Connecticut River Line (Pan Am)

[GU1001]

Another tie fire in Northfield.
This time contained to freight cars behind the locomotive.

As reported on WWLP this morning:

http://wwlp.com/2017/09/25/5-fire-depar ... orthfield/

[lexon]

You beat me to it. Just saw it a short time ago.

Rich

[lexon]

Update (with photos) from Northampton:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 2310751055" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Shows completed box tunnel with rail above and new one being built (rebar for its bottom)

I bike the area quite often and they did some serious steel work in the beginning.
People can approach from a sidewalk behind Walgreens or from the rail trail that passes Union Station. I have seen many cross over the tracks from behind Walgreens.

https://trainsinthevalley.org/northampton-underpass/

Rich

[Train60]

Another tie fire in Northfield.
This time contained to freight cars behind the locomotive.

As reported on WWLP this morning:

http://wwlp.com/2017/09/25/5-fire-depar ... orthfield/

Looks like the sixth tie fire along the Conn River in the past three years. What the heck is going on?!

Northfield - 9/25/2017
http://www.recorder.com/Northfield-rail ... e-12731461

Northfield - 6/13/2017
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/ ... s_ext.html

Whately - 8/19/2016
http://www.gazettenet.com/Four-departme ... ze-4241069

Deerfield - 7/22/2016
http://www.recorder.com/Railroad-ties-s ... re-3610245

Holyoke - 7/27/2015
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/ ... bridg.html

Holyoke - 11/23/2015
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/ ... oke_b.html

[newpylong]

Well, there's a lot of scrap ties because the entire line was rebuilt.

[johnpbarlow]

EDPO seems to haul these ex-D&H hoppers and other company cars loaded with spent ties on a pretty regular basis - I'm guessing they're headed to PermaTreat at Mattawamkeag for burning?

[690]

Yes, that's generally where they end up eventually.

[newpylong]

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... 049271.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BM6569]

Is this where there was a speed restriction for the switch?

[newpylong]

Yes 25 mph. I would think it will be good for at least Limited speed now.

[jay.barnes]

Just out of curiosity - does anyone have any sort of current status of the line's restoration? I still see some signals "turned in", and not in service yet (a couple new signals just north of the Holyoke Amtrak station are the first that come to mind).

What is there left to do on the line?

[shadyjay]

Not sure what the delay in Holyoke is.... those signals have been turned away and portions of a new track laid since the line opened.

There are stacks of ties waiting to be installed along the "straightaway" between Northampton and Greenfield. There's also a 2nd track on the west side of the line that looks like it is in some state of possible restoration. Also there is some clearing in the Bernardston area where a second track or some siding is possible.

[Stp243]

Theres a lot of tree clearing going on from Mt. Tom Junction, past the power plant and south along route 5. Anyone know what the purpose is?

[Hux]

Tree clearing or overhang cutback on the ROW?

[Stp243]

They've taken full trees down to the stumps and does not appear to be what I would think is routine pruning. The clearing extends 20-30 feet on the east (river side) of the line from the power plant sidings to Old Ferry Street. A lot of trees between the ROW and route 5 have also been taken down. South from Old Ferry St to as far as I can see from route 5 there is already a clearing with ballast and an access road which has had a lot of contractor vehicles and equipment on it recently.