Lowell Line - Winchester, Woburn, Wilmington Spottings

Trinnau wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 9:06 pm You basically have the two yard-to-mainline crossovers in place, the 645 is the number assigned to one of those crossovers, I think the lower one. There is then a sequential crossover in each direction to go from Track 2 to 1 as FX has a set of universal crossovers in-line with the yard crossovers.

I put this together to show the difference between a Yard 10 move via Yard 21 (Green/Yellow) and a no-longer-possible Yard 8 move via the mainline (Red/Orange). The basically straddle either side of Sullivan Square.

Trinnau wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 9:06 pm You basically have the two yard-to-mainline crossovers in place, the 645 is the number assigned to one of those crossovers, I think the lower one. There is then a sequential crossover in each direction to go from Track 2 to 1 as FX has a set of universal crossovers in-line with the yard crossovers.

I put this together to show the difference between a Yard 10 move via Yard 21 (Green/Yellow) and a no-longer-possible Yard 8 move via the mainline (Red/Orange). The basically straddle either side of Sullivan Square.

And the promised new connecting track would run left to right from the Green track across the yellow track to the Orange and Red tracks. Also if done at the same time (???) a new connection could run left to right from the Green track across to the Mystic Wharf Branch which is where the words "Hood Park Dr" is shown. This would be approximately where the original FX diamonds were.

Is that branch to Charlestown actually getting restored or is that just something that would be nice to happen?

If you are referring to the Mystic Wharf Branch, I have not heard anything lately but there is a plan for a new haul road/rail corridor to the Mystic Wharfs/Moran Terminal. It would make sense to do it all at the same time. Using OWLS diamonds would eliminate the maintenance concerns that caused the diamonds to be removed in the first place.

So I can't decipher if adding this track means we are likely to ever see DOBO/BODO on the Lowell Line/Wildcat ever again? I haven't seen it even during the recent Western Route track replacements.

Yes, this track allows that possibility. Whether it happens or not is up to Pan Am/MBTA/Keolis in terms of train operations. They may have found they like the Western Route better, who knows?

Has the gravel train been going through Reading every day (and night) now?

I have not seen the gravel train through West Medford in over a year.

And no sooner than I wrote that, it has returned to the NHML. Last night BODO passed after the last train (#342), and was followed by LA-2 shortly after. I wonder, how does it enter BSG - does it do a move into Yard 21 and reverse, or is there a route via the high line that the CR takes into North Station?

You mean DOBO. Since the connection at Mystic Jct (Washington St) to FX is not in service yet, they have to come down the high line to Tower A, then back out towards FX (Sullivan Square) to get to BS&G.

I've been seeing the gravel train through woburn/wilmington pretty regularly lately, and nothing but commuter rail trains on the haverhill line.

I asked this before but that was a while ago, is there a plan currently for the line parallel to New Washington St in Somerville? At this moment, it has MoW full size train cars parked all up it. I believe last time I brought it up, it was disconnected due to Green Line construction but the plan was to reconnect it at some point. Also it looks like they are rebuildling the bridges on the Lowell Line right by BET? Are they going to run CR trains over this New Wash St side branch during construction? That would make this a very cool spot to watch trains go by!

Yes, the plan is to reopen this track. There is a small section that is not yet built at the west end which is where construction equipment is accessing work sites. Once the work in that area is done, the plan is to rebuild the track and reactivate the line.

The big question is if at that time will they build the connection to Everett (Newburyport/Rockport Line) discussed previously.

Gap:

So what's going on with the old cement plant in Wilmington? Read reports that there are new owners and the plant is being reopened but haven't heard anything "CONCRETE".

I've heard nothing about the cement plant but that would be great if true! Maybe I'll get lucky and get some videos of them using their trackmobile

So is LA-2 (which frequently follows the last train - DOBO comes after the 2nd to last inbound usually) also going over the High Line bridge (soon to be replaced), and then reversing?

Finch wrote: ↑Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:56 pm Hey, I've been thinking about getting out on my bike to go check out the rails in the same area you're riding. I live in the north end of Reading so I can take Concord street over to the Reading/Haverhill line pretty easily. It would be nice to get farther over though to spot some freight trains or Downeasters. I'm looking on Mapquest right now just to see where the tracks are. Isn't that short link between the Wilmington and Reading lines called the "Wildcat cutoff" or something like that? Anyways I'd like to get over there because that's where the Downeaster goes though, and apparently also some Guilford traffic. Any commuter trains on that little stretch of track?

You could take Concord St to 62 and that would get you right to Wilmington Station. I'm not sure if theres many/any freight trains during the day. From there you could head south on 38, veer left on to 129, then head south on Woburn St and that will take you close to the area north of Anderson Station. Both good spots!

If you head North to Andover, you can probably see a lot more freight as Ballardvale. That's a little too far North for my normal thursday bike rides but last time I was in the area for work, this pan am freight went by that just kept going on and on forever. It's a shame I was busy working and couldn't go film it