Railfan Locations - New England

[Anonymous]

I will be vacationing this summer to the New England area, and was wondering if anyone knows of any good locations for railfanning. Your assistance is appreciated.

[john7470]

Could you provide some information regarding where you'll be? It's a fairly large region... and the majority of the (busy) activity is away from tourist areas.

[Anonymous]

If you are into riding museum trains, Vermont has 3 wonderful rides by the Green Mountian RR. At Bellows Falls, the museum run, the scenery and active rail yard next door was very cool. At all 3 museum sites, I also saw regular freights. I'm taking my daughter on a 3 state tour of colleges in Ma., Me, and western NY. and I'm looking for rr stuff to do too!

[Anonymous]

Bellows Falls is a good location. Try also the NECR and CSX crossing at Palmer, MA, as there's always railfans there. Try also the Amtrak station at Springfield, MA. Parking may be tight downtown but the platforms are open. Also try the Amtrak Route 128 station on the Northeast corridor. It's an on-off road from I-95 (Route 128) with lots of MBTA locals but no Boston auto traffic. You could ride the MBTA into Boston and photograph the trolley and rapid transit trains, but write the MBTA for permission if you are on the transit property. From streets, it's OK. Boston does have an extensive suburban service - try any route in the rush hour. One choice would be Reading, MA. For trolleys, there's the museum at Branford, CT, and Warehouse Point, CT, and also Kennebunport, ME. Remember also Conway Scenic in Conway, NH. If you are leaving New England via Albany, NY, stop at the Amtrak station there. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Will be along the Maine coast, but may be travelling into Vermont and New Hampshire as well.

[john7470]

Trains are pretty sparse on the Maine coast. The two centers for activity are 1) South Portland (Guilford's Rigby yard) and 2) Waterville (also Guilford). As you're more likely to pass through the Portland area, you'll find Rigby on Route 1 (the road passes over the east end of the yard.) Guilford's lines run inland to serve the paper industry.

There may be some activity in Rockland/Thomaston on the old Maine Coast.

I believe there's still a daily (daylight hrs)train to Searsport (from the Bangor area)on the Bangor and Aroostook. If you are going to Acadia NP, Bucksport is nearby and offers some opportunities to see Guilford locals switching the paper mill there.

The SLR has some activity out of Portland, but I am not familiar with ops there.

The Conway Scenic in N. Conway, NH is a well run operation and worth a visit (1-1 1/2 hrs NW of Portland.)

As someone else wrote, check out the Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport and the 2ft gauge steam operation in Portland (worth a visit for the historic value tied with Maine's rail history)

[Anonymous]

John, I grew up in Billerica, Ma and ironically, I had little idea (in the 70's) Boston & Maine's shops were literally in my backyard. Now Owned by Guilford Transportation, Headquartered on High Street in North Billerica, MA.(I wish I knew then what I know now...)Anyway, I'm sure you can contact them to get both permission (to photo from their property-closeups-)and also get some idea where and when the heaviest traffic occurs to facilitate your voyeristic RR tendencies. (like all of us)I have found their Public relations department very hospitable. MBTA in Boston. MA will yeild your commuter schedules in advance, or grab 'em in person @ North Station, now called the Fleet Center. When I visited home a few yrs. ago, I connived my best friend into driving (on my wallet) to New Hampshire to snap shots of the last operating ball signal in the U.S. .Check 'em out @ www.Tex-n.org on the photos page. I think the town's name is Whitefield, NH.
(I-93 north to US-3 north @ NH-116.)It's a hike, but for me, it is heaven in NH mtns. the scenery is just soooo relaxing. I think the NHVT RR still operates that portion of ROW. anyway, have fun whatever you choose to do!

[Anonymous]

OH, I just thought of another thing. Check into www.flyingyankee.(org?)com . You can contact the state of NH to see if this beautifully restored "Zephyr" type 1930's Budd creation is gonna be in the area while you're there. I'm heading in that direction by year end, & I'm definetly checking that out myself. just the photos are making my railfanning excitement grow.