MYSTIC VALLEY RAILWAY SOCIETY

If you have any questions or comments relating to railroading or activities of the Society - past, present, or future - we will try to find you the answer.  Answers to selected questions will appear in the next Waybill which is published quarterly.  Deadline for next edition is November 1, 2007.

To ask the "Bee" a question contact us by E-MAIL:

By all means keep those cards and letters coming for we have some excellent material for coming articles. As with the mail, we will try to address all questions with either an answer or reference. A limited number will appear in future editions of this column as space allows. 

June 2008 – August 2008 

The days of long hours of daylight are with us again. Now is the time to dust off the old SLR and go forth into the field to record a bit of history in the form of a passing train at your favorite location. We are always looking for fresh copy for the New England Railroading Calendar that features a train in a setting unique to New England. We would certainly appreciate entries from all 6 New England states. This edition will conclude questions concerning the shipping of MILK. This is possible with the help of a document entitled New England Milk by Rail, 1948 that was prepared by Dwight A. Smith (founder of Conway Scenic Railroad) using actual data from the B&M Milk Agent.

Q. Did B&M & New Haven transfer Milk Cars via Union Freight through downtown Boston?

A. YES, Four railroads were involved with the origin being South Ryegate, Vermont. From the green hills the cars traveled 8 miles to the B&M interchange at Woodsville, New Hampshire. The cars traveled via Plymouth, Concord, Manchester & Nashua to Boston. Here they left the B&M to travel on Atlantic Avenue via the Union Freight RR to the New Haven yards in Boston. From there the cars traversed the short distance on the Old Colony Line to the White Brothers at Norfolk Downs. Two cars were used in this service, GPEX 891 and 892.

Q. When were the MBTA Rapid Transit Lines color coded and what do they represent? F. Sasso, Wellesley, MA

A. F. Sasso: The year was 1965. The REDLINE represented the crimson colors of Harvard. The BLUE LINE illustrates its proximity to the sea. The ORANGE LINE is aligned along Orange Street original name for Washington Street in downtown Boston. Finally the GREEN LINE traverses many park lands i.e.: The Fens. This information was supplied courtesy Timeline in Boston by Jim Drabo.

Q. In past years Amtrak’s Vermonter traveled via New London, CT to Palmer, MA and then on to Amherst, MA. via the Central Vermont tracks (now New England Central). Did Amtrak use the old freight tracks from Northampton to Amherst, MA? What track is currently used to travel from Springfield to Amherst? J. T. Bartlett, Pawcatuck, CT

A. J.T. Bartlett: Amtrak travels East via the CSX Boston Line (former B&A) from Springfield to Palmer via North Wilbraham. Here it switches to New England Central to travel North to Amherst, MA via Three Rivers and Belchertown, MA. Amtrak never traveled east from Northampton to Amherst according to the Rail Lines of Southern New England by Ronald Dale Karr. The line was abandoned in 1980.

Please take time to share your comments and observations with others for a future edition of this column, for we will include and credit as many as space allows.  If you have any questions or comments relating to railroading or activities of the Society past, present or future we will try to find you an answer. Please write us at MVRS, c/o Ask the Bee, PO Box 365486, Hyde Park, MA 02136-0009 or e-mail us at:

Amtrak Passenger Rail Service Coming To Western North Carolina By Charles DeMauro, NRHS, Asheville Chapter

Amtrak Passenger Service should be coming to Asheville, NC. It will start in Salisbury, NC. This will make connections to the North and South on the Carolinian and make stops in Statesville, Hickory, Valdez, Morganton, Marion, Old Fort, Black Mountain and Asheville.

All the stations are built except Valdez, Black Mountain and Asheville.

Money was appropriated in 1999 and then taken away when the storm of Floyd hit North Carolina. Now Amtrak needs to be reminded once more about the importance of rail service in lieu of high gasoline prices.

We hope everyone will contact Amtrak and voice their concerns.