The Stony Brook Branch

Stony Brook CTC was groundbreaking as well, yes, in effect in the ‘20s..

POAY was tied down on the siding at Graniteville mid-afternoon yesterday and while visiting, I noticed that the turnout at CPF-309 has been completely rebuilt with new ties, new rail (including frog), new switch motor, and plenty of stone. Looked pretty good! Was this paid for by MassDOT $ or Pan Am funds or both?

According to the town website and posted signs the crossing at Rt 225 Pleasant St. Westford (Forge Village) will be replaced Tuesday July 23. Depot St. will be redone Thursday July 25.

Excellent, hopefully that will take care of the speedo there.

Will the whole Stony be 25 after these crossing rebuilds?

Almost... the bridge where they cross the Stony Brook just west of 307 needs some work. There's a hole in the deck of the bridge, and I believe the footings are getting bad as well. But besides that all they need to do is get 303 to NC up to 25, and the entire thing will be 25.

When I was there it was 25 through all of Lowell for a while, that was quite a ride.

Didn't they drop rail about a month ago between 303 and Wamisit? Thought they would go all the way to Lowell Jct with the new rail.

690 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:28 am Almost... the bridge where they cross the Stony Brook just west of 307 needs some work. There's a hole in the deck of the bridge, and I believe the footings are getting bad as well. But besides that all they need to do is get 303 to NC up to 25, and the entire thing will be 25.

What about the bridge east of 309 in Graniteville over Bridge St.and the Brook? It looks like it could use some TLC.

Apparently it's good for 25, been over it a few times at 25 and it wasn't any worse than other spots. The only speedos on the Stony Brook were the two I listed, plus Pleasant St. in Forge Village.

The rail dropped is between 303 and the west limits of 297, along the #1 between 297 and CPF-BY, then along the #2 from CPF-BY to CPF-NC, plus the single track between NC and 303.

690 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2019 12:14 pm The rail dropped is between 303 and the west limits of 297, along the #1 between 297 and CPF-BY, then along the #2 from CPF-BY to CPF-NC, plus the single track between NC and 303.

Any idea as to when the rail is to be installed? Will the Lowell Branch receive more rail between LJ and 297? This part of the line is pretty straight and has welded rail from the 1990s so may not be worn out. Could use a tie and surfacing program to bring the entire line up to 25MPH. Looks like there is a short section of jointed rail just west of Meadowbrook Rd in Chelmsford, will that be converted to welded rail also?

Right now the Stony Brook is all 25, except NC-303. The section of jointed rail by Meadowbrook Road is the worst spot by far now, the rail is worn out, and you’re either picking up speed or slowing down over it.

Regarding the rail dropped on the Lowell Branch, no target date that I’ve heard of. The rail isn’t bad between 297 and LJ, but the ties need to be replaced, and the crossings likely need work.

I actually just had to look at my TT because I assumed 303 to NC was TT 10 - it has been restricted at that for so long, since when I started in 2005.

Almost 3 years after replacing the rail on the Stony Brook new stone is being dropped on the line. As of today new stone is spread from CPF-312 in Littleton to east of Pleasant St. in Westford.
I saw a ballast regulator working near 312 today, I didn't see a tamper but it could have been out of sight. Then again they could be just dropping stone without surfacing to make it look "pretty."

More MOW activity on the Branch today, a high rail brush cutter from Northern Tree Service was working in the vicinity of CPF-309 today. The machine was parked at Town Farm Rd. Westford for the evening.