Massachusetts Central Railroad (MCER) Discussion

MEC407 wrote:Another fine video by skyman2002:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4bU2Z_9swQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting video! One of the train consists included a CMQ box car plus a bunch of empty 89' flat cars - any idea what commodity was delivered by these flats?

YamaOfParadise wrote:Figured I would ask here about this: were the MCER's track(s) that run adjacent to NECR's line in Palmer originally part of CV's mainline, or was it always a separately owned line on a shared right-of-way?

Always two separate railroads, with the current Mass Central line previously being a Boston & Albany/New York Central/Penn Central branch that happened to parallel the CV on the way out of town.

I saw my very first Mass Central train today, in the Bondsville section of Palmer while stopped at the Church Street crossing. The two bluebirds were power, with a pretty good-sized consist of at least 15 covered hoppers on the head pin, and a number of large flatcars carrying lengths of pipe (LARGE pipes). Just wish I had my Nikon with me! He was headed out of Palmer going east? north?, what customers do they serve?
Peace,
Jonathan

mass central trains go north from palmer.
not a lot of on line customers. mostly transloading at forest lake, ware, and barre plains.

the pipe is probably headed for the barre plains wildwood reload facility. covered hoppers are salt or plastic pellets.

PA2 took 41 cars north out of Palmer today with 1751-1750.

41 cars sounds like a good amount of business. Is that a daily operation?

Monday-Friday

For those who haven't heard, the NW5 was recently moved to Palmer and is being serviced so it can be returned to operation. The high nose geep they own was also moved to a siding for temporary storage.

so do they have any operational power? Are they currently running? Thank you

yes, the posts above should give you an idea. 1750/1751 are ex PC GP38's in a bluebird B&M style scheme.

backroadrails wrote:For those who haven't heard, the NW5 was recently moved to Palmer and is being serviced so it can be returned to operation.

That would be a fine engine for a museum or tourist operation. But unless it's going to be used at some industry for occasional light duty, they'd be better off putting their money elsewhere IMHO.