Grafton & Upton Railroad (G&U) Discussion

That's why the diesel gods created spark arrestors. They do have to be installed, however, and once installed, they must be maintained.

E. Spencer Miller knew about the efficacy of spark arrestors. Even the best maintained diesels will coke up if not frequently worked hard, and then -- when worked hard -- it's a fireworks display that generally goes unobserved in daylight hours until it's too late.

MEC407 wrote:That's why the diesel gods created spark arrestors. They do have to be installed, however, and once installed, they must be maintained.

Yeah. The MBTA isn't perfect about that either. Stand by the first car at North or South Station and you'll almost always see sparks coming out the stack while the loco's laying over. Not a lot of them by any means, but a constant widely-spaced trickle even at engine idle.


Bottom line is there's no 100% fail-safe solution. Diesels produce sparks, and no arrestor is completely airtight. The whole state is one giant tinderbox in this kind of spring drought where all of last fall's dead grass, leaves, and brush is dry as hell and being fanned by an abundance of windy days. Anything can set off a fire. All property owners, municipalities, parks departments, and highway departments have a responsibility to do the best due diligence they reasonably can to keep the preventative bases covered. RR's are no different, and only a tiny cross-section of the parties affected by the elevated fire risk.

On Fri Apr 05, 2013 at 1:09 pm, frrc wrote:G&U wants propane terminal work to resume...

http://www.telegram.com/article/20130404/NEWS/104049912

From the above linked article: The railroad is seeking the termination of the restraining order so it can accept delivery of the four tanks and finish work on the terminal.

In its latest motion to the court, the railroad said it has received inquiries about potential business, but it can't follow those opportunities because of the injunctive relief sought by the town. The railroad argues it is losing the opportunity to participate in the crucial April contracting period and consequently would be unable to take full advantage of the 2013-2014 winter heating season, causing irreparable harm to the railroad.

If the court denies the request, the railroad is seeking an unspecified amount from the town to cover costs and damages.

I'd say we're probably well into (or past) the "crucial April contracting period".. So I wonder what the town may be "on the hook for" if they lose..

[quote="At 12:10 pm on May 3, 2013 In an article entitled "Portion of Grafton and Upton Railroad Being Restored ", Mary MacDonald of the GraftonPatch staff"]
The Grafton and Upton Railroad will be installing railroad crossings in Milford starting next week

Work to restore long-inactive railroad tracks has begun in Milford, and contractors for the Grafton and Upton Railroad next week will begin to install railroad crossings across several roads.



The schedule follows: Vernon Street crossing, May 8; Depot Street, May 15; South Main Street, May 22 and Green Street in Hopedale, May 30.

The crossing installation on Route 140 has not been scheduled, said Doug Pizzi, a spokesman for the railroad. That crossing, south of Milford Regional Medical Center, will be the most difficult because the road is heaily traveled.

Roads will be closed for one day of construction for each crossing, said Pizzi. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, a crossing may take two days, but in these cases, the road would only be closed during the daytime.[/quote]

Read more at GraftonPatch's web site.

The typo in the word "heavily" is from the original..

Thanks for the schedule updates on crossing installations in Milford...

So when are the scheduling installing the crossing in the driveway off Green Street?

General Filing Type: Motion To Strike Filed On: 05/07/2013 Filed For: Grafton & Upton Railroad Company



To view the entire document, click the above image OR click this link: http://www.stb.dot.gov/FILINGS/all.nsf/ ... 234170.pdf OR download a copy attached below..

[quote="At 12:00 AM on May 04, 2013 In an article entitled "Grafton & Upton railroad gets grant", Mike Gleason of the Milford Daily News staff"]
The Grafton & Upton Railroad will receive a $221,700 grant as part of a state effort to increase access to freight rail service.

The grant was announced Wednesday as part of a $2.85 million round of Industrial Rail Access Program (IRAP) grants. Nine grants were announced by the state, including five to railroads in central and western Massachusetts.

State Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki said in a statement that infrastructure, like railways, is a key element of economic development.

"By improving access to freight rail, we are creating opportunities to make it easier and more cost-effective for companies to do business throughout Massachusetts," he said.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said in a statement that he hoped the improvements funded by the grants would both attract new customers to the state and increase efficiency.[/quote]
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1 ... z2SenuyjSx

This just in to our news center..

Decision Type: Decision Deciding Body: Entire Board Decision Summary:
Decision Notes: DECISION DENIED A PETITION FILED BY SEVEN RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF UPTON, MASS., FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD’S DECISION TO DENY DISCOVERY IN THIS PROCEEDING.



To view the entire document, click the above image OR click this link: http://www.stb.dot.gov/Decisions/readin ... /43014.pdf OR download a copy attached below..

Keep your dial tuned right here! Now, traffic from Joe Green and the Digital helicopter fleet...

Now with a May 20th due date for petitioners' response.

Side bets are now being taken:
2 to 1 odds: Petitioners will will attempt to delay the proceedings
3 to 1 odds: Petitioners will file a well reasoned response
10 to 1 odds: Petitioners will "win"

G&U donates fire equipment to the town of Upton...

http://www.telegram.com/article/2013051 ... 09650/1246

A post on Facebook by Friends of the Grafton & Upton Railroad brings this to my attention:

[quote="On May 11, 2013 In an article entitled "Upton residents face setback in suit vs. Grafton & Upton Railroad", greatergrafton of Greater Grafton.Com"]
Upton residents face setback in suit vs. Grafton & Upton Railroad



I’m going to throw you over to my friend Jennifer in Upton for the latest on the Grafton & Upton Railroad saga there.

“We are pleased that the Surface Transportation Board, in rejecting the Petitioners’ claim for discovery and the late filing from the Upton Planning Board, has seen fit to stay within the confines of the issues at hand,” said Jon Delli Priscoli, owner and CEO of the Grafton & Upton Railroad.
[/quote]
Read more at The Greater Grafton.Com web site

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette's view:

[quote="On Monday, May 13, 2013 In an article entitled "Feds stymie petitioners’ effort to get Grafton & Upton Railroad docs", Craig S. Semon of the TELEGRAM & GAZETTE staff"]

Feds stymie petitioners’ effort to get Grafton & Upton Railroad docs

UPTON — Seven Upton residents have lost a round in their battle with the Grafton & Upton Railroad.

The Surface Transportation Board last week refused to reconsider its Jan. 24 decision to deny the residents discovery in a case involving the railroad.

The federal board decided on Jan. 24 to study whether a wood pellet facility and bulk transfer terminal station run by the railroad falls under federal pre-emption and therefore is exempt from state and local zoning laws.

In addition to deciding to take on the case as a declaratory order proceeding, the board denied petitioners the right to get access to documents related to the facility.

On Feb. 13, seven Upton residents filed a petition for reconsideration of that denial.

The residents cited material error on the agency’s part and purported new evidence.

But the board ruled last week the petitioners failed to make their case.


[/quote]
Read more at the TELEGRAM & GAZETTE's web site.

Be advised that access to content on the T&G's site may require registration and/or subscription.

Progress is being made in the Depot St area of Milford. Driving by this morning I saw new ties all laid out on a new bed. Sorry I didn't have the camera with me.

Are they planning to construct a southbound wye leg at the junction to get to the CSX Milford Branch customers they'll be inheriting, or are they going to keep the current configuration and reverse direction at the Milford runaround for those jobs?