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7-18-04 Lisa and I headed up to Manchester to take in
the beginning of the Portsmouth Branch. On the way up we went through Windham
NH and just east of 93 off of Beacon Hill Rd we drove down the WN&P
in a Westerly direction. The grade was downhill and was easily driven upon.
It was kind of neat to ride on this historic right of way. We also stopped
by the N. Londonderry yard on the M&L. Nothing changed, the yard was
full of foliage so you couldn't see much.
Our first stop in Manchester was the former M&L grade crossing
on Perimeter Rd near Cushcraft. A crossbuck still stands. The right of
way going south goes off in the woods for a short distance before being
obliterated by the runway. There is at least one or two keep out signs.
Looking the other way you can see some iron, ties, and down a little ways
is a milepost.
Using the notebook computer with a GPS receiver we navigated to where the Portsmouth branch began which was actually off the M&L right near what is now MOM's or Motorcycles of Manchester. I got very close to the turnout but intense foliage blocked the way. The iron at this point was down on the M&L and while you were in the woods it was down on the Portsmouth as well. It is buried or removed beneath Mom's parking lot.
From there the right of way was tracable halfway across Manchester. In many places iron was visible and in other places you saw a switchstand, one sticking out of hot-top with no iron around it. Kind of funny looking. Near the hospital and parking garage it has been obliterated.
There has been no effort to save this right of way through Manchester.
We took route 121 down to Sandown and stopped in to see Bert at the depot, she was doing fine as was the depot.
From there we did some train chasing. Eventually catching a couple of
eastbound and one westbound freight.
6-13-04 Trains, Rockingham Jct, Dover and more Rockingham.
3-7-04 Rockingham Jct, N. Andover, Woburn Loop
2-29-04 Leap day, got a call from Lisa, she was in Newburyport. Nice day, temps in the 50's inland, cooler down in the port by the water, slight breeze down there felt like the mid 40's. Overcast, not much sun. Paid a buck 79 for gas in Newburyport. When last checked a few days ago, gas was $1.58 at the line. Checked out the right of way north of the river in Salisbury as well as in the area of Battis Grove just south of the river. Here are the pictures. All of the thumbnails are clickable.
6-11-03 Interesting pictures of the Framingham and Lowell in Acton, Chelmsford, and Westford.
6-3-03 Interesting stuff along the M&L in North Lawrence and Methuen.
5-30-03 Quick adventures in Amesbury and Salisbury.
4-20-03 Part 4 fo Sundays trip. First half of my pictures
4-20-03 Part 3 of Sunday's trip. Second half of Matt's pictures.
4-20-03 Part 2 of Sunday's trip. First half of Matt's pictures.
4-20-03 Off to Newburyport with Lisa and Matt. First round of pictures courtesy of Lisa.
4-13-03 Part 5, final part of Sunday's trip online.
4-13-03 Part 4 of trip with Matt and Lisa to Salem, Atkinson, Haverhill, Newton, and Plaistow.
4-13-03 Part 3 of trip with Matt and Lisa..Salem, Atkinson, Haverhill, and Plaistow.
4-13-03 Part 2 of trip with Matt and Lisa to Salem ...
4-13-03 Part 1 Trip with Matt and Lisa to Salem, Haverhill, Atkinson, Plaistow, and Newton.
4-8-04 160+ pictures of our trip to Danvers, Tewksbury, and Lowell
3-30-03Adventures with Matt and Lisa on the Georgetown Branch, Danvers, and a little of North Reading.
1-19-03 Short trip to Lawrence to check out the Lowell and Lawrence out to the industrial park.
11-24-02 Archaeology Tour in Andover and North Andover. The Essex and Andover & Wilmington RR's.
11-14-02 Tewksbury and the Lowell and Lawrence RR
11-10-02 South Middleton, Georgetown Br, and S&L
11-9-02 South Middleton and Middleton mostly
6-15-02 Fun at Fort Devens and Ayer
6-10-02 Adventures in Salisbury and Seabrook along the old Eastern RR.
6-9-02 Manchester, Nashua, Londonderry. NAB, M&L
6-8-02 Trip to Bedford and the NAB
4-6-02 Saturday. The thermometer said 50 when I left the house but it felt more like 35. Cold day today.Gas $1.33 at the line. The mission for today was to have a look-see at the location of the former Pleasure Island amusement park in Wakefield Mass. I had somehow come across the website on wakefield.org about the former park and found their webside quite interesting.
Unfortunately I was several years too late. The site is now a large industrial park. There are still ponds there. In one of the ponds you could see a metal mounting type thing made out of metal which I beleive is left over the amusement park days.
I was hoping to see the remains of the right of way for the former two foot gage railroad that operated there. Unfortunately there was no trace.
I did find the spur that came in from the Wakefield Industrial track that served Pleasure Island. The track was used not for passenger service but to bring in the static train displays that were part of "engine city."
The spur was last used as far as Jefferson Smurfitt. Mr. Decaprio advises me that the spur had box cars on it last summer.
The spur going into Pleasure Island continues past the Pleasure Island spur and then takes a sharp turn to the right and disappears.
I recommend that people take a look at www.wakefield.org and then go
to the Pleasure Island option. I found it quite interesting and spent quite
a bit of time reading their page.
Sunday 3/31/02 Been quite a while since my last update. Been real busy with work and doing other things. Haven't lost interest though.
This Sunday was an overcast day, cool, temps around 50. No snow. Was an easy winter. Gas was down to just over a buck a gallon now it's back up to $1.31 at the line.
Jeff Decaprio gave me the inspiration to explore the Wakefield area. In particular, the Wakefield Industrial, or what is left of it.
I started my trip driving out through Boxford, then to North Andover. In North Andover I crossed several times and ran parallel to the former Essex RR. This line ran from Salem Mass to Lawrence Mass and has been called the Lawrence Branch as well as the Machine Shop Branch. The right of way is still intact much of the way between those two points and it's a real treat to behold in North Andover. The line runs through swampland for quite a distance and the embankment is quite distinct. I have written about this line in other entries so I won't go into too much detail here but it should be noted that this line is definately worth a visit, especially now because the leaves are off the trees and the line is so distinct.
I folllowed back roads that paralleled the Essex RR down to Route 114. From there I headed South and then West on 62. After you cross into North Reading on 62 you will notice the old right of way in places of the former Salem and Lowell RR. This line still has iron down up to it's last customer in S. Middleton. From there to Tewksbury the iron is long gone. There is still some iron in Tewksbury that was used to serve industry, then from Wamesit in Tewksbury to Lowell the iron is gone.
The line is interesting and I have written about the Tewksbury area in other entries.
I enjoyed riding along route 62 and catching glimpses of the old line. Some places its intact for a few hundred feet and in other places it appears to have been obliterated. I will have to dedicate some time out there with my bike and some topo maps to see exactly what is left.
Next stop was Reading MA, wanted to check out the old station. Its there and in good shape, still used and it has a restaurant inside it as well. The station is fairly big, bigger than most BM stations.
Next I headed over to 129 and made my way to Wakefield. I had no problem finding the Wakefield Center station. This station is 1/2 mile from the junction of the Newburyport RR and the Western Route. The Wakefield industrial is what is left of the Newburyport RR on the West End. This line ran from Wakefield to Peabody to Danvers to Topsfield, Georgetown, and then Newburyport. Mileage on this route as indicted on the many mileposts that still exist is given to Newburyport and Boston.
The Wakefield Center station was in good shape. It's a business and has two tracks behind it. I have read that the second track is actually the former South Reading Branch and was kept in place as a spur and run-around track. The S. Reading Branch ran from Peabody or Salem over to Wakefield, through South Reading. Part of route 128 was built on the former rr right of way.
The Wakefield industrial tracks were in poor condition. Usable in places at a walking pace. Sand over the rails in places and out of gage in others. Across the street from the station you can see an interesting looking sand operation. I followed the track eastward and at the next crossing we were back to single track, with some sand over the iron. I continued to follow the line as closely as I could until I found myself at West Peabody Junction. This is where the Newburyport RR and the Salem and Lowell crossed each other. The diamond is gone. The line to Danvers is intact while the line out to S. Middleton has been chopped. There is a track that went from the Wakefield Industrial, South to serve some type of consignee. This track was probably part of a wye at some time. It would allow Eastward trains on the Newburyport line to go onto the Salem and Lowell heading East towards Salem.
I have read that this junction was used as a shortcut to get trains from the Eastern to the Western route on account of high cars not being able to go through Salem Tunnel. The trains could head West on the Salem and Lowell to West Peabody, then go onto the Wakefield Industrial to the Western Route in Wakefield.
Continuing on I headed up to South Middleton, paralleling the Salem and Lowell to South Middleton. Then it was off to Danvers. I looked around Danvers, which is a very interesting town and which I have written about in other entries, then followed the Newburyport line to Topsfield and Boxford, Georgetown, and Bradford.
All in all a very interesting trip.
I plan on spending more time on the Wakefield Industrial, including
a trip with Mr. Decaprio who has been following that line for quite some
time.
Here is an old update that I wrote last summer
but didn't post--7-21-01-Rollinsford NH
Sunday 4/15/01 Weather real nice, sunny about 60. Gas up about 6 cents at the line to $1.45 per gallon.
Decided to take a ride out to South Middleton today. Went out via Boxford, NorthAndover, Middleton. Excellent ride. I came into North Andover on Dale Street. I took a right onto Salem St then another right onto Marbleridge Rd. There is a house where the old station used to be. This house is right in line with the right of way. I've seen a picture of the station and it looks nothing like the house but there are some qualities about the house that made me think it was made from a typical B&M RR station like what you'd find in Sandown. The right of way is in reasonable shape. I'ts used by the power company and it appeared as though it had been partially cleared recently.
I went back to Salem St and headed out towards Middleton. The right of way was on the left.. This railroad that I am talking about was the old Essex RR, not the Essex Branch. It was later known as the Lawrence branch. It ran from Salem Ma, thru Danvers, Middleton, NorthAndover, and met with the freight main near the North Andover / Lawrence line.
The right of way was in generally good shape. On one of the side streets you can see abutments where a bridge used to carry the line over a road. A short distance down you can see where the right of way crossed Salem St. Just beyond that point Salem st takes a right and heads out towards Middleton. The right of way at this point is now on your right and is plainly visible.
I took a ride down the second Granville Rd on the right and saw where the right of way crossed over. Here the ROW is discernable but not what would be called good shape by any means.
Headed back south on Salem St, at this point the right of way is behind houses and isn't visible from the road. I've been out behind a friends house that lives on Salem St and the right of way was in very good shape.
As you head south the right of way gets closer to the road, when you get to Campbell St you will see the right of way come out of the woods on your right and cross the road right where Boston Brook also crosses under the road. If you look on your left bridge abutments are very plain right next to the road. The guy that owns this land wasn't very friendly when I stopped one day to take a look.
The right of way is now on the left side of the road, in the woods, and is very very plain to see. If you have some time I highly recommend taking a drive out this way now before the foliage comes up, the right of way looks real good in the woods. As you head south you will see a few sets of abutmens where there were bridges. This ROW is beginning to be used, you can see wooden bridges in place to let you over the water.
Sharpners Pond Rd will be coming up fairly quickly. Cross over and the right of way continues to be on your left. It's visible now for a short time then it goes further away from the road and you can't see it any more. You are now in Middleton.
Salem St now becomes Essex St. This section of the line is a super bike ride, I have already highly recommended it. The stretch is a mile or two.
When you come to Old Essex St on your left if you look closely you will see the right of way come out of the woods. At this point it seems as though you are driving on the right of way for a short distance then you will note the right of way going off on your right.
A short distance up on the right is a Kingdom Hall with a good sized parking lot. This is a good place to park, you can right the right of way for a few miles in either direction.
The right of way goes behind the kingdon hall and crosses a road, abutments gone, and continues on crosses Essex St and heads on towards the center of Middleton.
I headed on route 114 and took a right on 62 on my way out to S. Middleton. The line going out to S. Middleton came in from Peabody and continued on thru S. Reading and on to Wilmington Jct and I think eventually Lowell. The line last served a customer in S. Middleton right near where Boston St crossed the Ipswich River. The tracks are still in place right up to Boston St and there is a well worn path right next to the tracks that would be very easy to ride on a bike.
The company that is there now is called Bostik, I don't know what was there when there was rail service.
I followed Russell st down to where the tracks crossed again. This is in Peabody near Norris Brook. The tracks were there. The right of way at this end is clearly used by the power company. The iron was not in good shape but at least it was there.
When I have time I'll head out there with the bike and do some exploring, see if there is anything of any interest left.
Headed back and ended up in Topsfield. Nothing really had changed. Went down to the center of town where the tracks were. You could still see where the sidings were and there was a milepost indicating mileage to Boston and Newburyport. A couple of switchstands were visible.
Decided to take a trip out to Newburyport and take a quick look around.
Went out via Georgetown and Byfield. Nothing new with the Newburyport RR
that I could see on the way out. Everything looked normal in Newburyport,
no encroachment that I could see. The small yard next to route 1 is still
untouched.
Sunday 4/8/01 Weather getting a little better, temps in the 40's, rainy and overcast, at least it wasn't snowing. Gas at $1.39 at Hafners on the line. The mission today was recon in Dunstable. The old Nashua, Acton, and Boston ran through Dunstable and I thought I would take a quick peek and see if there was anything left of the line out there.
Street Atlas 3.0 and even 7.0 both show the line as a road and gave it the name of "old railway rd." I wasn't sure what to expect when I got out there. I decided to go out via Nashua so that I could check on a bunch of other stuff on the way out and the way back.
I went out 111, thru Nashua and then got on 111A, took a right onto Gregg rd which turned into Main St in Dunstable. A mile or so after I crossed back into Mass I spotted the right of way on my left. It was angled a bit like the map showed, it was in great shape heading towards Nashua, it went off straight as far as the eye could see. It was wide enough to drive a car on but there were some deep looking puddles of water and it was washboardy as well. Too bad it would have been fun to drive on. If I had my old car I might have given it a try. I'll go back with the mountain bike and cover it that way.
The right of way was in super shape looking towards Nashua but unfortunately it has been obliterated going the other way. I went up and down Depot Rd looking for it and unfortunately new construction has taken over. I was able to see where it crossed route 113 looking towards Nashua.
I headed back to Route 111A in Nashua and headed East to Ridge Rd and followed that until I could see where the right of way crossed. It was visible if you knew what to look for but new construction was heavy in that area.
The right of way is worth following, next week if the weather is good I'll go back with the mountain bike and get some pictures.
From there I headed back to route 111 and stopped by Trestle Way. The old milepost is still there. I looked around, there was little foliage to get in the way. Due to the new construction it was not apparent exactly how the railroad line went through that area. I suspect it went through on an embankment. There is a stream that the line had to have crossed yet there is no indication of any abutments or any other stone work. I am talking about the WN&P, the section that ran from Route 3 to Hollis Depot. It was one of the first sections of the line to go out. Unfortunatley very little is still visible in this section but I keep looking.
Going along