Allens Ave., Providence

When did trains last use the tracks on this street? There are still spurs running to all points alongside, but unless they're delivering strippers, I can't imagine any train has used them in many, many years.

Are there any plans to remove these tracks?

Can't give a date. Try some NH or PC employee timetables for the Engine & Car Restrictions.

As a note, the Dave Sweetland color book on the NH with the orange cover (switcher below the RI Capital Building on cover) has a photo of a 1957 or so fan trip on Allens Ave. using an RDC with a motorcycle police escort. AH Povidence!

The last time I saw this line being used was about 1982. P&W had just acquired it along with the rest of Conrail's R.I. lines. On that particular day the track was being serviced by their subsidiary Warwick Rwy's big GE center cab. I don't know if this was because P&W didn't want to risk that track with a larger unit or if they needed the help because this was about the same time as their operating crews were on strike. Any way that tall and narrow center cab was really rocking and swaying on that battered rail!

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY STOPPED USING IT BUT I DO REMEMBER AS A KID (70'OR71') SEEING A GP9 AND ONE BOX CAR WAY UP NEAR POINT ST. THEY SPOTTED IT ACROSS ALLENS AVE AT WARD'S BAKING. THE BUILDING IS STILL THERE IT IS YELLOW BRICK WITH AN ALLEY THAT WOULD ONLY HOLD ONE CAR, AND A 40 FOOTER AT THAT! I'M PRETTY SURE THIS END OF THE TRACK IS WHERE THE PROV AND STONINGTON TERMINATED IN THE EARLIEST YEARS AND THEN YOU'D TAKE A BUGGY RIDE UP TO THE P&W OR ACROSS TO THE B&P THESE ANCIENT RIGHTS ARE PROBABLY WHY THE TRACK STILL EXISTS AT ALL TODAY. ALTHOUGH THIS NORTH END HAS BEEN SHORTENED UP BECAUSE OF THE NEW 95 195 INTERCHANGE CONSTRUCTION. I SAW A PILE OF GIRDER RAIL AND SOME SINGLE POINT SWITCHES ON THE CONS SITE.