Conrail's rugged Boston line stretches from Selkirk Yard, near Albany NY east to Boston Mass. The former NYC Boston & Albany route features rugged mountain scenery as it crosses the Berkshire mountains, and was home to serious railroading. For a long time it was home to most of Conrail's GE fleet, but toward the end of the era also served as a proving ground for the SD80mac.
You can also view this gallery on an interactive map.
1
Westbound tonnage behind SD45 6083 and SD45-2 6665 in Hinsdale center, MA. on March 14, 1981.
2
Three-count 'em-three U23-C's lead BOSE through Hinsdale center on July 18, 1981. A number of these six-axle U-Boats took a break from their mundane duties of shoving strings over the humps at Selkirk and elsewhere for a few months of hauling tonnage over some slightly larger hills.
3
Extra 6083 west about to "take the plunge" down the west slope in Hinsdale center, MA. on March 14, 1981.
4
SD45 6153 tags along for the ride down to Pittsfield after helping BOSE climb the east slope on July 18, 1981.
5
The start of what would be a good day on the B&A, traffic-wise, with 18 moves between 07:00 and 16:30; SEBO-X, with the 6633 leading, splits the signals and soup at CP 140 in Hinsdale, MA. at 07:03.
6
The two other people and myself who took up this position on the east side of Muddy Pond thought we'd get some great shots with the foliage near peak and the unusually mirror-like surface of the pond, but we got 'skunked" by a cloud deck on the eastern horizon which put everything in shadow......GRRRR! C36-7 6644 leads BOSE along the pond at 08:17. A TV6 passed on the other track a few moments later while BOSE was still rolling by.
7
Finally, the sun clears the cloud deck just in time for this SPL301 which cruises along Muddy Pond at 09:10. I believe, but cannot confirm, this is a set of new M6 "Metropolitan" commuter cars being delivered to New Haven. Older M2 and M4 cars transiting offsite for work were usually just hung on the end of a symbol freight.
8
CR 6573, 6630 and 6621 lead SEBO along Muddy Pond in Washington, MA. at 09:22 on Oct. 8, 1993.
11
TV80W stopped for photos, note crew member "hiding in the weeds" at left.
12
TV80W stopped for photos at Muddy Pond, note two crewmembers at left. Sloppy composition on my part, cutting off the reflection.
13
C36-7 6638 in the trail on TV6 as the train is about to cross the town line from Hinsdale into Washington, MA. at the north end of Muddy Pond.
14
GP15-1 1646 leads an eastbound light engine move through Ballou's in Washington, MA. at 10:55.
15
SPSE continues his uphill grind through Ballou's in Washington, MA.
16
The 6140 has SEFR in tow through Ballou's in Washington, MA. at 13:18.
17
The last train of the day has 6176 leading SESP through CP 140 in Hinsdale, MA. at 16:31. Tripped the shutter just as the train was entering the block, catching the approach-lit signals just starting to light up.
18
Santa Fe GP40X 3805 leads two sisters, the 3805 and 3806, on a westbound through Chester, MA. in late June, 1979. The prototypes for what would eventually become the GP50 tested on the B&A for several weeks in June and July of 1979. CR sent a like number of SD40's to the AT&SF as "collateral" during the test period.
19
Crew catches some air on Santa Fe GP40X 3806 passing the summit with a westbound ballast train in Hinsdale, MA. on July 20, 1979.
20
The three Santa Fe GP40-X's with a westbound ballast train at the summit in Hinsdale, MA. on July 20, 1979.
21
Rule 291 block signal in Chester, MA. on Nov. 2, 1984.
22
BOEL is only about 15 minutes behind the last train (SPSE) as he charges into Bancroft at 09:19. The lead unit is crossing one of many origional construction (1841) stone arch bridges along the east slope of the Berkshires. This particular specimen had a concrete extension added to it's south face in 1912 as part of the extensive upgrade of the B&A performed at that time. All the bridges were built wide enough for two tracks (that Whistler guy really knew what he was doing!) but the extension was for a 301 car siding which extended from mile 128.4 to 130.8.
23
Side view of the DED/HBD on track 2 at Ballou's in Washington, MA
24
Combination dragging equipment/hot box detector on track 2 at Ballou's in Washington, MA. Looking west and upgrade toward Lower Valley Rd. crossing and MP 135 at left.
25
OCS 301 arriving in Springfield, MA. off the Amtrak Springfield Line on June 3, 1992.
26
4021/4020 cut away from their train in Springfield, MA. station to make a run around move before heading west on the Boston Line on June 3, 1992.
27
CR 4021/4020 returning to their train after running around it in Springfield, MA. on June 3, 1992. Twin truss bridges in the distance carry the Boston line across the Connecticut River to West Springfield.
28
4020/4021 couple back onto their train after the runaround in Springfield, MA. on June 3, 1992.
29
OCS 301 pumping air in Springfield, MA. station. The elevator towers were/are a hallmark of this station.
