC4400CW number 486 still in YN2 paint looks good amidst the brilliant fall colors.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Wednesday October 19, 2022
On Thursday morning I decided to go grab breakfast in Palmer after work and see what CSXT might serve up along the way. The weather was overcast, but as all my friends like to poke fun at me for, cloudy bongas on the B&A is kinda my brand!
My first stop was Gauthier Road just east of the crossover at CP60 on the Boston Sub. I knew Q436 (Selkirk to Worcester manifest) was coming and soon enough they snaked through the long s curve into view. For whatever reason they paused for a few minutes in the interlocking before throttling up for the final pull up Charlton hill on the last 15 miles to the end of their trip at CP45.
I knew this train sounded a bit different when I could hear it climbing east before seeing it and was surprised that may perfect standard gevo consist was marred with an old EMD SD40-2 trailing!
Spencer, Massachusetts
Thursday February 24, 2022
On Thursday morning I decided to go grab breakfast in Palmer after work and see what CSXT might serve up along the way. The weather was overcast, but as all my friends like to poke fun at me for, cloudy bongas on the B&A is kinda my brand!
My first stop was Gauthier Road just east of the crossover at CP60 on the Boston Sub. I knew Q436 (Selkirk to Worcester manifest) was coming and soon enough they snaked through the long s curve into view. For whatever reason they paused for a few minutes in the interlocking before throttling up for the final pull up Charlton hill on the last 15 miles to the end of their trip at CP45.
I knew this train sounded a bit different when I could hear it climbing east before seeing it and was surprised that may perfect standard gevo consist was marred with an old EMD SD40-2 trailing!
Spencer, Massachusetts
Thursday February 24, 2022
Autumn in New England is truly an incomparable sight to behold. The hills of Central Mass are wildly ablaze on this warm afternoon along the rails of the old Boston and Albany Railroad. This view looks west at CP60 as West Springfield based local B740 backs a long string of auto racks down the controlled siding behind three classic EMD GP40-2s.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday October 23, 2020
This was a treat as it was the absolute inverse of what happened earlier in Leicester. In that case I waited in full sun until the moment the train showed up but here it was all clouds until they rolled into view only to have the sun hole follow them like a spotlight on a stage!
My third train of the morning was CSXT's morning hotshot I022 (Syracuse to Worcester premium intermodal) seen making easy work of the 1% grade of Charlton Hill through the interlocking at CP60 on modern day CSXT's Boston Sub mainline, the once and forever Boston and Albany Railroad. The train's destination is only fifteen miles away after making an early morning run along the Mohawk Valley and then across the commonwealth on the old Vanderbilt Road.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Wednesday October 16, 2024
With several inches of fresh snow and frigid temps that assured it wouldn't melt I headed west after work for a couple trains at one of my favorite spots that offers up perfect morning light.
CSXT train I022 (hot Syracuse to Worcester long pool intermodal) with 2748 tons and 4443 ft of train trailing two big Gevos up front makes effortless work of the 1% grade up Charlton Hill as they sail thru the interlocking at CP60 on modern day CSXT's Boston Sub mainline, the once and forever Boston and Albany Railroad. The train's destination is only fifteen miles away after making a fast early morning run along the Mohawk River, across the Hudson and up over the Berkshires on the the old Vanderbilt road.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Monday January 20, 2025
On Thursday morning I decided to go grab breakfast in Palmer after work and see what CSXT might serve up along the way. The weather was overcast, but as all my friends like to poke fun at me for, cloudy bongas on the B&A is kinda my brand!
My first stop was Gauthier Road just east of the crossover at CP60 on the Boston Sub. I knew Q436 (Selkirk to Worcester manifest) was coming and soon enough they snaked through the long s curve into view. For whatever reason they paused for a few minutes in the interlocking before throttling up for the final pull up Charlton hill on the last 15 miles to the end of their trip at CP45.
I knew this train sounded a bit different when I could hear it climbing east before seeing it and was surprised that may perfect standard gevo consist was marred with an old EMD SD40-2 trailing!
Spencer, Massachusetts
Thursday February 24, 2022
On Thursday morning I decided to go grab breakfast in Palmer after work and see what CSXT might serve up along the way. The weather was overcast, but as all my friends like to poke fun at me for, cloudy bongas on the B&A is kinda my brand!
After shooting Q436 at CP60 and I022 at CP64 I went a bit further west for the third and final train of the morning eastbound parade. Here is Q205, the daily Buffalo to East Brookfield unit auto rack train, running 1x1 DPU, only three miles from their destination seen here coming under Fiskdale Road and passing an old mill at about MP 66.8 on CSXT's Boston Sub mainline. Brookfield proper has always been the less photographically interesting of the three towns carrying that name along this stretch of railroad which is probably why I've never bothered shooting here before. With just a single main, no sidings, industries or depots (this town having lost theirs in the early 70s) it just hasn't had much photographic appeal for me, but I finally decided to give it a try.
Brookfield, Massachusetts
Thursday February 24, 2022
On Thursday morning I decided to go grab breakfast in Palmer after work and see what CSXT might serve up along the way. The weather was overcast, but as all my friends like to poke fun at me for, cloudy bongas on the B&A is kinda my brand!
After shooting Q436 at CP60 I headed west four miles to CP64 to wait for I022, the hot daily Syracuse to Worcester intermodal. Right on schedule they appeared and are seen holding the main (the straight rail is the controlled siding and had been since the tracks here were reconfigured 18 years ago when the massive new auto unloading facility opened in Spencer) as they diverge through the interlocking.
In the small yard at left is the damaged Loram rail grinder (missing one of its power cars) that was involved in a collision four days earlier when they rear ended a parked freight train at CP60 allegedly at 20 MPH. The damaged power car is sitting off the rails on the ground still at the wreck site, while here multiple personnel could be seen working on and around the machine presumably trying to effect repairs so it can be returned to service or towed home to the Loram shop in Minnesota. Here is a local news report on the incident with some photos: www.wcvb.com/article/spencer-massachusetts-train-collisio...
East Brookfield, Massachusetts
Thursday February 24, 2022
This was the third of three eastbound trains CSXT served up into the glorious morning Sun on this nice crisp New England morning and for this train I tried a new spot that I've never bothered with before that worked out nicely. M426 (daily Selkirk to Rigby Yard manifest) has a nice old school AC4400CW dressed in YN2 paint as it digs into the 1% climb up Charlton Hill east of CP60. They are about to pass under Cranberry Meadow Road about MP QB59.3 on modern day CSXT's Boston Sub, the former Boston and Albany Railroad mainline, and the top of the grade is about a mile and a half ahead.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Monday December 2, 2024
With several inches of fresh snow and frigid temps that assured it wouldn't melt I headed west after work to check out CSXT's morning eastbound parade. This train was moving slow enough that after shooting them down at CP60 I was able to make it to the east end of the siding with plenty of time to spare.
CSXT Selkirk to Worcester manifest train M436 has 123 cars trailing three big GEs nearing the crest of the 1% grade up Charlton Hill as they roll through the turnout at CP57 in this view looking west off the Rt. 31 / Center Depot Road overpass above modern day CSXT's Boston Sub mainline, the once and forever Boston and Albany Railroad. The train's destination is only a dozen miles away after making an early morning run across the middle of the commonwealth from Al Perlman's big yard southwest of the capital city.
Charlton, Massachusetts
Monday January 20, 2025
Just another random photo that I've had sitting on edited but never posted. Just dropping it in the album here before filing it.
After dropping their train on the controlled siding local B740 seen in the prior image has pulled down east of the interlocking at CP60 on the Boston Sub (ex B&A).
But before they could cross over to run back west to Palmer on the main to continue with their chores they had to wait for the fourth eastbound train of the morning. A pair of big GEs have train Q008 (Rose Lake, IL to Worcester, MA) in tow as they roll up Charlton hill on the last 15 miles to their terminus just past CP45.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday May 15, 2020
Wednesday was one of the slower days of my stay at home fall 'train-cation' and though it yielded only a few shots I do like the results.
I spent some time late morning on the east end of the old Boston and Albany. CSXT Selkirk to Portland manifest M426 had stalled on 1% grade of Charlton Hill with their head end just east of the interlocking at CP60 on what is now modern day CSXT's Boston Sub. With a train tied down on the siding up at CP57 and with M436 and I022 coming up behind them it was an interesting show. Ultimately the NC dispatcher in Jacksonville had the M436 tie their train down in Palmer on the siding and run light 15 miles east to CP64 to come up behind the marooned manifest. Having finally knocked off the brakes and coupled up the M426 is digging back into the hill with their manned helper on the rear giving them the boost they needed. 22 yr old AC4400CW number 486 still in YN2 paint looks good amidst the brilliant fall colors.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Wednesday October 19, 2022
Just to fill in the trifecta of boring bongas I shot last Friday here is one frame just to drop in the album to cover the days narrative. I suppose someday when these gevos are gone this mundane image will carry more weight, so let's give it a few decades!
Here is daily Buffalo to East Brookfield auto rack train Q264 making some switching moves at the end of their run here near MP 60 on CSXT's Boston Sub mainline, the former Boston and Albany Railroad. They came east down the main from CP64 and pulled the whole through the crossovers at CP60 just around the curve. Then they shoved back coupling to a cut of racks west of CP60 on the siding and shoved the whole thing west and clear of the interlocking before cutting off and taking the power east to Worcester. But the weather was gray and boring so I didn't wait around to see all that.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday March 25, 2022
On Thursday morning I decided to go grab breakfast in Palmer after work and see what CSXT might serve up along the way. The weather was overcast, but as all my friends like to poke fun at me for, cloudy bongas on the B&A is kinda my brand!
After shooting Q436 at CP60 I headed west four miles to CP64 to wait for I022, the hot daily Syracuse to Worcester intermodal. Right on schedule they appeared and are seen holding the main (the straight rail is the controlled siding and had been since the tracks here were reconfigured 18 years ago when the massive new auto unloading facility opened in Spencer) as they diverge through the interlocking.
In the small yard at left is the damaged Loram rail grinder (missing one of its power cars) that was involved in a collision four days earlier when they rear ended a parked freight train at CP60 allegedly at 20 MPH. The damaged power car is sitting off the rails on the ground still at the wreck site, while here multiple personnel could be seen working on and around the machine presumably trying to effect repairs so it can be returned to service or towed home to the Loram shop in Minnesota. Here is a local news report on the incident with some photos: www.wcvb.com/article/spencer-massachusetts-train-collisio...
East Brookfield, Massachusetts
Thursday February 24, 2022
Christmas Eve morning dawned cold and clear with a dusting of fresh snow so I headed out for a couple photos before heading home to finish wrapping the last of my gifts.
CSXT train M436 (Selkirk to Worcester manifest) has a festive Christmas tree decorating the nose of its lead unit as it grinds up the 1% grade of Charlton Hill through the interlocking at CP60 on modern day CSXT's Boston Sub mainline, the once and forever Boston and Albany Railroad. The train's destination is only fifteen miles away after making an early morning run across the commonwealth from the massive hump yard that was once the pride of Al Perlman's New York Central.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Wednesday December 24, 2025
Just a bit further west of the prior post and on the other side of the interlocking at CP60 is an opposing curve on the snaking ascent of the 1% grade up Charlton Hill. A pair of big GEs have the hot UPS loads on train Q008 (Rose Lake, IL to Worcester, MA) well in hand. The colors are still ablaze here while in the higher elevations of the Berkshires 70 miles to the west they are but a memory.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday October 23, 2020
Just something from a couple years ago I figured I'd drop on the album here before filing.
After 449 passed them westbound Q427 (Worcester Pan Am connection to Selkirk) continued to work with CSX's mechanical desk to no avail. Unable to resolve their issues they were finally given permission to cut out cab signals and PTC and run west on C lights. They are getting back on the move as they cross from the controlled siding on to the main at CP60 on CSXT's Boston Sub, the ex Boston and Albany mainline.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday May 22, 2020
This was the third of three eastbound trains CSXT served up into the glorious morning Sun on this nice crisp New England morning and for this train I tried a new spot that I've never bothered with before that worked out nicely. M426 (daily Selkirk to Rigby Yard manifest) has a nice old school AC4400CW dressed in YN2 paint as it digs into the 1% climb up Charlton Hill east of CP60. They are about to pass under Cranberry Meadow Road about MP QB59.3 on modern day CSXT's Boston Sub, the former Boston and Albany Railroad mainline, and the top of the grade is about a mile and a half ahead.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Monday December 2, 2024
It was a cold clear morning so I headed west with plans to go look for Mass Central and/or New England Central. However, I saw that CSXT had three trains in the area so decided to snag those before heading for those arguably more interesting targets.
First up was CSXT train M436 (Selkirk to Worcester manifest) with three units trailing 78 cars grinding up the 1% grade of Charlton Hill through the interlocking at CP60 on modern day CSXT's Boston Sub mainline, the once and forever Boston and Albany Railroad. The train's destination is only fifteen miles away after making an early morning run from the massive hump yard that was once the pride of Al Perlman's New York Central.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Monday January 10, 2025
Another frame of this nice scene from earlier in the fall.
CSXT's morning hotshot I022 (Syracuse to Worcester premium intermodal) is seen making easy work of the 1% grade of Charlton Hill through the interlocking at CP60 on modern day CSXT's Boston Sub mainline, the once and forever Boston and Albany Railroad. The train's destination is only fifteen miles away after making an early morning run along the Mohawk Valley and then across the commonwealth on the Vanderbilt's gateway to New England.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Wednesday October 16, 2024
The hills of Central Mass are wildly ablaze on this warm afternoon along the rails of the old Boston and Albany Railroad. This view looks west at CP60 as West Springfield based local B740 backs a long string of auto racks down the controlled siding behind three classic EMD GP40-2s after having sprinted east down the mainline from Palmer and crossed over midway up the grade through the interlocking that is unseen just at my back.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday October 23, 2020
After dropping their train on the controlled siding local B740 seen in the prior image has pulled down east of the interlocking at CP60 on the Boston Sub (ex B&A).
But before they could cross over to run back west to Palmer on the main to continue with their chores they had to wait for the fourth eastbound train of the morning. A pair of big GEs have train Q008 (Rose Lake, IL to Worcester, MA) in tow as they roll up Charlton hill on the last 15 miles to their terminus just past CP45.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday May 15, 2020
After shooting the two at CP60 I headed west to CP83 to await the main goal.
Since the partial resurgence of coal trains to New England running via an all CSXT routing via the Berkshire and Boston Lines to interchange with Pan Am in Worcester I've been wanting to get one here.
In perfect morning light three big Gevos running as train N618 have 80 loads destined for the Merrimack Generating station near Bow, NH in tow as they thump over the NECR diamond and past the 1883 Union Station on the Boston & Albany.
Palmer, Massachusetts
Friday April 10, 2020
Just a simple summer shot as CSXT train M436 (Selkirk to Worcester manifest) grinds up the 1% grade of Charlton Hill through the interlocking at CP60 on modern day CSXT's Boston Sub mainline, the once and forever Boston and Albany Railroad. The train's destination is only fifteen miles away after making an early morning run across the commonwealth from Al Perlman's big hump yard south of Albany.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Sunday July 13, 2024
Central Pacific 60 "Jupiter" simmers at the end of the day, having returned to it's stall in the steam shop. 119 is scattered about the shop in the background, with it's cab stripped bare and pieces of brass being polished lying around.
After shooting the two at CP60 I headed west to CP83 to await the main goal.
Since the partial resurgence of coal trains to New England running via an all CSXT routing via the Berkshire and Boston Lines to interchange with Pan Am in Worcester I've been wanting to get one here.
In perfect morning light three big Gevos running as train N618 have 80 loads destined for the Merrimack Generating station near Bow, NH in tow as they thump over the NECR diamond and past the 1883 Union Station on the Boston & Albany.
Palmer, Massachusetts
Friday April 10, 2020
Wednesday was one of the slower days of my stay at home fall 'train-cation' and though it yielded only a few shots I do like the results.
I spent some time late morning on the east end of the old Boston and Albany and shot two trains at CP60 which I've already shared here. I had plans to meet up with two friends who were driving up from New Jersey to spend the night with me camped out in the Steaming Tender's Airbnb caboose in Palmer. On the way north they intercepted returning southbound New England Central Railroad train 608. So after wrapping up with CSXT I cut southwest into Connecticut to meet them here where they were set up and waiting at one of the signature shots between Palmer and Willimantic.
Leading the way is NECR 3317 a classic SD40T-2 'Tunnel Motor' blt. Apr. 1980 as SP 8526. The woods of Eastern Connecticut are a long way from Donner Pass, Pegra Pass, and the Siskiyous for which she was built to lug endless lumber and perishable drags east. Later this scarlet and grey beast burnished the rails of Soldier Summit and the mightiest grade of all...Tennessee Pass! As a lover of the Rio Grande just thinking of the places she's been in her more than four decade career brings a smile to my face.
But those legendary railroad locales aren't mentioned to dimish the beauty of this spot which is purely New England, a region second to none this time of year. This is about MP 36.3 on the New England Central's Palmer Sub, the ex Central Vermont, approaching the Stonehouse Road overpass. They are passing beside Eagleville Dam on the Willimantic River and according to a brochure for the town park: 'Cotton fabric was produced here from 1814 to 1931, and then shoe lasts were made until the mill was demolished in the 1950s.'
Sharp eyes will note that the trailing unit is NECR 3857 (EMD GP38AC blt. Apr. 1971 as Gulf, Mobile and Ohio 730) which is the last original blue and gold unit in service on the property dating from the road's 1995 startup.
Village of Eagleville
Mansfield, Connecticut
Wednesday October 19, 2022
After 449 passed them westbound Q427 (Worcester Pan Am connection to Selkirk) continued to work with CSX's mechanical desk to no avail. Unable to resolve their issues they were finally given permission to cut out cab signals and PTC and run west on C lights. They are getting back on the move as they cross from the controlled siding on to the main at CP60 on CSXT's Boston Sub, the ex Boston and Albany mainline.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday May 22, 2020
CSXT train Q436 (Selkirk to Worcester) has slowed down just enough for us to catch up to them from West Warren thanks to the challenge of the 1% grade of Charlton Hill. They are seen here rounding the curve beside Gauthier Road just east of CP60 on the old Boston and Albany mainline. The top of the hill is still two and half miles ahead of them and then it will be a gentle decent for a dozen miles to the end of their run in Worcester.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday October 23, 2020
Just a simple summer shot as CSXT train M436 (Selkirk to Worcester manifest) grinds up the 1% grade of Charlton Hill through the interlocking at CP60 on modern day CSXT's Boston Sub mainline, the once and forever Boston and Albany Railroad. The train's destination is only fifteen miles away after making an early morning run across the commonwealth from Al Perlman's big hump yard south of Albany.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Sunday July 13, 2024
After getting delayed for about a half hour by a disabled freight on the single track west of Worcester Amtrak train 449 is finally on the move. Q427 was having GPS and cab signal issues and was on the phone with the CSX mechanical desk trying to resolve them. They were finally told to limp their train to Charlton and clear up on the siding west of CP57 to continue working on their issue so Amtrak could get on the move. With the freight tucked into the siding out of sight around the corner the Boston section of the Lakeshore Limited is on its way to Albany.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday May 22, 2020
After dropping their train on the controlled siding local B740 seen in the prior image has pulled down east of the interlocking at CP60 on the Boston Sub (ex B&A).
But before they could cross over to run back west to Palmer on the main to continue with their chores they had to wait for the fourth eastbound train of the morning. A pair of big GEs have train Q008 (Rose Lake, IL to Worcester, MA) in tow as they roll up Charlton hill on the last 15 miles to their terminus just past CP45.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday May 15, 2020
Various caps for the lubrication reservoirs on Central Pacific 60 Jupiter show the various places oil and grease have to be placed to keep the pistons on the engine running smooth.
I headed out Friday morning for what were probably my last snow shots in New England after a spring storm dropped a few inches on central Mass the day before.
CSXT Syracuse to Worcester premium intermodal train I022 has swelled from two to four units after stopping at CP60 on CSXT's Boston Sub to pick up the lead and DP units off auto rack train M264. They are now back on the move with a dozen miles to go before reaching their destination as they crest the 1% climb up Charlton Hill and roll through the turnout at CP57 in this view looking west off the Rt. 31 / Center Depot Road overpass.
Charlton, Massachusetts
Friday April 5, 2024
CSXT intermodal train Q012 destined for Worcester climbs Charlton Hill, it's final challenge on its eastbound run across the former Boston and Albany on an unreasonably cold spring morning amidst some spitting snow flurries.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday April 10, 2020
A CPKC lashup of AC4400s power a 2nd 148 near Carseland. One of CP's autonomous track geometry boxcars is behind the power.
The real Golden Spike is in California, the space-flown replica back in the visitor's center... but this one is kept out on the table for tourist photo ops. Of course I can't resist that!
CSXT train Q436 (Selkirk to Framingham manifest) climbs Charlton Hill, it's final challenge on its eastbound run across the former Boston and Albany on an unreasonably cold spring morning amidst some spitting snow flurries.
Spencer, Massachusetts
Friday April 10, 2020