The Harbor Station location you show was cleaned up by the contractor as a staging point for the bridge work. Before it was just an overgrown mess. Here is the story. The new Annisquam River Drawbridge has two independently operated bascule spans, each carrying one track, where the old bridge had both tracks on a much wider single lift span. The original intent of the bridge reconstruction project was to maintain service to Rockport throughout construction by chopping off the track one side of the existing span and operating trains on the remaining half while rebuilding the other. This required the contractor to install a temporary left hand switch on the causeway, west of the bridge, to join the two tracks into one to cross the proposed single track half span of the old drawbridge. Previously (and in the final layout), the switch to join the tracks was/is on the east side of the bridge at a place called CP (Control Point) Wilson. As efforts to split the old span into two moved along, the MBTA operations department grew less and less comfortable about operating trains over just half the old bridge. It was closed completely. MBTA forces moved the temporary left hand switch on the causeway to just east of the West Gloucester Station, which allowed the trains to be 'turned' there for the return trip to Boston. Commuter service beyond to Gloucester and Rockport was maintained via shuttle buses. Neighbors in West Gloucester grew unhappy about the time spent there by the trains standing between trips. Not hard to imagine as the trains had to stand there for as much time the original schedule had allowed for a trip to Rockport and back. As the contractors work on the bridge progressed, MBTA forces installed a right hand switch out on the causeway where the left hand switch had been previously. This installation would see no trains for over a year. After the contractor completed the big sheet pile retaining wall to widen the south side of the causeway and connected the new track on top of it to the right hand switch, MBTA forces removed and straight railed the temporary left hand switch at the West Gloucester Station. The right hand switch out on the causeway then went into service. This allowed the trains to come almost all the way up to the new bridge to be turned, way out on the causeway, far away from any neighbors.That is the switch trains in your video are using. The track one span of the new drawbridge opened in June 2022. The new track two span will go into service December 2022. There will be another shutdown of the line in October (?) to remove and straight rail the temporary right hand switch and to integrate bridge operation with, and to complete the testing of, the new PTC system.
In Natick there are some interesting pieces of railroad history that are hidden but you can find them if you look. Such as the old trolley system and parts of the B&A that are covered in forest. I think that every town with a railroad has history that everyone forgot save a few people at the historical society. As well as people like myself and you who look around for it. Great video I hope to see more.
There are a couple, but none as easy to access than this place. I dont know many others that arent tresspassing. Sadly, I went to site a few weeks ago and there are now signs siting it as tresspassing, so I wont be back any time soon :(
The Harbor Station location you show was cleaned up by the contractor as a staging point for the bridge work. Before it was just an overgrown mess.
Here is the story.
The new Annisquam River Drawbridge has two independently operated bascule spans, each carrying one track, where the old bridge had both tracks on a much wider single lift span.
The original intent of the bridge reconstruction project was to maintain service to Rockport throughout construction by chopping off the track one side of the existing span and operating trains on the remaining half while rebuilding the other. This required the contractor to install a temporary left hand switch on the causeway, west of the bridge, to join the two tracks into one to cross the proposed single track half span of the old drawbridge. Previously (and in the final layout), the switch to join the tracks was/is on the east side of the bridge at a place called CP (Control Point) Wilson.
As efforts to split the old span into two moved along, the MBTA operations department grew less and less comfortable about operating trains over just half the old bridge. It was closed completely. MBTA forces moved the temporary left hand switch on the causeway to just east of the West Gloucester Station, which allowed the trains to be 'turned' there for the return trip to Boston. Commuter service beyond to Gloucester and Rockport was maintained via shuttle buses.
Neighbors in West Gloucester grew unhappy about the time spent there by the trains standing between trips. Not hard to imagine as the trains had to stand there for as much time the original schedule had allowed for a trip to Rockport and back.
As the contractors work on the bridge progressed, MBTA forces installed a right hand switch out on the causeway where the left hand switch had been previously. This installation would see no trains for over a year.
After the contractor completed the big sheet pile retaining wall to widen the south side of the causeway and connected the new track on top of it to the right hand switch, MBTA forces removed and straight railed the temporary left hand switch at the West Gloucester Station. The right hand switch out on the causeway then went into service. This allowed the trains to come almost all the way up to the new bridge to be turned, way out on the causeway, far away from any neighbors.That is the switch trains in your video are using.
The track one span of the new drawbridge opened in June 2022. The new track two span will go into service December 2022. There will be another shutdown of the line in October (?) to remove and straight rail the temporary right hand switch and to integrate bridge operation with, and to complete the testing of, the new PTC system.
In Natick there are some interesting pieces of railroad history that are hidden but you can find them if you look. Such as the old trolley system and parts of the B&A that are covered in forest. I think that every town with a railroad has history that everyone forgot save a few people at the historical society. As well as people like myself and you who look around for it. Great video I hope to see more.
Glad you enjoyed it! I aught to check those out!
You should make videos on every abandoned and flag stop on the MBTA's map.
Yea!
@@BostonByRails old Harvard station 😹
@@syeet1234That is one I was thinking of.
Maybe! But im not going to tresspass
@@BostonByRails That's a good idea.
Can't wait, this station is forgotton!!! Indeed!! Cannot wait for your next video!!!!
This sounds like an interesting video! Can't wait!
reminds me a lot of windsor gardens, on the franklin line.
Loved that. I wonder if there are others in the T system.
There are a couple, but none as easy to access than this place. I dont know many others that arent tresspassing.
Sadly, I went to site a few weeks ago and there are now signs siting it as tresspassing, so I wont be back any time soon :(
*In a Boston accent:* Can I park my car in Harbor Yard?
Haha
The Boston accent is dying I only hear old people with it like my grandparents who are from Jamaica Plain and were both in the 40s
BOSTON BY RAAAAIIILLS
YES
The harbor station is similar to riverworks on the rockport and Newbury port line Put the station was on the rockport line
Yes!
Go Bruins sadly they lost but in game 6 at TD Garden ( Where North Station Is ) the bruins are going to win.
Yes!
@@BostonByRails Go Bruins 🐻🐻🐻💛🖤💛🖤
the train
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKK
tbh silver hill
Lmaoo