I have been a lurker on this site for a couple of years and this thread has finally compelled me to register and post.
I am very familiar with this entire area. I really enjoyed looking at the map and reading the discussion. A couple of things I can add:
1. The utility ROW that is mentioned is a Tennessee Gas Pipeline. The pipeline heads west through the Nashoba Regional High School athletic fields before heading south paralleling the International Golf Course. Ultimately this pipeline ends in Clinton and parallels a portion of a long spur off of the Agricultural Branch Railroad (CSX Fitchburg Secondary).
2. The rock cut that can be seen from 495 is definitely the Lancaster Railroad ROW. The pipeline crosses 495 a bit north of this location.
3. More of the right of way can be seen on the Lancaster end from where the blue line ends on the map. Unfortunately the foliage in these views blocks a lot of what is going on. The open area at the end of the blue line is a golf driving range. The ROW is definitely visible in this area. It crosses Wilder Road and parallels the far side of the International Golf Course and crosses the Tennessee Gas line. The Lancaster Railroad roadbed is visible through parts of the golf course and is basically the property line with some neighboring homes. It then crosses Bolton Station Road and Mill Street Extension. It is visible in this area as well. Last fall a contractor bulldozed flat a small part of the roadbed in this area. Most is still visible where he was working. From here, most of the ROW is built on. I had a relative who lived on Mill Street Extension and I was able to walk part of the ROW in this area. A sub development was built a few years back and it is all gone now in this area. It becomes visible again on the other side of Route 110 on the north side of Mill Street. To the east of the Pack & Postal Center is the Nashua River. It is hard to tell there is a river there in these earth views. Standing on the bridge looking to the east side of the river is a substantial fill where the roadbed must have come up to a bridge to cross the river. I will see if I can get a picture this week to post. Once across the river, the PAR Worcester main is few hundred feet away.
4. Back to the Bolton area, on the section of the blue line that is north of route 117 you can see a condo development in process at 891 Main St. This is the former site of Crystal Springs Camp Ground. The sale of this property for development was about four or five years ago to Toll Brothers. I kept my eyes open for the sale information in the paper as I was curious as to what it sold for. Part of the sale included a transaction with the Boston And Maine Corporation. I was not expecting to see this! I would have figured the ROW was all sold off to the abutters before the 21st Century!
I am very familiar with this entire area. I really enjoyed looking at the map and reading the discussion. A couple of things I can add:
1. The utility ROW that is mentioned is a Tennessee Gas Pipeline. The pipeline heads west through the Nashoba Regional High School athletic fields before heading south paralleling the International Golf Course. Ultimately this pipeline ends in Clinton and parallels a portion of a long spur off of the Agricultural Branch Railroad (CSX Fitchburg Secondary).
2. The rock cut that can be seen from 495 is definitely the Lancaster Railroad ROW. The pipeline crosses 495 a bit north of this location.
3. More of the right of way can be seen on the Lancaster end from where the blue line ends on the map. Unfortunately the foliage in these views blocks a lot of what is going on. The open area at the end of the blue line is a golf driving range. The ROW is definitely visible in this area. It crosses Wilder Road and parallels the far side of the International Golf Course and crosses the Tennessee Gas line. The Lancaster Railroad roadbed is visible through parts of the golf course and is basically the property line with some neighboring homes. It then crosses Bolton Station Road and Mill Street Extension. It is visible in this area as well. Last fall a contractor bulldozed flat a small part of the roadbed in this area. Most is still visible where he was working. From here, most of the ROW is built on. I had a relative who lived on Mill Street Extension and I was able to walk part of the ROW in this area. A sub development was built a few years back and it is all gone now in this area. It becomes visible again on the other side of Route 110 on the north side of Mill Street. To the east of the Pack & Postal Center is the Nashua River. It is hard to tell there is a river there in these earth views. Standing on the bridge looking to the east side of the river is a substantial fill where the roadbed must have come up to a bridge to cross the river. I will see if I can get a picture this week to post. Once across the river, the PAR Worcester main is few hundred feet away.
4. Back to the Bolton area, on the section of the blue line that is north of route 117 you can see a condo development in process at 891 Main St. This is the former site of Crystal Springs Camp Ground. The sale of this property for development was about four or five years ago to Toll Brothers. I kept my eyes open for the sale information in the paper as I was curious as to what it sold for. Part of the sale included a transaction with the Boston And Maine Corporation. I was not expecting to see this! I would have figured the ROW was all sold off to the abutters before the 21st Century!
