CSX Track Upgrades & Infrastructure of Pan Am

The shark fins are usually for wireless connectivity. At least on autos.

Possibly for PTC connectivity?

I think you may be right, initially I thought it wasn't PTC because the Stony Brook doesn't have passenger trains, but apparently PTC is required if trains carry certain hazardous materials. Also this doesn't look like the same system the MBTA uses with transponders attached to the ties at key locations.

neman2 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:22 am I think you may be right, initially I thought it wasn't PTC because the Stony Brook doesn't have passenger trains, but apparently PTC is required if trains carry certain hazardous materials. Also this doesn't look like the same system the MBTA uses with transponders attached to the ties at key locations.

No, there is a plethora of exemptions for PTC, it is not required on the Stony Brook regardless of the hazmat.

OK, this is just a wag. It could be something as mundane as an entry alarm system connected to the cellular network.

Looks like some signal system upgrades coming.There are about 25 or so new signal boxes sitting at Rigby as of today.

Those are supposedly for i-ETMS eventually

Maybe for extending PTC to Brunswick?

Another eastbound loaded rail train just passed the Chester cam @ 19:45. Two SD40-2s on the point.

I don't where they get their info but the Chester Railcom Log lists that rail train, W028, as destined for West Springfield.

I might be wrong as I didn’t watch exhaustively but that W028 rail train did not seem to pass the Springfield cam. Maybe the new rail accompanies the extensive tie renewal that CSX is performing on the B&A?

It's for the curves on the B&A, running under that symbol for about 2 months. Also, a bunch NS hard hats were out in Voorheesville looking at the junction the other day.

W019 rail train bound for Ayer hit the North East, PA railcam at 16:15 today.

At 15:24 hours today M426 was instructed by D3 to "drop the Ayer's and the rail train on track IM-3 (Hill Yd.)." No guesses from me on the final destination of the rail.

CSX northbound CWR train with AY-6 crew heads across Groton-Harvard Rd Ayer on Friday 7/7/23 at 1:25PM. It's not entirely clear to me where this rail is headed and it looks like a few strings have already been dropped perhaps on the Worcester Main? One FB poster said some strings were being dropped around Lowell Friday afternoon.