CVRA7 wrote:As reported earlier the right of way seems to have been clear cut for a good part of the distance south from Washington Mills toward Upton but brush remains heavy Upton to Hopedale and really thick Hopedale to Milford.Glad to hear that they're clearing the line that far down into Hopedale. (Now, if only they proceed into Milford. ) I'd also seen that they had been clearing some of the brush in Upton on the Hopedale side of the West Upton yard. For example, the crossing by the Upton High School is now cleared of its previous heavy brush. I'm guessing that they'd clear that side of Upton only if they had intentions of heading at least into Hopedale.
Some minor brush cutting has recently taken place in Hopedale along the main - one or two large trees have been removed and a bunch of saplings appeared to have been cut by hand.
CVRA7 wrote:Much of the Draper factory appears to have been recently torn down, with some of the perimeter buildings remaining for re-use, probably for residential and commercial purposes. I don't think there would likely be a rail freight need unless some new building took place on the rather large site. The large former lumber (Wickes?) warehouse remains vacant - it has one track that would need rebuilding if a rail freight oriented customer could be found.The following article in the Milford Daily News is on Hopedale's planning for the Draper site, and has a brief mention of the G&U:
These are interesting times along the G&U!
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x28229104
In that article, it's mentioned that the planners had not until recently been aware that the G&U would be resuming activity. It sounded as if at least some of the planners would welcome an active railroad as a way of attracting business to the area.