The weeds are gone from the Conn River through Holyoke after the recent rebuilding of the line. For you B&M fans, the "Montrealer" is really the Ambassador, with a CN coach and a prewar NH "American Flyer" coach trailing.
The dinosaur tracks remain an item in the "Pioneer Valley" with several attractions using them as a magnet.
Vince, that picture from your 4:00 PM post with the weeds growing on the line? That says it all, doesn't it? In the old days a division superintendant would have gone ballistic at a sight like that!
Those trolley films are priceless! Talk about a look at a vanished world! And not just the trolleys, but the cars, the buildings, and look at how clean the streets are!
Someone must have cared an awful lot to take those films, that's 16mm Kodachrome, the color films anyway, the best over-the-counter movie film an amateur could get. At least I think it is.
Whoever he was, we owe him a word and a world of thanks!
1949 Think Tank--- It is our recommendation that all streetcar lines be tore up. In addition all railroad branch lines, local stations, all mail and express service be discontinued and a 10 year phase out of all major intercity passenger routes.
The substance of the story is that an outbreak last month at the Soldiers' Home resulted in 70 deaths, in one of the first large nursing home cases. The Home is quite a ways from downtown/industrial Holyoke which is (or at least was) experienceing a small scale uptick in the local economy, and is no longer quite as much the butt of regional jokes. Holyoke is on the ex-B&M Conn River Line, and is at the end of a one-time New Haven & Northampton branch line, still in service as part of the Pioneer Valley Railroad. PVRR and Pan Am recently re-opened an interchange in Holyoke after a long period without one.
Unfortunately I can't see the New York Times story without a Times subscription. I could say something about the Times but this isn't the place, there's enough political bile on the "Trains" Forum, I'm not bringing it over here!
I could see the YouTube link, it's sad, but I'd guess those old vets were glad of the years they had that so many of their buddies didn't have.
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter