The Framingham and Lowell
AKA Old Colony and / or New Haven Line
Thanks to a mention from Jeff DeCaprio I've become interested in the
old Framingham and Lowell line. Here is a collection of maps showing
in detail the line from Lowell to the Fitchburg line. That is pretty much
the section I plan on exploring. I may decide to go further South at some
point.
I've been out to this line several times and found it very pleasing
too look at. It runs parallel to 27 for a ways and it's neat seeing an
abandoned line that actually has some iron left on it. In many places it
would make for an interesting railbike ride. Although it's paved over at
crossings there are some sections intact that are reasonably long.
These maps will give anyone else who is interested in following the
line a good idea of where to look. I zoomed in with the map program enough
so that all of the street names showed. These maps came from an old version
of Street Atlas USA.
The beginning of the F&L in Lowell
Going out into Chelmsford and then running near route 110.
Here it goes from near 110 over to right next to 27.
Here we see where the line crosses 225 at the 27/225 intersection.
Here we see the Route 2a crossing. The crossing protection is still
there, not in very good shape though.
Now we're up to the Route 2 crossing and heading into West Concord.
This is about as far as I plan to take the exploration for the while.
This is where the line joined up with and crossed over the Fitchburg line.
