Grafton & Upton Railroad (G&U) Discussion

G&U seems to be on good terms with CSX since they interchange with them, so maybe they sold some sticks to them at a good price.

Work progresses extending the G&U mainline from Hopedale toward Milford. Here's a view of new stone dropped along the RoW at Hopedale just south of the rte 16 crossing looking toward the rehabbed Hopedale St bridge. Stone has been dropped for a ways beyond the bridge toward Milford. The view north toward rte 16 crossing at Hopedale and current end of track. Looks like a new siding will be installed adjacent to the mainline for car storage - stone has been spread and strings of rail and new ties are being staged.

I wonder about that driveway at (I think it's) 14 Greene Street..

I drove down Green Street yesterday to see how the ROW looked. The blacktop had been removed from the section of the infamous driveway where it crosses the ROW, and it looked like there may have been gravel/ballast spread in the gap. I didn’t want to linger/rubberneck too long so I’m not certain about the ballast stone, but the blacktop had definitely been removed from that section.

Is the Greene St driveway an unauthorized private crossing? If so how long has it been there? Can you create a Right of Way crossing a ROW by adverse possession? That would be a can of worms...

Can't accurately answer your question but if you check out Google Earth a house and that driveway were there in 1995 which is the earliest you can go back.

Here's the view of the driveway at 35 Green St Hopedale from Google Street View circa October 2018:
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1274482 ... 312!8i6656

Maybe homeowner will install crossbucks?

Interesting that Google Maps has it as 35 Greene St. Yet it is 14 Greene St. Looking at OLIVER http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/map_ol/oliver.php It would seem there is no 35 Greene St. Were there one, it would be on the opposite side of the street. FWIW, according to OLIVER, the house was built in 1949.. I'd be interested in prowling the registry of deeds to see what I can dig up as far as the crossing. Maybe later on this afternoon if I get time..

MaineCoonCat wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2019 10:08 am Interesting that Google Maps has it as 35 Greene St. Yet it is 14 Greene St. Looking at OLIVER http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/map_ol/oliver.php It would seem there is no 35 Greene St. Were there one, it would be on the opposite side of the street. FWIW, according to OLIVER, the house was built in 1949.. I'd be interested in prowling the registry of deeds to see what I can dig up as far as the crossing. Maybe later on this afternoon if I get time..
Greene st.PNG

UPDATE 6/26/2019 17:18 EDT
I STRUCK GOLD!!
● ● ●

That's pretty darn legit!! Learned a bit too! Now someone has to finish the paving up to the crossing & erect signage.

Looks like rail is being laid out in Hopedale to the bridge as of this a.m.

Welded Rail has been laid across the bridge...( assume to project the pitch of grade down to Rt. 16.

Progress !!

Anyone know what this eminent domain request is about:

http://graftonuptonrr.com/wp-content/up ... -29-19.pdf

Seems like it is in the middle of nowhere on Google Earth.

That's a really big ask to take 155 acres. Are the current owners like a family trust that has owned it for hundreds of years, or just some real estate speculator that would be willing to sell but is holding out because it is a key parcel? Generally these things should be done on a voluntary basis or not at all. It's not like "hey we need a couple of feet so we can add a second track". G&U already has transload yards, and they have or had the Draper property available. Even in a rural areas, 155 acre lots are precious things.

Government agencies are not good at making these sort of decisions wisely.

Checking the town records it does look like that property in the middle of nowhere on Google Earth:

http://hopedale.patriotproperties.com/P ... 354001.jpg