The Future in Palmer, MA

As far as getting a station and stop in Palmer, it would have to start with a study to justify numbers of potential riders, and available trains. Free public parking is already available. A quick look at current schedules features only the Lake Shore Limited and Vermonter. (I don't have a TT handy to look for locals, if any.) It is possible, though probably inconvenient, to go from Hartford to Boston via Springfield with connections on the Lake Shore.

Regular use of the Palmer station ended in the late '50's. I do remember a serviceman boarding a westbound around 1963 and probably buying his ticket on the train.

The big issue in providing any service obviously starts on the Federal level and overall Amtrak funding. Palmer would stand a better chance of regaing any service if it all started with the MBTA finally reaching out beyond Worcester to Springfield and getting over the line on CSX's single track. Then there could be incentive and justification for Amtrak to make stops including the Vermonter.

amymoose wrote:If Palmer were to get a station, would this help the cause of getting an Amtrak service restore from Boston to Springfield

Wasnt this cut about 10yr ago????? due to lack of funds - I would have thought this would have been a success given the sizes of the cities of Springfield, Worcester etc - could even have done with extending to Hartford CT as getting from Hartford CT to Boston by rail is almost impossible unless you go via New Haven

What are the chances of getting this revived?????

Boston to New Haven via Springfield was suspended by Amtrak about a year & a half to 2 years ago.

As for travelling Boston to Hartford, it's definately quicker to drive or take the Peter Pan.

Sure, I understand the need for the fence. I guess it's just hard for me to understand some people's lack of common sence around active rails... If the fence allows the Steaming Tender to operate as a business, then I will live with the obscured photos!

Anyone know who owns the Porter 0-6-0 in Palmer?
if you do, could you please ask them to remove the absolutely hidious cowcather, headlight, and stack?!


those are 1860's details on a 1915 era locomotive, looks terrible.

http://parkengines.railfan.net/MA/images/102.jpg

Scot

The Porter locomotive is owned by the owners of the station/Steaming Tender Restaurant. They are planning to remove the stack and also replace the headlight.

Notice the new/old lanterns on it now?

In this past week, crews did perform repairs to the diamond at Palmer. On Friday 9/16 I noticed a westbound fright wasting no time leaving town. So I had a look and found the frog points built-up by welding them. This is apparently temporary as the new frogs are still sitting at the old freight house location. I suppose this was easier than putting the line out of service for any length of time.

There is little or no chance of any extension of "T" service between
Worcester and Springfield. The railroad is not in shape for any sort of
competetive passenger train operation and there is more than adequate
bus service between Springfield and Boston.
I suppose if there was demand, some of the springfield - Boston bus
service could stop at Palmer but trains, not likely.
The only hope that I could see for a passenger train stopping at Palmer
would be if the Vermonter was routed via New London and the NEC, then
you would probably have a cooperative railroad involved instead of a
railroad that would prefer that no passenger trains travel over its rails.
Noel Weaver

Noel, it sounds to me like you are describing NECR's attitude toward passenger service! At least as far as going north out of New London ids concerned!
IIRC, extension of passenger service was suggested to NECR by interested parties and they BALKED! They like thier nice neat little freight only operation from New London up to Palmer and from what I hear down this way they aim to keep it that way.
Cosmo
Reporting from Norwich, CT

When I worked there back in 96 the track conditions south were Decent the average speed was 25mph and could probably hold 35mph for passenger service. But track conditions now on the NECR are less than decent especially South. They would have to do exstencive siding work, as any part of the sidings that are in still in service are stuffed "or used to be stuffed with Railcars" and the yard in New london is in Very poor shape but with only 4 tracks in the Yard in service at that time is Sad. They also talked about having a Switcher on duty in New London back then But poor conditions and high crime area would not allow.
And also rolling through Willamanic CT. at 10mph we were a Target for Rock throwing, Bolder rolling, all sorts of Monuments built in the tracks and I sware Gun Shots....Worse area than Pittsfield on the B&A.

We ran a Couple of Buff folliage trips and Casino trips in 97 that seemed to have great ridership numbers. Palmer has a decent parking lot just north of the diamond I believe Amtrak could double there numbers if the Vermonter would reroute the Trains Via the NEC and New London North with a stop at Palmer.

With all things considered, keeping the Vermonter on it's regular route, the fact that you'd have an established route to New York, Washington, and to the north, a Palmer stop involving JUST the Vermonter (for now)would be the most probable and practical way to reach for higher goals. That is IF all parties involved collectively made it happen.

The major physical hurdle now would be to locate a station that's efficient to use without people crossing track. The state of Vermont may play into this too since it is Vermont that subsidizes part of the service. Either the Town of Palmer itself (doubtful) or the State (maybe) would undoubtedly have to contribute something. A move for complete Amtrak service would have to start with very small steps.

Ive seen the bums having sex on those couches leaving Palmer heading north on 602 before...It aint pretty.

That diamond has been at least 40 for a while... ever since I remember, they go blowing over that thing at 40.

Look for P&W run through power on thier trains in '06

Bellows Falls tunnel will get lowered by '07

Brian
Conductor NECR Palmer

BUMS: Yuck...

P&W: interesting!

BF TUNNEL: So I hear!

Hey Brian,
Does Sean, Spencer or the Big Dude that used to drive the Jeep cj. still work there? After Lou Sabo left and went to Texas for the Company things went down hill..... P&W Power on NECR Trains..? Be great if they ended up buying it out.

Re the bums, I'm surprised the city does not run them in, or run them out of town. The "jungle" is in full view of Amtrak and it can't be a very good impression of Palmer for folks to see from the window of a coach. Not to mention the trash, bottles, and other stuff they strew all over the place, if someone had that in their yard the health department and zoning would be all over them.