Grafton & Upton Railroad (G&U) Discussion

And there was this photo posted the other day at NERail.

That first pic is good quality, wish we could see the 18 wheeler in the 2nd.

I drove down sibley street today and they were working on the crossing and had one of the lanes blocked off. I don't know what they were doing though.

On the Bay Colony Yahoo Group, people were discussing the FRA's 92-day inspection regulation. One common strategy for short lines to use as a means of reducing costs is to alternate their main locomotive once a month or so. Does anyone have any idea where the G&U stands on this in regards to using the 1500? or are there other reasons for the engine not being used.
Thanks!

On a different note... I found this interesting picture
http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=144662

I got away from work a little early yesterday, so I took the long way home along the G & U from W.Upton to N. Grafton.

The yard in W. Upton looks great. The tamper that was near Glen Ave has been moved down into the yard, and the track between Glen Ave. and Hartford Ave. looks great, well ballasted and nicely aligned (I'm no expert on track maintenance). The new siding has not been completed with the ballast tamped under the ties and all of the kinks worked out.

I move further up the line and came across a work crew at Old Upton Rd. They had the hi-rail equipped dumptruck and more track maintenance machines parked along with crew trucks. I think there were more machines around the corner with the work crews. They are still working on upgrading the track even in this cold weather.

As I pulled into the N. Grafton yard, I noticed 1750 on the Wheatabix siding, parked but running. Soon the crew moved down into the yard, shuffled some cars around, and went down to Washington Mill to retreive a car. I had to leave after that.

Things are still progressing on the G & U. I think that once the ground freezes, the track will become more stable. Then they will make their first run to W. Upton. There were about 4 tank cars in the N. Grafton yard, and at least 1 box car. If the CSX local comes through on Wednesday nights, then they may have been getting set for that. Business looks good on this short line.

Engineer999

Does anyone here know where that road salt alternative from those tank cars is going to be used?

I took a look at some of the line for the first time on tuesday. I basically checked out most of the grade crossings with my car from the North grafton yard down to Old Upton Rd. This line looks awsome! I cant believe how sharp the curve is around the grafton commons. It seems like most of the grafton stretch is running smack in the middle of neighborhoods and front yards. It was strange following the line because it seemed like the line was built on the top of a hill. The line almost seems to resemble a logging line or a narrow gauge with the sharp curves and seemingly steep grades. Hopefully the railroad grows and does well.

What are the some grades on the line anyway?
Has a train gone past the mass pike yet or is that the run everyones been talking about?

Thanks

Triker wrote:What are the some grades on the line anyway?

Scroll down to the bottom: http://gurt6.tripod.com/general_plan.htm
Also while you're at it, the site as a whole might be of interest. Thankfully this "GURT" never materialized.

Took some pix today, this is from Browns road where you can see a pile of dead ties and fresh ballast http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64 ... ure224.jpg

In West Upton they started relaying the siding they pulled up and they are rebuilding the portions of the middle track they didn't touch.http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64 ... ure230.jpg
http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64 ... ure230.jpg
I didn't get any pix but on the south side of the yard they also ripped out the track they never rebuilt and are rebuilding it.

So I decided to go out and grab some pictures of the recent track work before the snow covered it all. Needless to say, I was shocked to see how much work they had done to the lines in the 3-weeks since I had last seen it! I never thought I'd see the day when the line was covered in fresh stone ballast (so long dirt!) Anyways, it seems like work has slowed down now due to the weather. Enjoy.
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39440575@N ... 047434556/

By the looks of those photos now they are ready to run to Upton if they have reason! They did very nice work with that forgoten short line my hats off to Mr, priscolli

Hi folks, I don't know if there was a run on 12-24 or not from the G&U, but in the early afternoon, 1750 was at the NG freighthouse with a cut of cars, running, and with a set of white flags. Was this a test or a photo-op? Thanks, Mike

g-u-rr wrote:Hi folks, I don't know if there was a run on 12-24 or not from the G&U, but in the early afternoon, 1750 was at the NG freighthouse with a cut of cars, running, and with a set of white flags. Was this a test or a photo-op? Thanks, Mike

Maybe a run around the yard but not to West Upton, I went over one of the crossings between the yard and Washington Mills today and there was snow on the rails so could have only been in the yard.

Hi

Just took some photo's this morning of the Upton Yard, lots of progress and two sidings are in place and ballasted.

Ties are laid for the another siding upto the Maple Ave crossing (which is blocked with concrete barrier)

New wooden roof in progress on the old salt storage building

Can't be long now !!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39294786@N00/

To respond to Triker's comment. The G&U was first built as a narrow guage,widened and then converted to an interurban.
Later on the wires came down and diesels came. This is why the line has that quintessental short line physical plant and is also why I tried to defuse the rumors about CSX rerouting Worcester-Framingham tonnage over that little roller coaster.

What other buisnesses besides Washington Mills does the Grafton and Upton do buisness with? Are there more companies out towards upton and milford that they deliver to?