(formerly S. Reading)
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Topo number one from 1946 shows Wakefield Junction where the S. Reading branch joined with the Boston and Maine mainline from Portland to Boston. This topo shows the junction as being single tracked going towards Salem, then expanding into a yard, then becoming double tracked as you headed east. Two railroad lines come into the yard. One was the S. Reading branch and the other the Newburyport line.
Topo number two shows the double tracking continued for a short distance and then the two lines diverge slightly. The S. Reading branch was abandoned at the time this topo was made but the map shows the contour lines so you can see where the line was. After the line deviates from the Newburyport line, it curves sharply to the east. This apparently was a siding serving industry. The S. Reading branch curved off to the east, north east, just east of New Salem St. You can see the outline on the map. Route 128 was built on part of the branch.
The above map is a current map with the South Reading branch drawn in.
Let's look at some pictures....
These pictures were taken on 5-26-2002
Here is the beginning of the branch. Wakefield Junction. Still connected to the mainline.
Looking away from the junction, the curbing for the station platform can be seen on the left.
Looking further away from the junction. Curbing on the left for the station platform. Note the line splitting of the line from one track to two. Where the line splits is where the former yard was. See topo 1 above.
Here is where the yard was.
Nahant St crossing. According to the topo above several yard tracks crossed here.
Main Street on the left, Bennet street crossing in the foreground. This track is the Newburyport line, the S. Reading branch would have been to the right of this track.
Just east of the Main Street crossing we see a passing track. The track on the right would have been the S. Reading branch.
The siding I am standing on is where the S. Reading branch branches off.
The S. Reading branch heads off towards the right, through those trees.