Sunday 11-10-02

Super day today, temps in the low 60's, a little humid, and windy, but who cares, it was warm for November. After a few weeks of unseasonably cold weather, this felt great.

I decided to take in one of my favorite sections of the Georgetown branch in Bradford. I like this section because it's tough to get into and somewhat untouched.

I am talking about a section just West of the Haverhill Paperboard company.
 
 

There is a small street that goes down to where the tracks were. Here is a view looking West of where I began. The tracks are somewhat still buried in the road.. A construction company has totally encroached upon the right of way.
 
 

Here is another view, not the rail on the right hand side.
 

The tracks are under all of that junk, leaves, and foliage. This view is looking east towards the paperboard company. 


Another view of the junk and a wall.


Now we start to see some iron. There were two parallel tracks coming in from where I started, they merge into one and then back into two again according to topo maps of the area.
 
 



Here we have two parallel tracks.
 
 


This track is a spur, going off to the left and down a grade, it used to go to the coal pocket at the back of the paperboard company.


Spur to the coal pocket.

Spur to the coal pocket.

More of the spur.

 


End of what is left of the spur.


This is another pic of the spur.


Back on the Gtown Branch. In this section there are two parallel tracks, one of the right of this one.

Looking West, standing on the leftmost track, note ont he right the coal spur going off.


Here is another view, note the difference in grade of the coal spur.
 


Tracks all covered up on branch, coal spur visible.

Another view showing coal spur in background.


 

I did not see any switchstands. Last time I was in there I thought there was at least one still standing and anothe ron the ground.

This next series of pictures were taken in S. Middleton at the present end of iron on the S&L and also near the last customer served on the line.
 


 


 


 
 


Last customer on the line. The tracks went straight ahead thru the trees. The station was on the other side of those trees.
 
 

Another view. Tracks straight ahead.
 


Here we are over on 28 in North Reading at about the spot where the S&L crossed. The line should have crossed right about where the yellow van is. On the south side of the stream that the road is going over according to topo maps.
 

Here we are at the route 62 crossing looking west towards a set of bridge abutments.
 


Looking east. The right of way is intact  towards 28. Shea's concrete owns it.


Here we are in Middleton, Andover St. The right of way is just up Andover st from 62. It crosses. Ainsworth St was built on the right of way. Going east from Andover st you're in for a treat. The right of way is beautiful. The grade is slightly downhill as you walk towards the bridge abutments carrying the line over some water.
 

Slightly out of focus, that appears to be a post for the right of way fence.


No idea why these drains were in the middle of the right of way.

Some stone work to allow water to go under the right of way.


Ainsworth Rd looking west

Driving on the right of way.

Lowell Junction. This building was a railroad customer, the spur is still in as of last summer.

I hope they're not getting ready to tear the building down.

For some reason the tracks look like they're been cleared up brush.

This is the talking detector at Andover. Just south of the station. There is a little quarter wave whip on the hut.
 
 
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