New Fort Point Channel bridge

[MBTA F40PH-2C 1050]

when is this new bridge scheduled to be completed? is it going to have 4 tracks? For those who don't know this bridge, it is the bridge that crosses over the river a few minutes after departing South Sta. heading towards the South Hampton St. yard

[apodino]

I noticed yesterday riding into boston that there are two or three active tracks already over the bridge. I believe that there is only one active track left on the old temporary overpass. As to when the whole project is due to be completed, I couldn't tell you that.

[MBTA F40PH-2C 1050]

Thank you apodino :D Going to South Sta., do the 3 tracks (soon to be 4) curve to the left and connect with the NEC?

[apodino]

I am not sure I understand your question. The tracks are electrified because they come from Southampton, and have access to all 13 tracks at south station. As far as curving to the left goes, there was a separate non revenue track that connects the other side of fort point channel, to the NEC. It was briefly used when the T ran baseball service over the fairmount line without having the train stop at south station, but that was a short lived service. Passing yesterday though, I did notice that the track was barricaded from the NEC side, and there appeared to be an Amtrak wire car parked near the southampton side.

[CSX Conductor]

Tsingle track connecting to the NEC is the "Wye Connector" and is still used more than most people are aware of. As Dino mentioned, Amtrak quite often uses this track to store M.O.W. equipment. The Readville shuttle which is the name of the commuter rail's switcher out of Readville shops sometimes uses the wye connector when en-route to the Framingham line to CSX's Beacon Park yard to use the Grand Jct. Running track to the Boston Engine Terminal. Usually the crews shove into South Station to get their CSX bulletins, but it is possible to avoid the Station by using the wye. Another equipment moves that can use the Wye Connector are the Amtrak Downeaster trains coming from North Station via the Grand Jct. & Beacon Park to be service @ Southampton street (usually middle of evening).

And lastly, CSXT local # LB733 some times uses the wye connector if they have to take an engine over to the Beacon Park engine house for light maintenance.

As for the main tracks for the Dorchester and Old Colony lines between Broad and Tower 1 interlockings, the tracks were straight, but then temporarily shifted to accomodate digging and dredging of the Ft. Point Channel during the Big Dig. Now that the dig is done in that section, the tracks are being relocated to their original location and when completed, the curved bridge will be removed. Hopefully the new bridge will have better walkways than the temporary one. lol

[MBTA F40PH-2C 1050]

yea, that is what i wanted to know, if the tracks were going to be straight. Cause i am creating a MSTS route of the Attleboro line and some of the CSx Middleboro Sec. trackage, and to have acess to the Sout. H yard, i wanted to know how the track design was.


How do i post a pic? i'll post the South Station Track layout and show you what i have a question about (the fort bridge layout)

[jrc520]

EEEEEE! Will this be connected with the MBTA Boston - Providence route in any way? I await it no matter what :-p

[CSX Conductor]

it's already connected to the main line........at Tower 1 interlocking, which is the interlocking that houses all of the switches adjacent to the station.

[MBTA F40PH-2C 1050]

jrc520,

if you are talking about the Boston-Providence line v4 or v5 in the train sim library, NO WAY......that line (my apoligies to the creater) was horribly wrong. The track layout (cruves, interlokings, Main tracks, side tracks, etc.) were wrong. I am creating the line as accurate as i can. I have finsished South Station layout of the tracks and i am moving towards Back Bay now. Someone has provided me with the Boston-Cranston track layout, so i now know where all sidetracks, signals, hot box detectors, etc. are.

[jrc520]

WOOHOO! I'll beta test it for ya. I started to mod the v5, but it was just a pain. PM me or whatnot(contact details are in the profile) to talk more about this.

[eddiebear]

The operation that shifts MBTA commuter rail equipment between the North Station lines and the South Station lines is known as the TERMINAL SWITCHER.

[CSX Conductor]

yes, but also referred to as the "Readville Switcher" since the job is based out of the 's Readville shops now.

[MBTA F40PH-2C 1050]

the Fort Port channel bridge is done!! Hwo long has it been completed? I was in Boston last Thursday