Simple question, does anybody know how busy and what type of motive power i could see there, becuse i want to get out there before changes by NS take hold, and is it easy to chase trains from mohawk yard in new york state to east deerfield mass. thanks.
East Deerfield is an important yard for Guilford/Pan Am and is the start and end point for many trains (EDxx or xED are the train names for trains originating from and ending at E. Deerfield, i.e. EDRJ- East Deerfield to Rotterdam Jct. Local jobs are labeled ED-#, i.e ED-1).
I haven’t been there in a while, but it’s usually a pretty busy place. In terms of motive power, there’s usually one or two GP9s, GP35s, and/or GP40s assigned there for switching and local jobs. PAR motive power roams all over the system, but if you’re hunting PAR’s six-axles (SD26s ST621 and ST643, and the SD39 B&M690), that’s a good place to start since they usually work out on the western part of PAR’s system. PAR recently leased four GP38-2s from NS and fifteen SD40-2s fom Helm, so they will appear there as well. NS and Providence & Worcester coal trains headed to Bow, NH and Mt. Tom, MA go through and sometimes stop there, so you may see power from NS, P&W, BNSF, UP, or whoever else NS is borrowing locomotives from. Also there are mantainence racks/shops, many pieces of PAR’s MOW equipment, and a “railfan bridge” to take pictures from.
Thanks artofruin. do you know if the SD45’s are still around i am definently thinking about going out there in december.
I know this yard was a major Boston and Maine point, I think it became more prominent again recently.
Thanks for the info trainfan 1221.
The last high-nose SD45 on PAR, ST681, broke its crankshaft earlier this year and is currently sitting in limbo in the Waterville, ME deadline (Waterville is PAR’s main locomotive maintanence facility; it used to be MEC’s). No one’s sure if PAR will fix it. If it makes you feel any better, some of the SD40-2 rent-a-wrecks have low-nose SD45 carbodies.
Okay ArtOfRuin thank you sir, For the last five years i wanted to get out there to railfan, but been procrastonating, thats what happens, Okay another question if you don’t mind, how much further is it to waterville maine. beyond east deerfield. i might have to make the trip, and is the shops easy to get to for pictures, or totaly of limits. thanks.
Chasing is another story…from Mohawk to Ayer…roads are twisiting, turning, up, way up, down, and way down, circuituous, and narrow two laned at most. But Beautiful! You have to know the side roads and back roads and really pick your photo locations. If you do it right, it should take about a week from Mohawk to E. Deerfield. However, Route 2 is direct but misses the railroad from Troy to Williamstown, so go Route 7 to Hoosick Falls, 22 South to a sign that points to E. Pownal, Vt to MA Rt 7 to Route 2 East. Williamstown and N. Adams and find the west portal of Hoosic Tunnel. Rt 2 over the top of the mountains to Charlemont or, somewhere near Florida take a left and a quick right down, down, down to a T inersection. Left to the east portal of the tunnel or right and follow out to Charlemont. It really is complicated from memory, so get some good maps…topo’s would be best. Have fun, and good luck. Waterville, ME is probably another five or more hours (Portland, ME is about three, three and a half). Traffic, even on route 2, can be heavy and slow. 4 lane area may only be 50 mph. So allow plenty of time for everything. Take is slow and take in the scenery!!!
Any photos of the deerfield yard,probably live a half hour from there and have never been there.
For pictures of E. Deerfield (and New England railroading in general) look here:
I’ve never done any railfanning of the E. Deerfield yard aside from the bridge, though I can tell you it’s gorgeous in the fall! Your pictures should be just as spectacular in the winter. Further east is Ayer, MA, which is another busy place with PAR’s intermodal facility and MBTA trains. I think Maine may be worth the trip if you can make it, as there’s plenty of branchline action with PAR’s GP7s and GP9s and you can also check out the Montreal, Maine, and Atlantic. Some hobby shops in the Northeast carry a magazine called Railpace Newsmagazine. Look for the May 2008 issue; it has a railfanning guide of the West End of PAR.
Thanks ArtOfRuin and Henry6 for the information will be realy usable.