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.
211
NESE exits the big cut at Washington (depot), MA. on Feb, 27, 1993.
212
NESE passing the former depot site in Washington, MA. on Feb. 27, 1993. Appears as if some wag made a half-hearted attempt at another "Con-Ail" job.
213
SD40-2 6517 leading NESE at Washington, MA. on Feb. 27, 1993.
214
C40-8W 6148 in NESE at Washington, MA. on Feb. 27, 1993.
215
Late in 1976 this westbound departs the yard at West Springfield, MA on the Boston line with U28C 6524 leading.
216
C30-7A 6550 with SENE passing the HBD/DED at MP 135 (Ballou's) in Washington, MA. on Oct. 9, 1997. This detector always identified it's location as "Becket, MA." even though it is in Washington. That is because the nearest "station" is North Becket/MP 134, just a mile to the east. Washington "station" is over 2 1/2 miles to the west.
217
SEMB rounds the curve coming into Huntington, MA. on March 18, 1988.
218
SEMB continues around the curve near MP 120 in Huntington, MA. on March 18, 1988.
219
C30-7A 6551 brings SPSE into Middlefield station at Bancroft, MA. at 07:35 on the morning of Oct. 14, 1992.
220
SD60 6864 trails in SPSE as the head end passes the former Middlefield station site and "Lorin's caboose" at Bancroft, MA. on Oct. 14, 1992.
221
After a pause to wait for Amtrak 448, PWSE gets the green light and hurriedly departs CP 64 in East Brookfield, MA. late in the afternoon of May 2, 1987.
222
The 6552 brings ML482 through CP 140 in Hinsdale, MA. at 08:38 on Oct. 5, 1997.
223
NHSE working upgrade around mile 130.3 in Middlefield, MA. on April 26, 1986.
224
SEFR-7 greets the dawn at 07:43 near MP 68 in Brookfield, MA. on Dec. 27, 1987.
225
The rising sun glints off the sides of SEFR's power at Brookfield, MA. on the morning of Dec.27, 1987.
227
C30-7A 6554 tops the grade with SEPW in Hinsdale center, MA. at MP 142 on Feb. 12, 1988.
228
The 6554 whips up a blizzard of it's own with TV6X at MP 138 in Washington, MA. on Jan. 3, 1987.
231
SW1500 9532 swings along in the trail of NHSE in Huntington, MA. on Feb. 12, 1988.
232
Conrail U33C 6555 pushing an eastbound through the cut at Washington, MA on 6 February 1977
233
The 6555 and crew coming off the horseshoe approaching MP 129 in Becket, MA. with FRSE on April 24, 1993.
234
FRSE passing MP 129 in Becket, MA. with the 6555 leading on April 24, 1993.
235
Hogger in the 6555 on TV9 has 'em wound up for the climb ahead as the train nears MP 128 in Chester, MA. on the morning of April 29, 1992.
236
TV9 starts into the 1.65% ruling grade between MP 127 and 128 in Chester, MA. on April 29, 1992.
237
"Will we make it?" The 6555 nears MP 128 in Chester, MA. on April 29, 1992. Standing at this location, you could actually see the trains slow as they tackled the 1.65% grade and headed into the horseshoe between MP 128 and MP 129. More than a few westbounds would end up stalling in this area over the years.
238
C30-7A 6555 leads ML482X past the "water works" in Huntington, MA. on the morning of April 25, 1999.
240
The 6557 and mates haul SEPW over the top at MP 142 in the center of Hinsdale, MA. on May 19, 1990.
