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Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New England

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 #1545635  by Falmouth Secondary to Otis
 
Was driving through the Otis rotary this morning and saw a full tractor trailer load of RR ties headed into Joint Base Cape Cod / Otis. You would think they would be delivered by train if there purpose was Rail related. Will have to see if any news comes out about any related activity.
 #1545643  by BandA
 
I don't think railroads give other railroads price breaks on transporting small shipments. You would think there would be "professional discounts"
 #1545672  by b&m 1566
 
Falmouth Secondary to Otis wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2020 11:43 am Was driving through the Otis rotary this morning and saw a full tractor trailer load of RR ties headed into Joint Base Cape Cod / Otis. You would think they would be delivered by train if there purpose was Rail related. Will have to see if any news comes out about any related activity.
I guess not, I just had 5 flatbed truck loads, shipped out of Cleveland last week and brought to RI, it was all rail related equipment, rails, frogs, ties, etc.
 #1545702  by Falmouth Secondary to Otis
 
Currently the Cape Main / Falmouth Secondary / Middleboro subdivision are waiting on a MassDOT bid award for the installation of up to 25,000 ties being supplied by an awarded bid to Stella JoneS of Pittsburgh, PA with any additional ties to be supplied by the contractor. Went back and read the tie award and it did state they were to be delivered by truck. For that amount of ties to be delivered I would think it would have been more efficient to deliver by rail and unload at the various designated drop off locations. Haven't read or heard about any major tie replacements out on JBCC / Otis Industrial track. Maybe some MOW work is being done on the line or out by the Otis transfer station seeing that the runaround siding out there is out of service. MassCoastal has to runaround in N Falmouth and push cars out to the station which certainly slows down the trip.
 #1546098  by Jeff Smith
 
According to Rails & Ports Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/railsandports/
Mass Coastal Auction Ends in Incumbent Coastal Rail LLC Victory

The Chapter 11 Trustee, William A. Brandt, Jr., of the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, Inc. (Iowa Pacific Holdings) held the auction for the Mass Coastal Railroad property on Friday, June 19, receiving bids from the current operator, under the Coast Rail, LLC name, and from First Colony Development and Rail Holdings Co.

While several companies had vied for a place in the auction, only the two companies, First Colony and Coastal Rail, submitted a qualifying bid of $1,046,309.00 by 1159 hrs on June 16. The auction was held to award the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, Inc. 100% LLC membership interest in the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad.
...
Sixty-one bids were made in the course of the auction. The final bid was submitted by Coastal Rail for a Purchase Price, as defined in the applicable membership interest purchase agreement, of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00). The Trustee has selected this final bid by Coastal Rail as the highest and best bid and will seek the approval of the sale of the 100% membership interests in Mass Coastal to Rail Coastal at the hearing scheduled for July 1, 2020 at 1400 hrs.
...
 #1546111  by BandA
 
Does any of the rolling stock go back to IP? Do they have enough income to pay the note (I assume they do otherwise they wouldn't have bid, lol.) Will there be a new push for business or changes to the website?
 #1546701  by Falmouth Secondary to Otis
 
Falmouth Secondary to Otis wrote: Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:33 am Currently the Cape Main / Falmouth Secondary / Middleboro subdivision are waiting on a MassDOT bid award for the installation of up to 25,000 ties being supplied by an awarded bid to Stella JoneS of Pittsburgh, PA with any additional ties to be supplied by the contractor. Went back and read the tie award and it did state they were to be delivered by truck. For that amount of ties to be delivered I would think it would have been more efficient to deliver by rail and unload at the various designated drop off locations. Haven't read or heard about any major tie replacements out on JBCC / Otis Industrial track. Maybe some MOW work is being done on the line or out by the Otis transfer station seeing that the runaround siding out there is out of service. MassCoastal has to runaround in N Falmouth and push cars out to the station which certainly slows down the trip.
Tie installation contract was awarded to Railworks and is working on the Cape main line in the Wareham Village platform area as seen on Mass Coastals MOW photo postings. Looks like they are working towards the Cape to end up on the Falmouth Secondary line from Canal junction to North Falmouth.
 #1546995  by Falmouth Secondary to Otis
 
Falmouth Secondary to Otis wrote: Tue Jun 16, 2020 11:43 am Was driving through the Otis rotary this morning and saw a full tractor trailer load of RR ties headed into Joint Base Cape Cod / Otis. You would think they would be delivered by train if there purpose was Rail related. Will have to see if any news comes out about any related activity.
Was reading Mass Coastal's MOW page and it listed Otis switch upgrades as being done with numerous other work at other locations also. Looks like MOW repairs / upgrades are on the move !
 #1547198  by Falmouth Secondary to Otis
 
Railworks tie gang equipment now staged on siding at County Rd crossing in North Falmouth for tie replacement project to commence soon. Work will be from North Falmouth to Canal junction installing a total of 12,225 ties over the 6.8 miles. Its been a long time since a major tie replacement has been done on the Falmouth Secondary so it should be good to watch, especially for the bike path group which still wants the tracks removed .... maybe this will convince them to face reality.
 #1547204  by Safetee
 
An awful lot of wood for a branch which from my understanding has not had a lot of luck holding and or grabbing Cape freight traffic. One might wonder if the t is planning to use it from time to time for future summer operations.
 #1547247  by Falmouth Secondary to Otis
 
The Falmouth secondary line total ties are 22,000 so a little over half are being replaced. 1978 was the last major tie replacement project with smaller amounts done in 2007, along with regular change outs by Mass Coastal. Currently C&D Trains run 2 to 3 times per week out to Otis UCCRTS and the Cape Cod Central scenic operation also runs on the line. From what I have heard the Military is planning on doing some equipment moves to / from the base in the near future as well as it is a STRACNET Military designated line and is required to be maintained up to certain standards. Mass Coastal ROW page recently listed switch upgrades just being completed out on the base as well. Over the years MBTA rail equipment has been stored out on the base siding also. There is a existing WYE out on base that was cleared of brush not to long ago and could be used for turning / basing commuter trains in the future if that ever comes to be.
Last edited by Falmouth Secondary to Otis on Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.
 #1547249  by Train60
 
Safetee wrote: Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:18 pm An awful lot of wood for a branch which from my understanding has not had a lot of luck holding and or grabbing Cape freight traffic. One might wonder if the t is planning to use it from time to time for future summer operations.
You're right, but someone in MassDOT must be thinking further into the future. I know at least one elected official on the Cape who would like to see MBTA service to North Falmouth, after Buzzards Bay of course.
 #1547590  by Falmouth Secondary to Otis
 
Railworks has started prepping the Falmouth Secondary line for tie replacements running the ballast regulator to clean off ties & dropping tie bundles on the ROW from North Falmouth to almost the Red Brook Harbor Rd crossing in Cataumet so far. Some of ties were so rotten the Ballast regulator tore some of them apart leaving scattered pieces at some locations. Have heard that they will be ready to start tie replacements next Thursday 7/16 if all prep work is done.
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Falmouth Secondary view from Cataumet Station
Falmouth Secondary view from Cataumet Station
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