Grafton & Upton Railroad

Activity at the Hopedale Distribution Center with two EMD MP15DCs
A little history and facts about the railroad:
The Grafton and Upton Railroad is no stranger to history and has only had 3 private owners since its establishment in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The evolution of the railroad began in 1874 as narrow-gauge steam railroad, transitioning to standard gauge, electrification in 1919 and eventually dieselization in 1946, it’s easy to see there’s been no shortage of continuous improvement throughout our history. To the Grafton and Upton, continuous improvement is our everyday goal and it means providing first class service that not only benefits the customer but provides strong positive economic benefits to the community. This business model became evident in the G&U’s more recent history when Jon Delli Priscoli invested in the revitalization of the of Grafton and Upton Railroad.
Since 2009, Jon Delli Priscoli has led a talented staff on individuals on a quest to transform the Grafton and Upton into a linear industrial park, serving the Interstate 90 and 495 corridors in central-eastern Massachusetts. In this initiative, Jon and his team identified a critical demand for a railroad that can satisfy the needs of all clients, even those located off the mainline. Specifically, he wanted to build a railroad with consistent operating performance that continuously meets the needs of their clientele and become a partner in their growth. Furthermore, Jon recognized the need for private investment within the railroad industry and this was evident in the investment in a state of the art propane distribution facility; among other projects like the G&U’s Envirobulk facility in Upton, MA.
Opening at the end of January 2018, the Grafton and Upton Railroad Liquid Propane Gas Transfer Facility (LPGTF) immediately became a new standard in the industry. Boasting state of the art technologies, quick transfer time and scheduled shipments, the propane facility can fill a demand for propane that has been absent for decades. The LPGTF is sign of G&U’s commitment to safety and continuous improvement operating models.
What is more is that the G&U is well positioned to provide their clients throughout the Northeast with comprehensive supply chain solutions through the integration of logistics services, multimodal freight transportation, door-to-door pricing and single bill shipments. G&U is a complete supply chain solution; seamlessly combining rail, local and regional trucking, warehouse, cross dock, and other value-added services. Our dedicated and experienced staff works closely with our customers to provide tailor-built transportation solutions that are responsive to individual needs. We can say “yes” to just about every client and bring added stability to the client’s business.
G&U is also able to offer value-added services you won’t find at a simple transload. Unique build-to-suit capabilities allow us to quickly update our hub to meet your specific needs. As a 3PL partner, we have the ability to handle any type of railcar and can even accommodate long center-beam lumber cars, high cube boxcars, gondola’s and dry bulk hoppers including cement, fly ash, plastics, aggregates and more. With large storage capacities and unloading capabilities, our Trans-loading and Warehousing services can handle any product. Our teams are trained in loading and unloading railcars safely and effectively to guarantee our client’s products make it to their destination on time. In addition, by utilizing our extensive network off affiliates and 3PL partners, we can add port, customs, import/export and intermodal services to our offerings. We have become a global company with the experience and strength to handle any size opportunity.

[@brianog5267]

I love the rebirth of these railroads… but why? Are there any industries left in mass that require railroads???

[@shauntakata1762]

If it wasnt for the ant size people walking around i would have thought this is a very realistic model. Imagine you could have tiny people walking around in your model? Someone should invent that...

[@dcrailmedia8054]

Was that today?

[@centralmassflicks8722]

Yes

[@dcrailmedia8054]

@@centralmassflicks8722 I was down there today, I got them at the bridge

[@slashmaster2]

Still very confused about how it all went from an empty, weeded, rotted tie yard to all this in such a short time? Wasn't too long ago they were talking about turning all this into a rail trail.

[@centralmassflicks8722]

Here’s a snapshot of what’s been done recently. I heard it was about $1M a mile to restore. Lot of money invested.
As of February 2021, the following is complete:
The Milford yard has been completely cleared of trees.
The Hopedale yard has been completely cleared. The old engine house, scale, freight depot, and most of the yard's track have been removed.
The line from North Grafton to Mendon Street in Hopedale has been completely rebuilt. Improvements include new tracks, new ties, relayed stone ballast and extensive ditch work.
The West Upton yard had its switches and track refurbished with fresh ties and new stone ballast. Two new spurs were also built.
The remaining old crossing signals at Upton Street in Grafton, Mendon Street and Greene Street in Hopedale, and South Main Street in Milford have been removed.
The propane facility in North Grafton has been completed.
New grade crossings along the entire line have been installed, including through Hopedale and Milford.
New crossing signals have been installed at North Street, Jordan Boulevard, and Upton Street in Grafton. Signals in Upton at Williams Street, Hartford Avenue, Maple Avenue, and Pleasant Street have also been installed.
G&U took control of the 8.35 mile CSX Milford Secondary line from Franklin to Milford on February 1st, 2021.