Central Mass Branch

Let's get this started....

Does anybody know the biginning of when the Central Mass was accessed off the Fitchburg route via the switch at Clematis Brook. It used to have its own track separate from the Fitchburg. My guess is in the 50's when they lowered the Waverley grade crossings. the switch and signal mast are still in place. While we are near Clematis Brook, when was that depot torn down?

The Central Massachusetts Branch, originally Massachusetts Central Railroad began at the Cambridge (later North Cambridge under B & M) Station of the Boston & Lowell's Lexington Branch. It ran side-by-side with the Fitchburg Railroad from Brighton St. at the Cambridge-Belmont City Line (Hill Crossing) to Clematis Brook Station. Then it took off on its own through North Waltham and the Highlands, crossed over the Fitchburg just east of Kendal Green and took off on its own the rest of the way to Northampton. One of the stations at Clematis Brook - maybe the CM - was initially called Blue Hill.
From the time operations began until 1927, the CM operated as a single track road right beside the Fitchburg through parts of Waltham, all of Belmont and part of Cambridge. CM trains ran out via the NH main through Somerville Hlds. and West Somerville (Davis Sq). B & M made some major track and signal changes for both Yard 8-9 construction and North Station construction.
CM and Lexington Branch trains were routed out via the Fitchburg Main, from Spring of '27 on. A new connection was built at West Cambridge and trains of these two lines left the Fitchburg. The Lexington Branch continued over new construction (over an abandoned r-o-w) to rejoin the existing Lexington Branch. The CM ran parallel to the Fitchburg to Hill Crossing. The previous Lexington-CM route from Somerville Jct. to Hill Crossing became the Freight Cutoff.
In the post-World War II era many highway improvements were made. Among them was depression of the B & M tracks through the Trapelo Rd and Lexington St crossings at Waverley Station. During he construction the CM was left at ground-level and double tracked and signalled, temporarily. An interlocking was constructed at Clematis Brook and from then on that was the beginning of the CM. When the grade separation was finished, the ground level CM was removed. One aspect of the grade separation was that the MTA Harvard-Waverley route which dead-ended at a crossover at the Trapelo Rd. xing was looped over the tracks and station area and this allowed PCC streetcar operation on this line.
My records indicate the grade separation was completed in 1952.

That is a nice write up. next, anybody know where the Clinton, Ma. engine house was located?

Realize the last post was some time ago but I figured I'd chime in.

I worked as a Conductor on the present day Massachusetts Central and ran over trackage to Bondsville, Ware and saw much of the right of way up to Wheelright. If I can help with any questions, let me know.

As far as the engine house in Clinton goes, I undertood it was actually on the Worcester- Ayer line south of the station. I have heard that some of the equipment for east bound trains actually came down from Lowell via the Stoney Brook Branch from North Chelmsford to The Willows and the Worcester Main line to Clinton.

The Clinton enginehouse was closed about the beginning of Spring in 1956 when the CM went diesel. From then until end of Clinton passenger service, 5/17/58 (I believe), equipment was deadheaded between Lowell or Middlesex enginehouse to Clinton via Stony Brook Branch and Ayer, both directions. I have a July, 1957 equipment assignment chart and one set actually operated as a passenger carrying train out of Boston to Lowell, deadheaded to Clinton, and began carrying passengers again from there to Boston. It was probably the last morning trip, the one due in at North Station around 11 a. m. Back then, the B & M had divisional seniority rosters for Operating crews and CM crews were on the New Hampshire Div. rosters.

Are there any signs at all of these Central Mass branch tracks? Is this what the Minuteman rail-trail is? I hate rail trails... they are evil... Can you tell I am biased??

The Minuteman Trail is the former Lexington Branch, not the Central Mass.

You can see lots of defunct Central Mass trackage in Weston.

NellsChoo wrote:Are there any signs at all of these Central Mass branch tracks? Is this what the Minuteman rail-trail is? I hate rail trails... they are evil... Can you tell I am biased??

The good thing about rail trails is that they preserve the right of way. Slowly but surely the Central Mass is returning to nature, reclaimed by mother earth...(end of drama)....

The bike path on top of the Red Line tunnel from Davis Square to Alewife is former Central Mass. track, as is the 1/2 mile of bike path east from Davis Square to Cedar Street.

The single track from Cedar Street east to Somerville Junction (Lowell Street) is also part of the former Central Mass. right-of-way; this will eventually be replaced with an extension of the bike path, since the only freight customer went away about 5 years ago.

The section in Somerville over which CM trains once operated is former Lexington Branch. The Lexington Branch and Boston & Lowell mainline were the CM's access into Boston terminal facilities.

There's plenty of CM track left in place as it has been for about 24 years or so after the last freight train ran. Crossings have been paved over but most of it is like an abandoned house. Right there and overgrown.

You can spot it at lots of places in Weston, Wayland, Sudbury, the corner of Stow that it traverses, Hudson and Berlin. Some bridges over roadways have been removed, Wilkins St. (Rte 62) Hudson and Tower St. Hudson to name two. In some of the more rural areas you probably won't have any trouble, but watch out for NIMBYs if you go exploring especially in upscale Weston, Wayland or Sudbury. Also have lots of insect repellant with you, wear long pants, long sleeved shirt and a cap.

But when the Lexington Branch was first built, it connected to the Fitchburg Line just west of what is now the Alewife T station. The "Fitchburg Cutoff", which ran through Davis Square to Somerville Junction and is now the bike path, came later.

When the Lexington Branch properties came into the Boston and Lowell family, the connection via the Fitchburg was abandoned. The connection at West Cambridge was reconstructed in 1927 or 1928 when the extensive improvements and changes to the Boston terminal facilities - North Station, Yards 8-9-10, new Tower A, new Draw 1, reroute of NH Division trains via newly constructed "High Line" and other facilites - began to be phased in.

kwf wrote:That is a nice write up. next, anybody know where the Clinton, Ma. engine house was located?

I checked with two sources. Both reported that the two bay engine
house and armstrong turntable were located very near McDonalds.

The BMRRHS #3 video by Don Robinson has a quick shot of an
engine leaving the house and being rotated by two men.....
....I hope that they ate their WHEETIES that morning.....

Does anyone have more of a 'cab ride' video/8mm around Clinton?
Anyone have a photo of an RDC going over the tressle?
ray

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: thanks

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kwf wrote:
That is a nice write up. next, anybody know where the Clinton, Ma. engine house was located?


I checked with two sources. Both reported that the two bay engine
house and armstrong turntable were located very near McDonalds.

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It must've been on the other side of the tracks from McD's, as the tracks in that area today carry the trains above the level of the buildings, kinda like a fill on the "east" side.

eddiebear wrote:.... but watch out for NIMBYs if you go exploring especially in upscale Weston, Wayland or Sudbury. Also have lots of insect repellant with you, wear long pants, long sleeved shirt and a cap.

The Bug repellant usually works on the NIMBY's as well.....