Iron Horse Park (North Billerica)

I was just looking at the property from a very respectful distance (i.e., via Google Maps), and I came across a contributed photo that makes me wonder... is this the third passenger car (the first two being the ones currently in the OCS) we saw in the old NBC video discussed in another thread?

Nope, that's one of the old work train cars. Good catch, though!

okay i guess going there to take pictures is out of the question, okay thank you everyone

You could always try getting permision from the B&M PD to see if they would let you photograph the old buildings...The most they can say is no but atleast you've covered yourself.

I believe that the remaining railroad property at Iron Horse Park is wholly owned by the MBTA, with Pan Am occupying a small space as a lessee of some sort, therefore a B&M police officer, were one to find one, would lack the requisite authority to allow such activity. If one were to seek permission, the likelihood of an affirmation being nil, it would be best to contact the MBTA.

i would think their authority would extend to where they have trackage rights, but perhaps i am wrong.

TPR37777 wrote:I believe that the remaining railroad property at Iron Horse Park is wholly owned by the MBTA, with Pan Am occupying a small space as a lessee of some sort, therefore a B&M police officer, were one to find one, would lack the requisite authority to allow such activity. If one were to seek permission, the likelihood of an affirmation being nil, it would be best to contact the MBTA.

No, that is incorrect. The old shops are leased by Pan Am from the MBTA, but there is no MBTA presence there. The B&M police has authority over the grounds used by Pan Am (their headquarters are there) and everywhere they have trackage rights (which is the entire property). The MBTA police doesn't even know where Iron Horse park is.

You have failed to comprehend my post. I did not say that the B&M would lack police powers on the property, as they would enjoy such authority by statute, however all law enforcement is inherently prohibitive in its scope. If I were a police officer in Tewksbury, I could drive through the parking lot of Walmart all day long and enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, arresting people for breaking into cars, shoplifting and the like. I could not, however, authorize a girl scout troop to sell cookies at the exit because I would have no such authority, not being a representative of the company which owned the property. Yes, Pan Am leases space at Iron Horse Park, however the property is owned by the MBTA, and apart from the limited ability to escort someone around the leased premises only, the majority of the property and its remaining structures are not part of the lease and as such would require the permission of the owner or one of its representatives.

I can't understand you if you're vague.

Now that I see what you meant and I would agree that that probably is the case. You most likely would need both MBTA and Pan Am's permission but I can tell you from personal experience the B&M Police patrols the entire property (I worked for them).

okay, well still, i am not going to risk it and to even try to get permission is out of the question because emailing or calling would put me on the run around. I thank you all for the input, but after reading what you all have said, has made me say never mind to taking pictures of the old B&M shops. also last i knew the mbta had some rdc budd cars and there old trackless trolley buses stored there, i was hoping to go and see if they were still there.

Guys, a phone call requesting an authorization to view and photo the place is certainly a step in the right direction, but from one who would know, it's probably not going to work. Telephone calls are always looked at as suspicious regarding intent. The very nature of a phone call is to disguise intent, so if you want serious consideration...go to the person physically who you want to ask. If it's not worth your time and effort, it's not worth the shoot, apparently. Even the same officer who would otherwise clear you by calling over there, probably would not clear you by virtue of a phone call. I personally have had the experience of expecting persons who I met over the phone to be normal, to turn into wild, crazy, perverted, and assaultive individuals. No officer is going to take responsibility sight unseen to send you up the road to be someone's headache. Also know that if 100 people read this, maybe 1 will do it. Your standing out will get you the ride ! (Always bring your gear with you also.) Good luck.

1.) There is nothing left there
2.) It is too much of a safety hazard to have anyone on the grounds. (Asbestos)

There still 2 RDCs there, the 6114 and 6917. They are still listed as stored on NETransit. But they are in a forested area deep within the property so highly illegal to get to.

atsf sp wrote:There still 2 RDCs there, the 6114 and 6917. They are still listed as stored on NETransit. But they are in a forested area deep within the property so highly illegal to get to.

Are these the ones you are talking about?
Abandoned B&M Budd RDC's Outside of Boston : http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... GJ0R2dRlwI

atsf sp wrote:There still 2 RDCs there, the 6114 and 6917. They are still listed as stored on NETransit. But they are in a forested area deep within the property so highly illegal to get to.

There is nothing left there other than a couple random boxcars, trust me.