I decided to head out to Bedford Mass today. Bedford is the western terminus of the Minuteman Bikeway which was built on the old B&M Lexington Branch. The Bikeway is paved and runs 11 miles from West Cambridge to Bedford via Arlington.

In Bedford the Friends of Bedford Depot Park have a museum and sell food, books, and other stuff in the former freight house.

The freight house was originally the enginehouse for the two-foot Bedford and Billerica railroad.

Also at Bedford is the Bedford station, now owned by the town as well as an RDC, the remains of a three track yard and a lumber company that used to get rail service.

While I was at the freight house I bought a copy of Railroads of Southern New England by Ron Karr.

I'm quite impressed with what the FBDP have accomplished. I recommend checking out their web page. www.bedforddepot.org.
 
 

I decided to head over to Acton and take a look a quick look at the Framingham and Lowell and then follow the former Nashua Acton and Boston line from North Acton to Nashua.

The NAB ran parallel to the F&L in Acton. Just North of the North Acton station the line branched off towards the North and West.

There is a lumber company that occupies the site today and I was not able to get in and take a look at the actual point where the lines deviated.

Unfortunately for the first mile or so there are no roads near the NAB, the first road that crosses it is Power Road, the road that the Nashoba Valley ski area is on. The line crossed just East or North of Nashoba hill. I went up and down Power Rd several times and could not see where the line crossed. Granted, this is the worst time of year to be hunting right of ways,t he foliage is quite thick and the bugs are too but I enjoy doing it and the foliage makes it more of a challenge. I can't rule out that the entrance to Nashoba is on the old ROW. I'll investigate in the fall when visibility is much better.

From Power Rd I went back to 225, took a left, and followed 225 into Forge Village. The NAB was supposed to have crossed 110/225 right near where they deviate and 225 heads towards the village and under 495. I saw no definate sign of the right of way here.

Going up 225 the right of way was on my left. I went up the first street I saw on the left which was Howard. The right of way towards Acton was visible a short distance down Howard. Someone had actually mowed the right of way and it looked quite nice as it went off int he distance. This is the first time I had seen grass on a  right of way for such a distance. Across the street the right of way was barely visible as it was someones driveway and it was tough to see beyond.

A short distance up 225 the NAB crosses over and run parallel to Country Road. The crossing of 225 was visible on one side.

Going along country road you could see the right of way in places. Most of the time it was behind houses.

At the end of Country Road, took a right onto Patten, right of way should have crossed a very short distance down. No sign of it.

Took two lefts and ended up on Forge Village Road. Right of way crossed under this road. Evidence of the former bridge abuttments could be seen on the North side. The bridge has long since been removed filled in.

Followed Forge Village Rd to 225 then over the tracks of the Stony Brook line at Forge Village, then took immediate right and headed back towards the NAB.

Found NAB near the intersection of  E. Prescott and West Street. There is a Church on that corner with a parking lot across E. Prescott. The stone wall that you see near many stations that is used to hold back an earth loading platform was plainly visible as was the right of way.

I followed the right of way towards Acton and in short distance I came across the abuttments of a bridge that carried the NAB over the Stony Brook branch of the B&M. Kind of a long bridge with supports near the middle as well as on each end.

The NAB crossed E. Prescott, ran right through the church and ran parallel to West St for a distance.

I followed West Street keeping an eye off to my .left. The first street that I found was actually the entrance to a school. The right of way was plain on both sides of the shcool entrance. It was a dirt road on the North Side and access was blocked by a gate.

Continuing on the right of way was visible some of the time off to my left. Where it was viisble it was up on an embankment and looked to be in good shape.

West Street terminated at route 40. I took a right as the right of way was still on my left. A short distance down it was apparent, although barely, where the line crossed underneath route 40. Again the former bridge was removed and filled in.

I took the next right which was Flavel Street. Followed that to Hoyts Wharf Road where I crossed one of the straightest and flattest roads I had seen in a long time.

This road was Cow Pond Brook Road. I followed it South. It was plain that I was driving on the old NAB. The road continued for less than a mile, then took a turn to the left and up. Here the road deviated from the railroad alignment. The RR went straight where the road went left. The ROW was not discernable throug the foliage.

I turned around, went back up to where I started and follwed Cow Pond Brook Rd North.. The road went on for less than a mile. There were some ball fields on the left and off to the right up on the hill was one of the biggest dish antennas I had ever seen. I have no idea what it is used for but it is big. The road dipped down but remained as straight as an arrow. It terminated at what I think was some trash plant. There were big rocks blocking the road and the pavement stopped but the ROW was as plain as day and was easily bikable.

Headed back, a few right hand turns and I was on my way up Old Dunstable Road and then Island Pond Rd. The right of way crossed Island Pond at grade. To the South was a trail, in great shape, to the North was someones driveway, with a mailbox, and a keep out, no trespassing sign on every tree. There was a light chain across the ROW that was not locked and could have easily been removed. Apparently those that live there do not want visitors.

Looking at the map, this right of way goes in quite a ways before you get to another road.

From here I headed North and caught the NAB on Main St in Dunstable. To the South it was obliterated, towards the North it was in great shape.

The NAB was abandoned in 1925, or at least most of it. I've seen older right of ways that were in better shape.

I will be revisiting this line, probably again this summer, but definately in the fall. Looking at the maps I see that I missed some places but this was a good first look at the line. It was a lot of fun following it.