Mass Central northbound through Palmer MA 12.16.09

This is one of my favorite chases, but I've only ever followed a train the full line from Palmer to Barre once. It's also one of the hardest lines to chase. There's no chirp on the scanner from an EOT, no dispatcher saying where the train will go, no crew chatter unless they're switching. Nothing! If you lose sight of the train along the way, you're out of luck.

Unfortunatly today they only went as far north as Gibbs in Ware MA.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Mass
• Central
• railroad
• freight
• train
• Palmer
• MA
• MCER
• 960

[CPManJoe]

Nice shots, that was some rough track around 2:35.

[atholfam]

Yeah, and how about that first shot. They're taking a run at the grade after the 181 crossing. That track is pretty rough too.

I give them a lot of credit though, for such a small operation, they keep most of their 20 something miles of track at 25mph.

[TNT314159]

I always go over the Rt. 181 crossing when I ride my bike from Belchertown to Palmer but have never actually seen a train go over it. Where exactly does MCER branch off from NECR's main line?

[atholfam]

I'm about 90% sure that they have their own tracks right up to CSX. They only share the CSX interchange track with the NECR.

[TNT314159]

NECR doesn't use that track that crosses Rte 181? I know the Vermonter does...

[atholfam]

Nope, the Vermonter veers off on the NECR just before 181. Over the river and through Three Rivers.

The line that crosses 181 ends at Barre MA

[skyman2002]

Nice Catch Just The Same! This GP-9 Gets A Good Run For It's Money On This Line, Especially North Of Ware, Where There Are Lots OF Steep Grades And Curves. A Good Way To Chase Them North Of Ware Is On RTE 32, The Tracks Cross Over The Road About 3 Times, With A Few Good Paceing Stretches.

[acelaboy123]

holy shit that train was shaking

[murjax]

Yeah agreed. I used to bike over a crossing everyday. The only way you're tripping on it is if you start biking parallel to it, which you obviously wouldn't do.

[jph0917]

According to all the on line maps, No, the crossing is North of the Mass Pike less then a quarter mile.

[TNT314159]

But isn't the Mass Pike in Palmer south of the Rte 181 crossing?

[TNT314159]

I ride my bike over that crossing all the time with no problems, but I have thick 1.75" and 1.95" tires. I think the sign is mainly for road bikes with the super thin 1.5" tires.

[jph0917]

When the NCER Main Line goes under the Mass Pike in Palmer, that's where the MCER Line separates.