Pan Am Worcester Main Line

Could anyone tell me the traffic I could expect to see on the Pan Am Worcester Branch?

Generally one train in each direction per day (I believe currently symboled SEWA northbound and WASE southbound, but train symbols change all the time). Once in a while a P&W coal train enroute to or from PSNH in Bow, New Hampshire, but that's an infrequent occurrence (P&W has their own main line to Gardner, so I guess they run it on the Worcester Main only when they can't use their own line for some reason). No locals at all. Catching a train is a chance event - trains run when they run, with no predictability whatsoever.

CSX likes to keep a relatively tight leash on its power, both as far as distance and time away from home iron. There seemed to be -- from horn sounds -- one each way before and after midnight 06-15 and 06-16. Actual traffic depends on how much is CSX-routed east and westbound and the CSX power that PAR has, which can produce light power moves or even several units on two dozen cars westbound.
To reduce the unpredictability, find a location that's not a D-3 TOM dead-zone on your scanner. If you have the patience for fishing, the Worcester Line is a good spot, both for the real fish in the reservoir and the metaphoric fish that hopefully will never be in the reservoir or on the ground. If you're not already familiar with the line, there are also talkers at 7.8 (Rte. 140) in West Boylston and 15.4 (South Meadow off Rte. 110, west of the high school) in Clinton to give a heads-up about approaching or receding activity.

If you're not already familiar with the line, there are also talkers at 7.8 (Rte. 140) in West Boylston and 15.4 (South Meadow off Rte. 110, west of the high school) in Clinton to give a heads-up about approaching or receding activity.

Could you tell me the radio frequency for this line?

Pretty much standard PAR D-2 through D-4. Generally 161.160 and 161.520 for train operations, but you may also hear stuff on 161.400.

Thanks for the info buddy!

Every once in a blue moon, maybe a few times a year if that, a local goes to Worcester to bring a car to the Saint Gobain (formerly Norton Co.) Bond Plant.

Ha! That would be neat to catch. What do they transport to Saint Gobain? What about POSE and SEPO don't they also regularly run through the Worcester Branch?

EastMassParanormal wrote:Ha! That would be neat to catch. What do they transport to Saint Gobain? What about POSE and SEPO don't they also regularly run through the Worcester Branch?

They drop off cars of abrasives material for use by St. Globain.

They drop off cars of abrasives material for use by St. Globain.

Thanks for the information.

there are also talkers at 7.8 (Rte. 140) in West Boylston and 15.4 (South Meadow off Rte. 110, west of the high school) in Clinton to give a heads-up about approaching or receding activity.

The detector in Clinton was recently removed from service. One less heads up to go by.

That talker was supposed to protect the Wachusett Reservoir from equipment troubles on westbounds.

The detector in Clinton was recently removed from service. One less heads up to go by.

Ahh thats sucks. Any idea why they removed it?

Probably since the track speed is 10 mph now. Where before some of it was a bit faster.

The Clinton Detector checked for high cars coming East also.