Pan Am Worcester Main Line

Re: Millbrook St land clearing, as of Sunday 8/11/24 there has been no further obviously visible work done and weeds are starting to sprout in the bulldozed area. And there has been no work performed or going on at the Garden St crossing either.

Corman crews are working under the Duck Harbor bridge (New Harbor Rd) today using two hi-rail excavators and a bulldozer.

According to another forum work is being done to the bridge over the Nashua River south of Still River Depot Rd, mention of large beams being added to the bridge. This is a through truss bridge.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bY38Z9C9iNw67hRQ8

This new sign just appeared along the Main. Anyone know what it means?

Semi educated guess is construction ahead; reduce speed

That's a conditional stop sign protecting a work zone under a roadway worker's control that trains et al. can not pass until receiving permission.

No, that is a (Norac) "warning sign." Prepare to stop and/or reduce speed ahead.

CSX now operates under NORAC rules?

The short answer is yes, in ex-PAR territory. It's a little more complicated than that for crews, but as far as railfans go, NORAC is still being used, at least for the time being, and within MBTA territory.

Thanks. And, now that I think of it, that is also a warning sign, a "firecracker", under CSX rules as well, warning of a conditional stop sign 2-2.5 miles ahead.

That is about 8,000 feet (as the crow flies) before the bridge.

The line was originally double tracked, right?

Yes, it was double track worc-Ayer at one time

An update on the clearance project from today. All info is from a VERY reliable source who I cannot identify.
(Click on the pictures and they rotate correctly.)

!) M427 waiting at Still River for the undercutting crew at New Harbor Rd to clear up. 2) Picture of new beams installed at Nashua River bridge south of Still River to attain double stack height. 3) Picture of staging at Ag overhead bridge--equipment beyond is working at New Harbor Rd to lower track at that bridge 2 feet. There are 5 bridges along the line to be addressed including these. Because the track crews don't get 24 hr access any disturbed track must be aligned and surfaced for 10mph service to allow trains to pass. This is an example of the undercutter attachment------https://dymaxrail.com/railway-attachmen ... dercutter/

Super interesting!

Based on reports of work and DEP filings, I count 6 bridges being worked on

RT 12 sterling
Chance hill rd Clinton/ sterling
New harbor Clinton
Ag branch Clinton
Nashua river bridge still river
RT 2 Harvard