Pioneer Valley Railroad

I remember a number of years ago waking up and not hearing the typical clack at the diamond. I lived about a half mile away. Biked down next morning and no diamond.
Today, riding the rail trail on the old line.
I drive through Holyoke regularly and see an occasional set of different rolling stock.
Before I retired from Hazen Paper as a mechanic, I would take a lunch break at a siding behind the mill. The turnout did not have a lock on it but not used anymore.
Apparently the siding through the front is still capable of connecting to the mainline nearby. A couple times I saw the pickup truck on the rails when I arrived for second shift.

Rich

The last standing semaphore was removed recently due to a new track configuration on the northside of the yard in Westfield.

Jedijk88 wrote:The last standing semaphore was removed recently due to a new track configuration on the northside of the yard in Westfield.

Any photos? Was this a Boston and Maine semaphore or New Haven?

This was a New Haven semaphore.

Here is a picture of it taken by Charles England and posted on nerail.org awhile back.
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... ex=4&key2=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

J.L.

Jedijk88 wrote:This was a New Haven semaphore.

That may well have been THE last standing New Haven semaphore outside of a museum.

PVRR is running excursions out of Holyoke Heritage Park Saturday Oct 14th

More info here:
http://irishecho.com/2017/10/all-aboard-in-holyoke/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Does the PVRR still run on Water Street in Holyoke? I'd love to catch them street running sometime. If so, is there any kind of regularity to it?

The PVRR does not currently run on water st. The Pan Am interchange track near S Canal St was recently rebuilt with new tracks and a new grade crossing in conjunction with the Vermonter re-route a few years back. Maybe someday soon we'll see them run down there again. I think I had heard somewhere that the bridge carrying the interchange track over the canal had structual issues...maybe someone else has more information on that?

It's the bridge over the canal that does have structural issues, don't know the status of repairs though.

Dunno if the bridge has been repaired yet, doubtful if interchange has not re-established: https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ ... cts--52989" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I recall reading something in a newspaper that the project to repair the bridge was to begin soon, but, don't remember the specifics. In any case here is a link to the Mass DOT site from 2017 that mentions this project along with other approved rail infrastructure improvements.

https://blog.mass.gov/transportation/ma ... rtunities/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Didn't see it posted here, but Yankee Candle in Holyoke doesn't receive cars anymore, hasn't for awhile now.

Pioneer Valley RR will be running a couple excursion trains out of Holyoke on Sat. Oct 27th. More info here: https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/ ... rom_h.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pan Am interchange track update: Work crews are presently (10/10/18) on site working on the bridge carrying the track over the canal. Rails are pulled and there is a good size crane on site. Looks like the connection may actually be reestablished sometime soon.