Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum (BSRM) Thread

[JRG]

Yes, ex-PRR B-60 Baggage Car #9034 has been generously donated by CSX Transportation to BSRM. More details will be announced in the future via BSRM's Facebook Page(s). If anyone can catch photos of 9034 or RDC 6126 in transit, BSRM would appreciate it.

[newpylong]

Nice picture and caption

https://www.facebook.com/hoosacvalleyse ... =3&theater" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Safetee]

Lest anybody wonder, that PC RDC is shown taking part in the annual MA DPU track inspections of all Penn Central Lines in the Commonwealth. In 1974 there was no passenger service on the North Adams.

By 1977 the MA DPU track inspection vehicle for Conrail on the North Adams Sec. was a cramped hyrail.

The last RDCs used for MA DPU inspections were the B&M rdcs used for covering their main lines and these ended around 1980.

[Ridgefielder]

Lest anybody wonder, that PC RDC is shown taking part in the annual MA DPU track inspections of all Penn Central Lines in the Commonwealth. In 1974 there was no passenger service on the North Adams.

By 1977 the MA DPU track inspection vehicle for Conrail on the North Adams Sec. was a cramped hyrail.

The last RDCs used for MA DPU inspections were the B&M rdcs used for covering their main lines and these ended around 1980.

When was the last schedule passenger service on the North Adams branch.

[Dick H]

According to "Lost Railroads of New England", 2nd Edition, by Ronald Dale Carr (1996),
passenger service on the North Adams Branch ended in 1953.

The BSRM Hossac Valley Service website states that passenger service ended in 1954.
http://www.hoosacvalleytrainride.com/about.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PT1101]

The "newly" acquired RDC is on its way to Massachusetts...sort of. On Wednesday, it was observed at Burnham Jct. This afternoon, it was the 2nd to last car on a Pan Am westbound freight stopped between CPF203 and CPF 201. Around 2:15pm, a crew ran from Rigby Yard to grab the RDC and rear car off the train in order to add them to train POED. According to the Dist 2 dspr, POED was either on duty, or supposed to depart an hour later. Any additional updates or sightings would be greatly appreciated.

[Dick H]

The BSRM RDC was the next to the last car on POED by Dover early evening.

[GP40MC1118]

The RDC has reached Lawrence.

The baggage car has been released from bad-order in Somerville. Unfortunately, the
local artists have repainted both sides of the car. Lord knows, what happened inside.

D

[newpylong]

Someone mentioned it would come to North Adams and be fenced in behind the DPW building down in the yard while being worked on for the winter. Supposedly they are clearing out the track now.

Only track left besides the main and runaround is the Ash Car track, which is used for storage. There is more track than what is usable though, overgrown with debris on it. Would be interested to see if they are clearing out the very end as it certainly is easier to get at the car through the parking lot there.

[BandA]

The RDC has reached Lawrence.

The baggage car has been released from bad-order in Somerville. Unfortunately, the
local artists have repainted both sides of the car. Lord knows, what happened inside.

D

Is the railroad liable for any vandalism/graffiti?

[JRG]

BSRM equipment will be moving on Sunday, November 16th over the B&A to SPG then handed off to Pan Am at SPG and up the Connecticut River Line. Follow the move on BSRM's Facebook Page and get your cameras ready.

[thebigham]

^Pic here:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=220356" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BSRM Extra At Holyoke, MA

MEC 306 and MEC 52 (Maine Central) chug across the Conn. River between Chicopee and Holyoke, Mass. with a caboose, combo passenger/baggage car, and a engine from the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum based at Lenox, MA. The equipment is being moved to North Adams, MA for the up-coming Hoosac Valley Service. The trailing engine is the BSRM SW-8 8619. The train headed north out of Springfield, MA around 3 PM. I took this photo at 4:40 PM. Too bad the Maine Central GP9 wasn't leading.

Photographed by John Bazan, November 16, 2014

[Dick H]

PAR is moving the RDC and baggage car west today.
Reported to be in the Ayer area at mid-day.

[JRG]

Latest media coverage on the project to restore tourist passenger service to the Berkshires over the former NYC(B&A) North Adams Branch.

Berkshire Eagle

Admin Note: added a brief, fair-use quote:

Hoosac Valley Service: Work set to begin on Berkshire Scenic Railway in Northern Berkshire

...

"The contractor is on site poised to begin," North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright said. "The platforms are ready to be placed. My understanding is that once they begin the work, it goes pretty quickly."

Purchase agreements are expected to be finalized any time now that will transfer ownership from Pan Am Railways to the state Department of Transportation. The money for the purchase of the rail line and the work — $4.5 million — was released in late March.

...

The Berkshire Scenic Railway will run an 8-mile round trip from just behind the Brien Center on American Legion Drive in North Adams to the old Renfrew Station in Adams, which today houses offices for Burke Construction Co., and back. The distance is about four miles each way.

Estimates show that the scenic rail line could attract as many as 10,000 riders annually, at least at first.

Meanwhile, the folks at Berkshire Scenic Railway are busily trying to complete the restoration of the rail car, a 1955 Budd Rail Diesel Car, which has been in storage since 2007 after a long history on the rails in New England, according to Jay Green, president of railway. It has the capacity to carry 87 passengers.

[Jeff Smith]

My congratulations to the BSRM and their leaders for this important milestone. We hope to see you back again soon on the south end of the line as well!