New England Central Railroad (NECR)

gprimr1 wrote: Perhaps they could make use of the new PAS/PVRR interchange yard in Holyoke.

What is the status of this? I started a thread on this a few months ago but nothing ever came of it. I heard it was going near the old Holyoke station?

With the amount of track that will have to be replaced to bring the CT up even 10-15mph speeds, I wonder how hard it would be to restore their spur.

I actually don't have any new info on the yard, I only get up to MA once or twice a year now, but I'll keep my eyes open.

The siding was completely removed. Not likely Yankee Candle would pay to put it back, especially after investing in the Holyoke transload site.

I'm guessing the interchange yard will go here: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=42.1 ... 1&t=h&z=18. You can still make out what is left of the interchange including the bridge. I seem to remember a really good pic of the interchange on NERAIL, but can't seem to find it. Here is the best one I found so far:

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20061 ... ODE=&POYE=

Better Pic:
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20061 ... ODE=&POYE=

rratsjr wrote:I'm guessing the interchange yard will go here: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=42.1 ... 1&t=h&z=18. You can still make out what is left of the interchange including the bridge.
[l]

I dont think it would go right there as S.Canal is a busy truck route and RT116 intersects it, to have an increased volume of trains go thru probly would not work. I heard it was going to go up by the old B&M yard by the station here: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll= ... 04748&z=18 . And that bridge is still in use. GRS sends its holyoke trains over it about once a week.

My appologies for not being more clear... I wasn't talking about the bridge over the CT river, I was talking about the tressle that crosses the canal

here: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll= ... 40.69,,0,5

and here looking towards GRS: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&lay ... 97599&z=19

PVRR side of tressle http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&lay ... 97599&z=19

I've spent some time looking around in holyoke, and to me, it looks like the most logical place for the actual connection between the two systems to be made. The track is more or less still in place as is the ROW clear (although maybe there are ownership issues?). Any other connections or ROWs that may have been in place years ago look to be obliterated. Is there any other place in holyoke where they could reasonably connect the two systems?

rratsjr wrote:My appologies for not being more clear... I wasn't talking about the bridge over the CT river, I was talking about the tressle that crosses the canal

here: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll= ... 40.69,,0,5

and here looking towards GRS: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&lay ... 97599&z=19

PVRR side of tressle http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&lay ... 97599&z=19

I've spent some time looking around in holyoke, and to me, it looks like the most logical place for the actual connection between the two systems to be made. The track is more or less still in place as is the ROW clear (although maybe there are ownership issues?). Any other connections or ROWs that may have been in place years ago look to be obliterated. Is there any other place in holyoke where they could reasonably connect the two systems?

Again thou, I dont think it could go there as S.Canal is a busy truck route that intersects RT116. The link I posted was where the former B&M yard was, which is still owned by PVRR or Guilford (I think its PVRR). That would be the more logical place as the room is there and the infrastructure is more or less intact.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll= ... 04748&z=18

I know the area well as I live right across the river and have been following the developments rail wise for a while now.

Talk about trippy, the Street View feature is a definite plus when trying to get a good idea of the lay of the land/ROW. Interesting double diamond on S. Canal street, eh?

I believe PAS handles some traffic for Yankee Candle, via the off load site at Allstate on the Conn River loop. I maybe wrong.

Today at about 1356 Engine 3850 stopped just ouotside my work in Norwich CT, buy the Marina. Anyone know why? It is still there as I type this. I have seen them stop headed to New London but never heading towards Franklin. Thanks, Kevin

Are you close enough to know if the engine is running or not? If it is running maybe the crew ran out of time to work and
parked it there for a fresh rested crew. If the engine is not running, it is mostly likely disabled as it is too cold this time of
the year to shut an engine down without draining it completely of water in order to prevent damage.
Hope this helps.
Noel Weaver

Well the engine did leave with one boxcar, return about 30-40 minutes later without the boxcar, hooked up to the rest of the train and proceded North. I looked on bing maps and there is a building not to far from me that has a siding. The picture shows boxcars already there so I am assuming the engine dropped off the car. Now my question is, what is that business?

Postscript Warehouse, which gets newsprint for the Norwich Bulletin if I remember correctly...

I never knew Yankee Candle had gotten wax from the rail, though I remember many panels of new looking rail stacked behind the plant several years back. I know C and S stopped using rail due to excessive damages and many late shipments, I wonder if they would give it another go now that NS is involved. I never knew where the damages/lates originated to be fair. It may have had nothing to do with Guilford.

9axle wrote:I never knew Yankee Candle had gotten wax from the rail, though I remember many panels of new looking rail stacked behind the plant several years back. I know C and S stopped using rail due to excessive damages and many late shipments, I wonder if they would give it another go now that NS is involved. I never knew where the damages/lates originated to be fair. It may have had nothing to do with Guilford.

Well considering that line is going to be rebuilt now. Maybe.