Eastern Railroad Discussion > New England Shortlines

Will heading up that way next mon and was looking for any operating info on the following lines mostly times of day they run, any and all info appreciated on the following:
Pioneer valley
Mass central
Grafton & Upton
Fore River
Seaview Transportation

Thanks
 

Pioneer Valley runs much of the day, from predawn darkness until late afternoon. Check the yard, off North Elm Street near the Westfield train station. There are overpasses at either end of the yard, on Pochassic Street and Notre Dame Street. The Westfield line has grade crossings at Twiss Street, Lockhouse Road, Servistar Industrial Way, Ampad Road and Summit Lock Road/Madeiros Way.

Past Savage Arms in Westfield, the branch to Holyoke is not used as often. But you can often catch the PV switching the transload at Savage Arms in the morning. There's an overpass over the Holyoke branch on Lockhouse Road and grade crossings on Springdale Road and Westfield Industrial Park Road.

You can drive by the yard by swinging through the parking lot of the Westwood building on North Elm Street.

All are weekday operations.

Be in North Grafton by 8:30 if you want to see the G&U, but know that their departure time can get pushed back if stuff comes up.  They normally make it to Hopedale around lunch time, then its back to West Upton and evenutally back to North Grafton to end the day,  An easy chase from Graton to Upton using Route 140 and various side roads that cross the track.  Old Upton Road is the signature photo spot, and the crossing next to the church in Grafton Center is a great spot to watch and listen while the power claws up the 3% grade.

The Seaview I think comes on at 7:00.  On busy days they can have two crews working, one on either branch.  Local roads make it pretty easy to follow, but you'll want to be careful about not trespassing, especially around the Electric Boat plant near the water.

I forget the Fore River's call time, but its also in the morning.  Normal MO for them is start the day by pulling cars from Twin Rivers Technologies across from the old shipyard, make a run to CSX at East Braintree around lunch time, then back to the shipyard to drop inbound cars for Twin Rivers.  Again, mind the trespassing - parts of the former Quincy Shipyard have been reopened, but other parts have not.

Thanks a lot guys for all that info,
 Fred