Official Grafton & Upton Thread - (G&U)

[g-and-u-watcher]

I had a spare minute and drove by Hopedale again just 20 minutes ago. The station house is now knocked down, with just a pile of wood where it was. Sorry, I didn't take any photos, but will take some as soon as I can.

[slashmaster]

Does anyone know if they have moved further along with the track maintenance?
Also, could someone post a picture or two of the the sheds that have been demolished?
Thanks for keeping us 'out of staters' up to date!

Just checked today where that little dirt parking lot is on freedom street that goes to that trail. Doesn't look like any flanged wheels have left marks in the dirt lately. Those sheds have been knocked down a good long time now. like a couple months. Look back several weeks worth of threads and you will find someone already did post pictures of the knocked down sheds. Can't remember who though.

[slashmaster]

I had a spare minute and drove by Hopedale again just 20 minutes ago. The station house is now knocked down, with just a pile of wood where it was. Sorry, I didn't take any photos, but will take some as soon as I can.

Sure is. Looks like someone may have grabbed some firewood or partially cleaned it up because the pile of wood doesn't look as big as it should for that size station. They removed a good portion of the track that was in front of the station too. Anyone who wants to visit, be careful you don't puncture your tires!

[J. Bond]

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[slashmaster]

Seems I was right about the desire for more commuter rail service in MA especially Worcester to Boston; and pushing freight onto the G&U line ; there is also much more development work going on that you guys aren't picking up on yet as its not obvious what it is ... yet.

Where?

[g-and-u-watcher]

Hi all -

I just rode my bike by the Hopedale yard. Slashmaster's right, they've taken away almost all of the wood from the station house by now. Here's a photo (sorry, just with a cell phone, facing the sun):
http://www.p-vector.com/g-and-u/IMG01198.jpg

I also went down to near Route 16, and took a photo facing up toward the engine house:
http://www.p-vector.com/g-and-u/IMG01203.jpg

Slashmaster also mentioned that they've removed a lot of rail, which I also saw. It looks like most of the sidings have been taken up. The mainline, one siding, and the spur heading to the engine house remain to the south (toward Route 16) of the engine house. I didn't examine up the other way (toward the Draper complex).

By the way, I spoke with an employee there who had just come off duty. I didn't want to press too hard, but he was very helpful and let me ask him a few questions. He did say that the engine house is indeed going to be torn down, probably in a couple/few weeks. I asked him if operations were moving into the Wickes building; he said "maybe" but couldn't confirm for sure. I asked him if they're still planning on opening up the line into Milford eventually, and he said 'absolutely' (or something to that effect). He said "we're going to be waking a few people up over there!"

[SkiScorcher88]

I asked him if operations were moving into the Wickes building; he said "maybe" but couldn't confirm for sure. I asked him if they're still planning on opening up the line into Milford eventually, and he said 'absolutely' (or something to that effect). He said "we're going to be waking a few people up over there!"

Is this the 'development' that J.Bond was speaking of a few posts back? It sounds like they are eager and enthusiastic about opening the line to Milford if I'm reading what your saying correctly. A while ago the possibility of opening a commuter rail station in Hopedale was brought up. Could this actually be happening? It would make sense for all the buildings to come down if they are to build a real station with parking and everything.

Also, I remember back in the summer someone mentioned that the Engine House was not to be destroyed (and possibly even renovated/used as an operations center). g-and-u-watcher, did they mentioned why it was coming down, or just that it was.
Thanks!

[slashmaster]

Thanks for posting the pix G & U watcher. Looks like there are no tracks at all behind where the station was, and only the smallest pieces of wood left. They cleaned that up fast! Skiscorcher, From what I heard the owner doesn't like the engine house because the tracks go downhill into it, and it has foundation problems. I think the fact it's facing the wrong way is part of the problem too.

[slashmaster]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention the other reason the engine house is being torn down. All previous locomotives have been able to fit in the engine house only if the cab was on the south side. But being that the geep is the same height full length it won't fit in either direction. At least that's what I've heard.

Bad news is I heard they are going to cut up the green alco because parts are too hard to find for it.

I also heard the cf7 is only for parts, that explains why it faces the wrong way.

[J. Bond]

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[SkiScorcher88]

Bad news is I heard they are going to cut up the green alco because parts are too hard to find for it.

If this is indeed true, I will find a way to buy it hands down. We can't let this new owner destroy every last piece of G&U history (he's knocked/knocking down EVERY original G&U building and scrapped all the original locomotives). Yeah he's a business man, but it's also smart to keep a 2nd (perfectly working) engine as a spare in case something goes wrong with the main GP9 (which is inevitable, things always go wrong). Anyone have an idea on a price tag for the old S4? I've always wanted my own locomotive, especially an Alco

[slashmaster]

Bad news is I heard they are going to cut up the green alco because parts are too hard to find for it.

If this is indeed true, I will find a way to buy it hands down. We can't let this new owner destroy every last piece of G&U history (he's knocked/knocking down EVERY original G&U building and scrapped all the original locomotives). Yeah he's a business man, but it's also smart to keep a 2nd (perfectly working) engine as a spare in case something goes wrong with the main GP9 (which is inevitable, things always go wrong). Anyone have an idea on a price tag for the old S4? I've always wanted my own locomotive, especially an Alco

400 dollars a ton so maybe 40,000 bucks? Where would you put it? What would you do with it?

[slashmaster]

Where?

I'm afraid I am only at liberty to say along the line, but it isn't too hard to figure out now if you look. There is major work going on and it will keep progressing. There are going to be lots of upset people along the G&U line as it is going to be used extensively as a route between Worcester and Framingham to free up the main line for commuter line traffic, so the whole thing is opening up.

Don't understand how they would do that. I mean they already ripped up most of the track for CSX that goes from Milford to Framingham. How are they going to go from Milford to Framingham now?

[frrc]

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[frrc]

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