CSX Fitchburg Secondary Discussion

Full armada of equipment installing the new CWR southbound across Jones Rd in Berlin at noon. New CWR starts about 1/10th mile south of Rt 62 xing. Some of the old rail is only 80lbs!

BandA wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 12:52 pm With all the investment, will CSX feel pressure to increase their rates on former PAR?

No, PAR rates were high enough considering the service.

From the Berlin, MA Fire/EMS Facebook page:

**INCIDENT NOTIFICATION**

At approximately 0835 this morning Berlin Fire and Berlin Police Department were notified of a train derailment in the area of Allen Rd. CSX is on scene working to upright the cars, make repairs and perform any necessary clean up. We ask that you please avoid the area to allow them to work as diligently and safely as possible. There are currently NO HAZARDS on the scene!

Speaking of that 80lb rail, CSX derailed several full C&D debris cars last night about 1 mile north of Rt 62 in Berlin. Most of the train consisting of full C&D, empty center beam, covered hoppers and tanks are behind the derailment. Engines and good cars have been moved south out of the picture. Crews with Hulcher Side Booms are on site starting to get overturned cars back on good track and out of the way, as seen from Allen Rd. Track laying equipment is parked on the Clinton siding and so blocked for now from getting down to where they were working.

Picture of derailment on Berlin PD facebook page.

Given this was the likely outcome, very unclear to me why the whole northern end of the line is not being upgraded

I was under the impression that all tracks without cwr was getting cwr, is that not happening? i did hear about rail cars being parked in leo so i figured that area must be getting it

No one has reported any rail drops north of Berlin
Leominster siding is merely a convenient place to park the rail train

True, but it would be more logical to store it on the clinton siding/runaround assuming its functional

That's where the MoW equipment has been stored, as previously noted.

Did construction debris spill from the cars or did they remain sealed? How fast was the train going (or more likely known, what was the MAS / special order speed for that area?) I know it isn't "hazmat" but strewing junk along the ROW contributes to increased entropy in the universe.

Speed is restricted ,not exceed 10 mph and open top trash cars aren't really sealed having a mesh 'tarp' thrown over them .

Off topic here, but as far as the yard in leominster goes:

The rail car has been moved, no longer in the yard
There is some main line strength rail dropped off there (jointed of course) with 3 piles of ballast
And there is a whole new switch there

I take it that this could be prep work for a restoration of the yard, whether that be for the new customer or general storage
DISCLAMER Yes I did technically trespass to go there, big whoop. But I can assure you I neither planned on or did touch anything there, whether that be switches, MOW cars, etc. I was simply on my bike cutting thru the pathway to avoid high traffic areas

I think work started very early today for the MOW crew. I heard a lot of different horns just after 3am. No track equipment on the Clinton siding this morning or this evening. The train ran today with 19 C&Ds into the Clinton area about 7pm. Earlier than I think is has been. A pile of new ties were dropped at the derailment area crossing in Berlin and more dropped at the next crossing up towards Clinton.

MatheusB2008 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 9:18 pm True, but it would be more logical to store it on the clinton siding/runaround assuming its functional

It's functional but not long enough to actually run around the train. Clinton is only fits about 15 cars, given or take. Leominster roughly 25.