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CSX opens Massachusetts double stack route
Now all that remains is to move the yard out of Worcester. Ever try to get a 53 in or out of that rat hole? It’s like trying to navigate that other rat hole, New York City, without hitting a building or running over something. It can be done but you have to do everything absolutely perfect at a speed not to exceed 10 MPH. Thankfully, I no longer go there. Wish I could say the same for NYC.
Wonderful news. Very wise expenditure. Wonder if we’ll see Amtrak Superliner coaches from the west thru to Boston on the Lake Shore?
Hello - this must mean cleared for domestic stacks, since I am sitting here looking at a photo of a Conrail stacker with two high international boxes taken in 1998 at Palmer MA?
No Superliners to Boston. The clearance project is only to Westboro (about 13 miles east of Worcester), and not all the way to Boston. The remainder of the distance to Boston still has a clearance restriction.
Jeffry for your information they built a brand new yard in Worcester that has direct access to the interstate which is 6 miles from the Mass turnpike and connects to I-95 and I-495. It was all part of the deal to sell the tracks east of Worcester to the MBTA and free up Beacon yard for development by Harvard University.
I lived along the Mainline of the B&A of the Conrail/CSX line in Dalton, MA (my parent still live there). I know Double-stacks were going past my house all the way to Palmer as far back as at least 1996. My father and I have been talking about this (he’s involved in our local town government) and we are trying to figure out exactly what was not done before. And I know I’m not imagining this because I have photos of a JB Hunt box on the top of a double stack that was demolished when it came loose and pivoted into the path of an oncoming train or bridge abutment.
Not likely to see the Superliners to Boston due to lack of clearance for the catenary that extends from Back Bay to South Station. All Soth Station tracks are electrified to allow Acela and Northeast Corridor trains to use any track in the station.
It’s about time!
A good investment if running double stacks through to Worcester keeps CSX competitive with regional truckers. But one thing… I never knew the old B&A used color position light signals ;-}) Just kidding! I know the photo is a stock shot taken somewhere on ex-B&O territory. Made me look twice, though.
This was long overdue. Boston was a disaster area for the terminal due to trailer trucks that had to navigate from the terminal to delivery points all over NE. Worcester is the heart of New England, centered equally in all directions, so this was a very logical move, and should have occurred 30 years ago when costs would have been much lower, and the RR would have gained all those savings over 30 years.
My hope now is to see Superliner coach cars on the Lake Shore LTD. Yess !!!
Palmer is also served by the New England Central. Could that somehow account for Mr. Miller’s photo?
Mr. Guse: New Flash- CSX just expanded and improved the yard in Worcester. They’re not planning on leaving any time soon. I’m sure the people of Worcester are very glad you don’t go there any more. I’m also sure the folks in NYC feel the same.
Superliners to Boston? I hope not. The “Viewliners” are much nicer and wouldn’t necessitate a transition car at Albany.
Interesting to hear a trucker whine about difficulty of maneuvering 53 ft trailers on city streets. I vote for downsizing trailer to something like 33 ft max length. In fact pushing rail freight away from Boston city center by past choking off of access and facilities closer is why the Worcester facility has
Continued comment… Worcester facility has grown so large and busy. Building a real rail freight terminal close to Boston complete with warehousing and transloading to small size local delivery trucks seems like a wonderful idea. Get some of those big rigs off the roads and streets of New England!
Superliners to Boston-I hadn’t thought about that. That would be great!
Was any clearance work done to the tunnel at State Line or was that tunnel already tall enough to clear double stacks?
Figures I moved out of Worcester and the Railroads do something note worthy!