Moshassuck Valley RR/Fore River RR

[Gilbert B Norman]

Might anyone have information regarding what happened to either of these Short Lines that interchanged with the New Haven at Woodlawn RI and Quincy MA respectively?

Either, having about 2 miles of road each, could have well held the title as shortest road in the US.

[ewh]

The shortest short line in New England was actually the Warwick Railway at .9 miles, Moshassuck Valley was a whopping 1.8, and Fore River is about 2 miles.

The first two became part of the Providence and Worcester around 1980. The Fore River is now the Quincy Bay Terminal.

I work in Warwick, RI and have noticed that the right of way of the Warwick RR is overgrown and the line looks abandoned. People are parking their cars close to the tracks. I would guess the branch closed within the past 5 years.

The Moshassuck sees some traffic, although the P&W no longer operates the northern end of the line, making this a shorter short line.

The Quincy Bay operates Monday-Friday, often 2-3 trips per day on an as-needed basis. The RR is served by the local CSX freight out of Middleboro, this being the northern limit of CSX's operation. The local comes north on the CSX/MBTA line to Braintree where there is a wye to head south on the Greenbush branch, the junction with the QB is about a mile south of the wye. But, the interchange is on the now revived Greenbush branch, so the Quincy Bay will have to deal with MBTA commuter trains in the near future. I used to work in Quincy and about 15 years ago over lunch walked the CSX line from the junction in Braintree to the Fore River junction in Quincy only to be met by a very lengthy Conrail local inching down to the then Fore River RR. The QB continues to be served out of Middleboro because the mayor of Quincy stipulated NO FREIGHTS through the city after the line was restored to Boston in the 1990's. So, although the MBTA is doubled tracked between Braintree and Boston [and also parallels the Red Line], the third track for freight across the Neponset River was never rebuilt.

There are several good photos of Fore River/QB in the NERAIL photo archives.

[paulrail]

Sadly, the QBT RR is no more. The line to the shipyard is now run by Fore River Transportation, a subsidiary of Twin Rivers Technologies.

The following was written by a friend of mine, Paul Cutler III, for another railroad discussion forum. I hope you find it interesting.



Paul

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Fore River Railroad
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The Fore River Railroad (FRR) is still in business today, owned by the State of Massachusetts (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority: MWRA) and operated by Fore River Transportation (FRVT), a state contractor. FRVT is a subsidiary of one of their customers, Twin Rivers Technology (which is the former Proctor & Gamble plant at Quincy Point). Their locos are a pair of ex-Conrail B23-7's, #101 and #102, painted all black with a white and teal sill stripe (Twin Rivers company colors). See link for pictures: www.geocities.com/Paris/S...photo.html

Before FRVT took over, the FRR was operated by another state contractor for 15 years or so, Quincy Bay Terminal Co. (QBT). QBT's loco fleet was at one time #19 (S-4), #20 (SW9), #21 (U23B), #22 & #23 (B23-7's). See link for pictures: www.geocities.com/Paris/S...photo.html

For an old link at least 5 years out of date for QBT, see here: capecodrails.railfan.net/qbt/qbt.html

Before QBT, FRR was owned by General Dynamics, and before that, Bethlehem Steel. And even earlier, they were owned by the Fore River Shipyard's original owner, Thomas Watson of Alexander Graham Bell fame. The FRR did, at one time, lease NH switchers for a while back in the steam days (I've seen a shot of what looks like a T-2b crossing Quincy Ave.)

There are two FRR engines still in the shipyard, #17 (S-6) and #18 (S-4), and both are in Bethlehem Steel colors of yellow and black. #18 has been sold to the Old Colony Museum in Fall River, but they are having all kinds of trouble getting it to Fall River (it may be cut up for scrap). #17 is in working order and could be used if FRVT and the State could work out who pays for what.

FRVT's main business is loads shipped out of fatty acids made by Twin Rivers (a soap ingrediant), and converted fertilizer made from human waste manufactured by New England Fertilizer Co. (NEFCO) for the MWRA.

The FRR is also semi-famous on the NH because supposedly, one of it's engines being towed caused the sparks that set the Neponset Bridge on the Old Colony on fire, which cut off any chance for a renewal of commuter rail service until the late-1990's.

Finally, there is a former PRR N-5 caboose on the property that's owned by the employees of the FRVT. This is used for long back-up moves going to Twin Rivers or going to Braintree yard. It's in former QBT colors, which is Maine Central Harvest Gold with Maine Central Green for trim.

[130MM]

[quote="ewh"] So, although the MBTA is doubled tracked between Braintree and Boston [and also parallels the Red Line] quote]

The Middleboro Main Line is not double track all the way from Boston to Braintree. There is single track between Fly (MP 1.5) and Vic (MP 3.98), and between Squant (MP 6.1) and Gross (MP 10.5). It will be interesting when the 28 or so Greenbush trains are added to those Single Track areas!