I think that it was in one of the newspapers at the time. There was quite alot of hoopla back then to do with the demise of the old EL. It was a big deal.
Come to think of it, I believe this is Train #347, on its way back to Boston. The train leaves Boston at 12:10 A.M. and arrives at Lowell around 12:55. Then it goes right back to Boston, not stopping anywhere and carrying no passengers. There is no layover facility in Lowell, which is why the train has to be brought back to Boston.
That sounds right, I bet that train goes out of Boston empty in the morning. They should build a place in Lowell to lay over so as not to waste two runs.
There are actually six morning-rush hour trains out of Lowell. And all six of them have to be brought up there from Boston. I don't know why the MBTA never built a layover facility in Lowell, to store trains in overnight. Maybe there just isn't enough room for one.
Yes, you're right! I live at North Billerica station and at 1AM I can hear this train roar past my house. They should but a layover facility at the old repair shops at Iron Horse Park just a mile away from NB Station and have them go down the old Billerica & Bedford Branch Line to get there.
Actually, I was wrong. This is train #245, on its way back to Boston. 245 leaves Boston at 12:10 and arrives in Haverhill at 1:15. It then runs express back to Boston, just like 347 does from Lowell.
When 245 heads back to Boston, it does not go straight down the Haverhill Line. It transfers to the Lowell Line via the Wildcat Branch, which is in Wilmington. Based on when 245 leaves Haverhill, I would expect it to pass through West Medford at around 2:00, when this video was taped.
OK, that explains a lot. I was thinking how could an express train take an hour to go from North Billerica to West Medford. It should not take more than 15-20 minutes. I thought there was a layover facility in Bradford for the Haverhill trains?
Yes, there is a layover facility in Bradford. However, it has room for only four trains. Therefore, one of the late-night trains to Haverhill has to be brought back to Boston. Tran #243, which leaves Boston for Haverhill at 10:40, is the last train to go into the Bradford Layover Facility.
I'll bet if the expansion through Nashua and the rest of NH happens, layover facilities would be created- just my guess.
Trainzcool 3 years ago
Do they always do a non-revenue run on the Lowell Line at 2:00 in the morning? And if so, I wonder why?
aboldys 4 years ago
I don't know.
PKingman 4 years ago
Also, how did you know that they would be doing a non-revenue run at that time?
aboldys 3 years ago
I think that it was in one of the newspapers at the time. There was quite alot of hoopla back then to do with the demise of the old EL. It was a big deal.
PKingman 3 years ago
Come to think of it, I believe this is Train #347, on its way back to Boston. The train leaves Boston at 12:10 A.M. and arrives at Lowell around 12:55. Then it goes right back to Boston, not stopping anywhere and carrying no passengers. There is no layover facility in Lowell, which is why the train has to be brought back to Boston.
aboldys 3 years ago
That sounds right, I bet that train goes out of Boston empty in the morning. They should build a place in Lowell to lay over so as not to waste two runs.
PKingman 3 years ago
There are actually six morning-rush hour trains out of Lowell. And all six of them have to be brought up there from Boston. I don't know why the MBTA never built a layover facility in Lowell, to store trains in overnight. Maybe there just isn't enough room for one.
aboldys 3 years ago
Come to think of it the trains are probably safer from graffiti artistry if they layover at North Station.
PKingman 3 years ago
That's true.
aboldys 3 years ago
Yes, you're right! I live at North Billerica station and at 1AM I can hear this train roar past my house. They should but a layover facility at the old repair shops at Iron Horse Park just a mile away from NB Station and have them go down the old Billerica & Bedford Branch Line to get there.
jph0917 2 years ago
Actually, I was wrong. This is train #245, on its way back to Boston. 245 leaves Boston at 12:10 and arrives in Haverhill at 1:15. It then runs express back to Boston, just like 347 does from Lowell.
When 245 heads back to Boston, it does not go straight down the Haverhill Line. It transfers to the Lowell Line via the Wildcat Branch, which is in Wilmington. Based on when 245 leaves Haverhill, I would expect it to pass through West Medford at around 2:00, when this video was taped.
aboldys 2 years ago
OK, that explains a lot. I was thinking how could an express train take an hour to go from North Billerica to West Medford. It should not take more than 15-20 minutes. I thought there was a layover facility in Bradford for the Haverhill trains?
jph0917 2 years ago
Yes, there is a layover facility in Bradford. However, it has room for only four trains. Therefore, one of the late-night trains to Haverhill has to be brought back to Boston. Tran #243, which leaves Boston for Haverhill at 10:40, is the last train to go into the Bradford Layover Facility.
aboldys 2 years ago
I miss that commuter rail very much...
alsucaglar 4 years ago
The nighttime train rolling!
mespada 4 years ago
nice
4gamerz 4 years ago
sweet once again. I luv the clearness of the click click from the speed
mrmbta 4 years ago
awsome... not really
JuniorX 4 years ago
Glad you enjoyed it Junior.
PKingman 4 years ago
Neato.
trainmanwp 4 years ago