Amtrak Downeaster through Andover Massachusetts

Amtrak downeaster heads south toward Boston through the Andover, Massachusetts Ballardvale station with a cabbage car leading and a Genesis on the rear.

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• Train
• Amtrak
• Downeaster

[AliceInChains243]

Haha, I "T-ed" out to Andover a few weeks ago to try to bag a few Pan Am freights...if it wasn't for the cabbage on the Downeasters, I would have shot myself. When there's no freight running, there's only so many commuters you can take...especially when you're out trackside in the snow all day with no car. :P

[gp40mc]

Yeah I've often seen freights around 4-6 pm which is suprising because thats rush hour and I'd think the line would be pretty booked up with commuters. The NHN sand train runs through sometime in the middle of the night with NHN units even though its operated by Panam after dover, NH. That would be fun to see sometime but I'm always asleep when it goes by haha.

[AliceInChains243]

Hmm, I'll have to get there in that timeframe sometime. I was only on District 2 here in Andover once before, I would have stayed well after 5 had it not been freezing out.

I always forget about DOBO, the NHN sander. Once it gets warmer, I'll wait it out one night. I think the empties go back from Cambridge in the early AM hours too.

[gp40mc]

yeah I actually saw a freight yesterday morning around 10 am going through andover. Pan Am through the Andover area is kind of annoying because they go so darn slow. Its because of two speed restrictions right near each other so I guess the crews don't bother to get up to speed because they'd have to slow right down again.

[AliceInChains243]

Yea, the only place where Pan Am is ripping is the Patriot Corridor over Districts 3 and 4, other than that, I've heard that District 2 moves mainly at "Guilford Speed" as I've jokingly heard it called.

Where are the speed restrictions? I mean, I see the Downeasters tearing it up through Andover by the station.

[gp40mc]

One speed restriction is on a bridge near Lowell Junction and I don't know where the other one is.

[gp40mc]

also make sure the NHN is running to Boston the night you plan to catch it. I think it's only tri-weekly.

[GP9railfan]

I guess if you wanted a ride, you would've been out of luck there. LOL. I thought they made stops there? Or??

[Bourdeau8]

great video  thats thing was cruisin

[gp40mc]

yes it is. I think the track speed is 60.

[Trainlover4ever2006]

Very fast.

[gp40mc]

The fastest this train goes is I belive 79 mph for a short distance. It generally travels around 60 mph I would guess. The train could go faster but the track does not allow it.