Railroad Forums 

  • Franklin LIne Freight ?

  • Discussion relating to commuter rail, light rail, and subway operations of the MBTA.
Discussion relating to commuter rail, light rail, and subway operations of the MBTA.

Moderators: sery2831, CRail

 #1409865  by MarkB
 
I walk across the Franklin line at the Oakdale station in Dedham regularly. Yesterday, I saw a train come through slowly towards Boston with about 9 boxcars and an open car loaded with lumber. This is about the 3rd time I've seen a train come through there loaded with lumber. Any idea where the loads come from, and where they go? Just curious.
 #1409874  by BostonUrbEx
 
As you probably know, the train will go into Readville Yard. The lumber will ultimately go to a Home Depot distribution center in Westwood.
 #1409875  by MBTA3247
 
There's no Oakdale station anywhere on the T; the stations in Dedham are Endicott and Dedham Corp. Center.

The freight on that section of the Franklin Line would be coming from Framingham via Walpole and heading to Readville. A local out of the CSX yard there serves several industries along the Northeast Corridor. Besides the Home Depot distribution center, I think there's also a lumber yard in Stoughton that still gets rail shipments.
 #1409877  by theseaandalifesaver
 
This should be moved to the CSX forum.

I think freight traffic has dwindled down over the years for Readville. I remember as a kid in the early to mid 90's being taken to watch the freight trains and the yard was always very full and very busy. These days it just looks very empty and sad. It's even sadder when you think it's one of the only active yards left in Boston.
 #1410038  by MarkB
 
The question has been answered, so you're welcome to move it. I live along the end of the Readville yard, and I can tell you that it is used regularly, though not as much as when Stop and Shop was there. For some reason, there's often shuffling of cars going on over Sunday night/Monday mornings. Oh yeah, and the other afternoon, one of the super-bright lamps over the tracks blew up in a ball of orange flame and shrapnel.