Grafton & Upton Railroad (G&U) Discussion

Interesting that the flagman drives rather than rides the train, which I suppose is easier/more efficient than stops and starts or jumps off and on the train.

johnpbarlow wrote:Here's an interesting G&U - Hopedale development: Looks like G&U is proposing to be involved in financing of "Draper Falls Urban Renewal Plan". Re-purposing of Draper property at Hopedale would be primarily residential and commercial retail (ie, I see no mention of developing land for more RR use).

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20 ... raper-vote

and

http://www.telegram.com/news/20180715/h ... -plan-says

It's good press for the railroad. Shows they're interested in the community/communities and being a part of it rather than being something purely oppositional. Not like the RR has the power to actually make industrial (re)development there that'd use rail traffic in the first place!

Let us also understand that Jon Delli Priscoli, owner of the G & U Railroad, is a Real Estate Developer.

And that this "urban renewal" involves taking property by eminent domain from an owner that was not informed of the plan, i.e. it was being "railroaded" through.

The best cliches are timelessly accurate.

I don't like the idea of taking property by eminent domain unless absolutely necessary for boni fide public need.

Here's the most recent Worcester Telegram article re: Draper Mill property redevelopment that reveals more details of G&U's involvement. Still not clear to me how much (if any) of the property redevelopment actually would be used for RR purposes/benefit v. simply developing commercial/residential buildings.

http://www.telegram.com/news/20180730/o ... -land-grab

An ex RB&BB Circus car has showed up on the Grafton & Upton.
Thanks to John Barlow for the photo dated 8/3/18. Read info below photo for the car details.
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... ex=3&key2=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dick H wrote:An ex RB&BB Circus car has showed up on the Grafton & Upton.
Thanks to John Barlow for the photo dated 8/3/18. Read info below photo for the car details.
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... ex=3&key2=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Things that make you say "Hmmmmmmm...".

I hope it's not a clown car That car can carry the equivalent of a 6-car MBTA double-decker all in one car

Expansion of G&U North Grafton Yard is underway as of late August. Looks like at least 2 tracks are being constructed at this point. Camera view is looking north from rte 30.

Here are couple of Google Earth photos taken in September 2017 showing (1) the cleared area into where the expansion tracks are being built (the 2 previous photos of track construction were taken from the bottom of the aerial photo where the "2018 Google" label is) and (2) the layout of the compact/congested N Grafton Yard including the new LPG transload facility.

The cleared area back in the day contained a turntable. When I was a kid and used to explore the yard back in the 80s, there was nothing there. The pit was filled in and it was all overgrown. My grandfather grew up on the other side of Pratts pond and it is the one who told me about the turntable.

Good news for the G&U - in the case Del Grosso v. STB, the US Court of Appeals will not review the STB's decision that G&U's handling and bagging of wood pellets at W Upton constitutes transportation and not manufacturing, and as such can preempt any state or local regulations. Thus the appeal of Del Grosso et al to review the STB decision is denied.

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/wood- ... ring-22165

This is GREAT News !

Now the G&U may concentrate on Rebuilding the bridge in Hopedale and replace the missing track.

I've heard that they have plans for rail delivery to the Franklin 495 area.