by eddiebear
The Hurricane Diane topic under the New Haven sent me back to the old days when railroads had available alternate routes to detour traffic when there were blockades or heave M-W work. I worked for the Boston and Maine from 1968 to 1986 and here are some that I remember.
Feb. 1967 a bit before my stint at the B & M. There was a freight train wreck in the Hoosac Tunnel, about 40 cars or so I think. There wasn't much room to work and cars had to be dragged out one by one. Tunnel tied up for several weeks. Detour route up Conn. River to Bellows Falls, Green Mtn. to Rutland, D & H to Whitehall and then to Mechanicville.
Oct. 1970. I was on the fan trip that ran Boston-Greenfield-Bellows Falls, change to GMRC train to Chester and return to BF. A freight following us up the Conn. River derailed at site of freight derailment earlier that week and we eventually got back to the Fitchburg route via Keene and Winchendon to South Ash. and back to Fitchburg main.
April, 1970, couldn't go out for this one because one of my brothers got married that weekend. Dam on private pond in Chelmsford broke and washed out portion of Stony Brook. For a day or two through freight operated from Lowell into Boston and then west.
There were several derailments of gravel trains on NH Route in mid-70s that had Lowell-Boston service run via the Lowell Branch and then via Reading.
After Chelsea fire in October '73, all the Rockport and Ipswich RDCs were coupled together and ran via Saugus Branch.
December, 1970 freight derailment at South Acton. South Acton RDCs were shoehorned around the scene and routed out a hand throw switch by the freight house and run to Ayer. Coupled to Ayer RDCs and routed via Stony Brook to Lowell and Boston. South Acton-Ayer service terminated at West Concord, bus beyond, until track was restored. But wait. No sooner had track been restored when first freight over restored segment derailed an engine. 120-ton capy. Boston wrecker stripped gears trying to lift a GP9.
East Deerfield wrecker was working here but was called to a more serious wreck at Wachusett. Derailing cars damaged an industrial building. Fitchburg Route was now blocked in two places. Detour route was Gardner-Worcester-Ayer-No Chelmsford-Lowell. Meets were at Worcester.
Then either JU-1 or UJ-2 spilled cars at Bath, NH. Everyone went home for Christmas then came back to work and got everything cleaned up. That was probably the toughest month everyone endured on the B & M during the 1970s.
From time to time due to water problems at Union Square, a derailment near Park St. Somerville that was left for a long time while the Trustees pressured the MBTA to do something about buying the railroad assets, and during Red Line construction through Porter Square, the Freight Cutoff was used by passenger trains. One of the most interesting detours had the morning trip to Gardner run via Lowell and the Stony Brook due to single track operation.
April or May '84. Major derailment at West River (Brattleboro). For a few days, Conn. River freights ran via the Northern to Concord, NH and then down to North Chelmsford and west. Only one train at a time was allowed on this segment and speed was 10 mph, I think.
Anyone know of others?
Feb. 1967 a bit before my stint at the B & M. There was a freight train wreck in the Hoosac Tunnel, about 40 cars or so I think. There wasn't much room to work and cars had to be dragged out one by one. Tunnel tied up for several weeks. Detour route up Conn. River to Bellows Falls, Green Mtn. to Rutland, D & H to Whitehall and then to Mechanicville.
Oct. 1970. I was on the fan trip that ran Boston-Greenfield-Bellows Falls, change to GMRC train to Chester and return to BF. A freight following us up the Conn. River derailed at site of freight derailment earlier that week and we eventually got back to the Fitchburg route via Keene and Winchendon to South Ash. and back to Fitchburg main.
April, 1970, couldn't go out for this one because one of my brothers got married that weekend. Dam on private pond in Chelmsford broke and washed out portion of Stony Brook. For a day or two through freight operated from Lowell into Boston and then west.
There were several derailments of gravel trains on NH Route in mid-70s that had Lowell-Boston service run via the Lowell Branch and then via Reading.
After Chelsea fire in October '73, all the Rockport and Ipswich RDCs were coupled together and ran via Saugus Branch.
December, 1970 freight derailment at South Acton. South Acton RDCs were shoehorned around the scene and routed out a hand throw switch by the freight house and run to Ayer. Coupled to Ayer RDCs and routed via Stony Brook to Lowell and Boston. South Acton-Ayer service terminated at West Concord, bus beyond, until track was restored. But wait. No sooner had track been restored when first freight over restored segment derailed an engine. 120-ton capy. Boston wrecker stripped gears trying to lift a GP9.
East Deerfield wrecker was working here but was called to a more serious wreck at Wachusett. Derailing cars damaged an industrial building. Fitchburg Route was now blocked in two places. Detour route was Gardner-Worcester-Ayer-No Chelmsford-Lowell. Meets were at Worcester.
Then either JU-1 or UJ-2 spilled cars at Bath, NH. Everyone went home for Christmas then came back to work and got everything cleaned up. That was probably the toughest month everyone endured on the B & M during the 1970s.
From time to time due to water problems at Union Square, a derailment near Park St. Somerville that was left for a long time while the Trustees pressured the MBTA to do something about buying the railroad assets, and during Red Line construction through Porter Square, the Freight Cutoff was used by passenger trains. One of the most interesting detours had the morning trip to Gardner run via Lowell and the Stony Brook due to single track operation.
April or May '84. Major derailment at West River (Brattleboro). For a few days, Conn. River freights ran via the Northern to Concord, NH and then down to North Chelmsford and west. Only one train at a time was allowed on this segment and speed was 10 mph, I think.
Anyone know of others?