Just discovered your great video's. Particularly relevant to me as I rode The Old Colony Line as a kid back in the 1950's rail fanning the NH&H Alco Dl-109's and the RDC Buddliners. I have never ridden the current MBTA Commuter line either out of or into South Station on the Old Colony Line so your trips from the South Shore let me see the changes that have taken place over the lasyt 70 years. I have ridden the Worcester line as that is my current city of residence. I rely on my PC Simulation Train Sim Classic for entertainment. Thanks again for the wonderful memories.
Hello my deir friend I am here always watching more excellent Works from your wonderful Channel. Have a happy weekend my Brother. We are together Strong hug from Brazil
It's all different now... The -2c's are completely gone, most of the classic GP40's are being rebuilt or overhauled, getting LED's, fresh paint, and ebells. The south side is dominated by bilevels, only a couple sets have flats left. The north side is following suit, with only one flat cab car in service as of today. See the common, before it becomes uncommon. One thing I will say, is we are getting a couple of the rebuilt GP40MC-3 rebuilds in heritage units, so come see em while they are fresh and shiny!
I want to say I am pleased that you pronounced my hometown correctly. Haverhill is a difficult name for many people not familiar with the area. ;-) I grew up taking the Budd Liners (RDCs) from Bradford (Haverhill) and lived in an apartment that overlooked the old Bradford yard. This sparked my interest in railroads that I've never outgrown. When I was a kid, we would arrive at the old North Station, and I remember seeing the old CNR trains from Montreal and sometimes the old B&M E units for trains for Troy before that line was abandoned. Currently, it appears that the northside is the old stepchild for the MBTA and we keep all the old equipment while the southside gets all the new upgrades. This might not be true, but it sure seems that way. I'm glad you featured North Station as well because of the older equipment and its stark difference from South Station. We don't see the double deck cars too often on the Haverhill line due to a clearance issue near Wellington Circle Orange Line station. The double deck trains have to take the parallel freight line instead of the tunnel that burrows under the flyover for the now mostly abandoned Medford Branch. I recommend looking up Sullivan Square elevated station. The old Boston Elevated ran from Everett Square down to Forest Hills and had a beautiful glass trainshed and terminal at Sullivan Square. Sadly, all that is gone now. The old Forest Hills station was unfortunately demolished even though there protests about it, was similar to the old stations on the NY Westchester and Boston. There was also a trolley line, the line from Heath Street, that ran down Centre Street through Jamaica Plains to Forest Hills. That line was abandoned 10 years ago with lots of protests due to the "T" siding with the NIMBYs who said trolleys make noise. (Not kidding!) When I was a kid, we took the trolley from Lechmere on the north to Forest Hills to visit a friend in the area. In the late 1960s, my dad brought me for a ride on the Elevated. That was an experience I'll never forget because I got to look out the motorman's window. You can see I enjoyed your video. There's really a lot I want to say, but I don't want to write a book! Thank you!
I’m a Long Island Red Sox fan. I love to hang out there in Boston. I try to pronounce the towns correctly. Lots of history on the Boston rail scene. There was a soda fountain at the old Sullivans Square orange line station. I had lunch there one day in 1970 gazing out at the distant skyline
@@3985uprr That is quite a memory to hold on to. The old Sullivan station was a classic structure. Old Beantown is a nice small city to hang out in. I used to work in the city for a bit and enjoyed the small size and convenience of getting around. I didn't appreciate it when I was younger but being able to walk from North Station to work was a pleasure. I spent quite a bit of time out on Long Island. My dad came from the Bronx and moved up here in 1948. I used to visit my great aunt and uncle in their apartment in the Queens and later on when I was older out in Hampton Bays. My other aunt and uncle owned the famous Camp Crestwood in Plainville, but the family sold that a long time ago. During the New York World's Fair, my aunt took me for a ride on the New York Subway system. I was about 3-1/2 going on 4 at the time and still remember the trip over the EL! Much later in 1975 I took the United Aircraft Turbo down to visit them. This was during the sad PC years and Amtrak was still a child. There was quite an assortment of old New Haven washboards, electrics and even PRR GG1s in action. Thank you for the great memories.
It’s amazing how many young railfans are out there with the cameras. That was unheard of when I was your age but I met so many young railfans today and hang out with a few in New Jersey mostly and one on Long Island. Yes it was good to meet you and your mom and I had a wonderful day as you can see.
If I remember correctly, the older locomotives aren't allowed in the Southwest Corridor or Old Colony tunnels due to air quality issues... but occasionally you will see a GP40 on the Fairmount Line, both with the Readville locals and the few Forge Park or Foxboro trains that run via the Fairmount Line in both directions. But yeah, I'm not a fan of the HSPs either mostly because they're so loud with the open side ventilation. Also unfortunately they don't let you just hang out on the platforms at North Station anymore, due to "safety reasons"...
I just saw a video from RM transit, Downie Live, and simply Railway from Toronto that the MP54-ACs used by GO transit are the most powerful diesel locomotives used a passenger train in the world at the moment once again, that is GO transit in Toronto. Something you might want to check out those puppies have 5400 hp
@@3985uprr yeah, they need that power for the 10 to 12 car trains that they push pull. And those are double-deckers too, so that is some weight also note the Maple leaf from NYC to Toronto is running now
I have to agree with you about F40 being the best looking locomotive. I also have to agree with you on the MPI about looking nice. You are right about MBTA buying 20 MPI's and that was 20 too many. Thanks for the GREAT videos
@ 10:43 he is heading eather to S&I tracks 1 2 or 3 (fuel stand) or front yard. ( my dad was working around 2 ish these past 2 days he is a loco engineer down here for keolis
Afternoon RR! Loving the vids, so much familiarity, yet so many differences to enjoy between the Scottish/UK rail scene and our Transatlantic friends! A quick question if I may - I notice many of the departing trains accelerating, and then braking, before again accelerating. Is this a standard brake test or some other reason? Many thanks for brightening this grey afternoon with some lovely loco-hauled colour! Gaz.
What's with all the e-bells these days? I don't get what's wrong with the old metal bells that diesels used to have... Still, though, an awesome video of an awesome commuter operation, one I used to ride whenever I'd visit my grandparents in Reading, Mass. when I was little. It was a long trip, not gonna lie (I live, as I did back then, in Virginia), but worth that trip every time.
Don't get me wrong, I like some of the new railcars coming out soon, but I wish we didn't switch to these silly e-bells. I mean, couldn't we 3D-print traditional railroad bells?
E-Bells are easier to maintain. The real bells tend to crack in cold weather. Alaska Railroad I think was the first railroad to use electronic bells and you know it gets cold there
I must say, Boston has a robust commuter rail network. It’s more impressive than NYC’s considering the size of the two metropolitan areas. So why do you loathe the HSP46s? They’re similar in basic design to most of the latest passenger diesels, including the Genesis, Charger, F125, and PL42AC. There was a time when railfans were complaining about the F40PH because they preferred the bulldog noses of the E8s. I think the Alco PA is the best looking cab unit ever.
The HSP’s are not attractive and they have been loaded with mechanical issues. I am not alone up there in that opinion. Far from it. Part of it is my age I guess and esthetic preferences and the ideal that beauty or ugliness is in the eye of the beholder. I find most of the other locomotive types you noted more attractive and I love the ACS64’s. Color also plays into it. Oh well
@@3985uprr I go back and forth on the aesthetic appeal of the HSP46. Busy styling, boring trucks. I remember when the Genesis first hit the rails in ‘92, many railfans, nostalgic for EMD bulldog noses, hated them. After nearly 30 years of operation, attitudes have evolved. Hard to believe they’re being retired. The Siemens Chargers in their new Amtrak livery look great. I also like the F125. Cesar Vergara designed the P32/40/42 and the Alstom PL42AC. Lucky man!
And you also didn’t get government center for green line action museum of science parking garage is a good spot as well As you can see red line cars going over the Longfellow bridge and viaduct wear green line cars go over it you would’ve had to go to East Boston or Revere to get blue line action
Nice! I love the MBTA! I’m hoping to go back to Boston soon. However, it is boring mostly seeing the HSPs on the south side though. The north side has been getting all of the good power recently.
It’s another train train if you haven’t checked it out already it’s during the summer time the T operates the Cape flyer. And sometimes you’ll really get lucky and see some real antique iron pulling it To be specific an F9 in New haven livery there’s also the Cape Cod scenic Railroad which has 2F9’s that are painted in that livery
I really enjoy your videos from the east coast. We don't really have anything like that here in Arizona. Question though. Why do some trains have both single level and bi-level cars? Does that just make up the consist or are there other factors, not including cab cars? Noticed this also on NJ Transit.
The cars are interchangeable and they pretty much treat one car like another and some trains are solid double-deckers but I see very few solid single level trains. MBTA is unusual in that sense
@@3985uprr On the MBTA you will see at least one bilevel car on every train part of the reason I do this is because the bilevel cars have a lavatory on them where are the single levels do not and the MBTA is gradually phasing all of them out in favor of bilevels I live in Lynn Massachusetts and used Newburyport Rockport line quite frequently
@@3985uprr ya they are heavy but the advantage of those is on off peak hour trains you can run fewer of them plus those have a lavatory and more bike storage they are 1/3 more capacity for people as well so instead of 6 cars of the old single level you can run 3 or 4 of the bilevels they are made by either Kawasaki Or Hyundai Rotem
@@3985uprr also you missed a shot at a Ride on a PCC Streetcar from the 40s From South Station you take the Ashmont branch to Ashmont station and then you can hop on a PCC streetcar to Mattapan from there It’s amazing that 1940 technology is still running
Just discovered your great video's. Particularly relevant to me as I rode The Old Colony Line as a kid back in the 1950's rail fanning the NH&H Alco Dl-109's and the RDC Buddliners. I have never ridden the current MBTA Commuter line either out of or into South Station on the Old Colony Line so your trips from the South Shore let me see the changes that have taken place over the lasyt 70 years. I have ridden the Worcester line as that is my current city of residence. I rely on my PC Simulation Train Sim Classic for entertainment. Thanks again for the wonderful memories.
You are welcome.
Hello my deir friend I am here always watching more excellent Works from your wonderful Channel.
Have a happy weekend my Brother.
We are together Strong hug from Brazil
Great video! I personally love the F40PH-2Cs and the GP40MCs best!
Another great video! Love Boston! South Station is always full of activity.
Place is like a beehive
It's all different now... The -2c's are completely gone, most of the classic GP40's are being rebuilt or overhauled, getting LED's, fresh paint, and ebells. The south side is dominated by bilevels, only a couple sets have flats left. The north side is following suit, with only one flat cab car in service as of today. See the common, before it becomes uncommon. One thing I will say, is we are getting a couple of the rebuilt GP40MC-3 rebuilds in heritage units, so come see em while they are fresh and shiny!
I want to say I am pleased that you pronounced my hometown correctly. Haverhill is a difficult name for many people not familiar with the area. ;-)
I grew up taking the Budd Liners (RDCs) from Bradford (Haverhill) and lived in an apartment that overlooked the old Bradford yard. This sparked my interest in railroads that I've never outgrown. When I was a kid, we would arrive at the old North Station, and I remember seeing the old CNR trains from Montreal and sometimes the old B&M E units for trains for Troy before that line was abandoned.
Currently, it appears that the northside is the old stepchild for the MBTA and we keep all the old equipment while the southside gets all the new upgrades. This might not be true, but it sure seems that way. I'm glad you featured North Station as well because of the older equipment and its stark difference from South Station. We don't see the double deck cars too often on the Haverhill line due to a clearance issue near Wellington Circle Orange Line station. The double deck trains have to take the parallel freight line instead of the tunnel that burrows under the flyover for the now mostly abandoned Medford Branch.
I recommend looking up Sullivan Square elevated station. The old Boston Elevated ran from Everett Square down to Forest Hills and had a beautiful glass trainshed and terminal at Sullivan Square. Sadly, all that is gone now. The old Forest Hills station was unfortunately demolished even though there protests about it, was similar to the old stations on the NY Westchester and Boston. There was also a trolley line, the line from Heath Street, that ran down Centre Street through Jamaica Plains to Forest Hills. That line was abandoned 10 years ago with lots of protests due to the "T" siding with the NIMBYs who said trolleys make noise. (Not kidding!) When I was a kid, we took the trolley from Lechmere on the north to Forest Hills to visit a friend in the area. In the late 1960s, my dad brought me for a ride on the Elevated. That was an experience I'll never forget because I got to look out the motorman's window.
You can see I enjoyed your video. There's really a lot I want to say, but I don't want to write a book!
Thank you!
I’m a Long Island Red Sox fan. I love to hang out there in Boston. I try to pronounce the towns correctly. Lots of history on the Boston rail scene. There was a soda fountain at the old Sullivans Square orange line station. I had lunch there one day in 1970 gazing out at the distant skyline
@@3985uprr That is quite a memory to hold on to. The old Sullivan station was a classic structure. Old Beantown is a nice small city to hang out in. I used to work in the city for a bit and enjoyed the small size and convenience of getting around. I didn't appreciate it when I was younger but being able to walk from North Station to work was a pleasure.
I spent quite a bit of time out on Long Island. My dad came from the Bronx and moved up here in 1948. I used to visit my great aunt and uncle in their apartment in the Queens and later on when I was older out in Hampton Bays. My other aunt and uncle owned the famous Camp Crestwood in Plainville, but the family sold that a long time ago.
During the New York World's Fair, my aunt took me for a ride on the New York Subway system. I was about 3-1/2 going on 4 at the time and still remember the trip over the EL! Much later in 1975 I took the United Aircraft Turbo down to visit them. This was during the sad PC years and Amtrak was still a child. There was quite an assortment of old New Haven washboards, electrics and even PRR GG1s in action.
Thank you for the great memories.
Great Video. ! 12000 horses. Guessing that they think they are going to be late. LMAO 😊 🤣 Love passenger car Videos. 🇺🇸👍
Wow MBTA is pretty cool! The way the mix up multilevels and comets
Another place to check out is the seashore trolley museum in Kennebunkport ME you would love to see their collection
Awesome video! Wasn't planning on watching it all but couldn't stop!
I just love those cummins HEP generators.
I had a fun time hanging out with you!
It’s amazing how many young railfans are out there with the cameras. That was unheard of when I was your age but I met so many young railfans today and hang out with a few in New Jersey mostly and one on Long Island. Yes it was good to meet you and your mom and I had a wonderful day as you can see.
If I remember correctly, the older locomotives aren't allowed in the Southwest Corridor or Old Colony tunnels due to air quality issues... but occasionally you will see a GP40 on the Fairmount Line, both with the Readville locals and the few Forge Park or Foxboro trains that run via the Fairmount Line in both directions. But yeah, I'm not a fan of the HSPs either mostly because they're so loud with the open side ventilation.
Also unfortunately they don't let you just hang out on the platforms at North Station anymore, due to "safety reasons"...
I just saw a video from RM transit, Downie Live, and simply Railway from Toronto that the MP54-ACs used by GO transit are the most powerful diesel locomotives used a passenger train in the world at the moment once again, that is GO transit in Toronto. Something you might want to check out those puppies have 5400 hp
aware of those
@@3985uprr yeah, they need that power for the 10 to 12 car trains that they push pull. And those are double-deckers too, so that is some weight also note the Maple leaf from
NYC to Toronto is running now
Ah, I caught 1027 just last week. Still smoking away and sounding great!
My in Laws live right near Greenbush. When we visit you can hear pulling and leaving.
ON that Lake Shore Limited, it sounded like that rear loco wasn't running. Probably being towed to Chicago.
Enjoy your videos 👍👍
Great video
449 has two diesels because the power will take the entire combined train the rest of the way from Albany.
Awesome train action and awsome narrating
I have to agree with you about F40 being the best looking locomotive.
I also have to agree with you on the MPI about looking nice. You are right about
MBTA buying 20 MPI's and that was 20 too many. Thanks for the GREAT videos
Nice Amtrak triple-header Lakeshore Limited @ 15:58 | 23:55
@ 10:43 he is heading eather to S&I tracks 1 2 or 3 (fuel stand) or front yard. ( my dad was working around 2 ish these past 2 days he is a loco engineer down here for keolis
I'm hoping to come to Boston around March/April next year. Hopefully the old orange line cars will still be running.
Great, Very Enjoyable video!
I love this!
Afternoon RR! Loving the vids, so much familiarity, yet so many differences to enjoy between the Scottish/UK rail scene and our Transatlantic friends!
A quick question if I may - I notice many of the departing trains accelerating, and then braking, before again accelerating. Is this a standard brake test or some other reason?
Many thanks for brightening this grey afternoon with some lovely loco-hauled colour!
Gaz.
This is common practice to do a brake test after departure.
Yes. Standard brake test
What's with all the e-bells these days? I don't get what's wrong with the old metal bells that diesels used to have... Still, though, an awesome video of an awesome commuter operation, one I used to ride whenever I'd visit my grandparents in Reading, Mass. when I was little. It was a long trip, not gonna lie (I live, as I did back then, in Virginia), but worth that trip every time.
I’d guess it’s for “modernization” or something like that
Don't get me wrong, I like some of the new railcars coming out soon, but I wish we didn't switch to these silly e-bells. I mean, couldn't we 3D-print traditional railroad bells?
E-Bells are easier to maintain. The real bells tend to crack in cold weather. Alaska Railroad I think was the first railroad to use electronic bells and you know it gets cold there
Wow, I didn't think about that. Still, even I'm gonna miss the old metal bells once they're all replaced.
@@3985uprr Hopefully my railroad, Metro-North doesn’t replace their cab car steel bells with E-Bells.
I must say, Boston has a robust commuter rail network. It’s more impressive than NYC’s considering the size of the two metropolitan areas. So why do you loathe the HSP46s? They’re similar in basic design to most of the latest passenger diesels, including the Genesis, Charger, F125, and PL42AC. There was a time when railfans were complaining about the F40PH because they preferred the bulldog noses of the E8s. I think the Alco PA is the best looking cab unit ever.
The HSP’s are not attractive and they have been loaded with mechanical issues. I am not alone up there in that opinion. Far from it. Part of it is my age I guess and esthetic preferences and the ideal that beauty or ugliness is in the eye of the beholder. I find most of the other locomotive types you noted more attractive and I love the ACS64’s. Color also plays into it. Oh well
@@3985uprr I go back and forth on the aesthetic appeal of the HSP46. Busy styling, boring trucks. I remember when the Genesis first hit the rails in ‘92, many railfans, nostalgic for EMD bulldog noses, hated them. After nearly 30 years of operation, attitudes have evolved. Hard to believe they’re being retired. The Siemens Chargers in their new Amtrak livery look great. I also like the F125. Cesar Vergara designed the P32/40/42 and the Alstom PL42AC.
Lucky man!
@@daf827 yes I’m not the biggest fan of the HSPS looks. I think the ALC 42 has a way better looking nose than the SC44
41:26 slight correction, 1071 is actually an F40PH-2C, not an F40PHM-2c, it was built by EMD, not Morrison-Knudsen
I was reading the tags under the cab windows. They all look alike without the fancy purple tuxedo scheme
@@3985uprr yes they are all the same reliable locos underneath the paint
18:14 my favorite 3C 1031
On location you didn’t get was Ashmont or Mattapan station where you can actually see a 1940s era PCC streetcar still in service
And you also didn’t get government center for green line action museum of science parking garage is a good spot as well As you can see red line cars going over the Longfellow bridge and viaduct wear green line cars go over it you would’ve had to go to East Boston or Revere to get blue line action
41:40 it’s actually 685. 686 is the southbound Downeaster not northbound. Just an fyi
Nice! I love the MBTA! I’m hoping to go back to Boston soon. However, it is boring mostly seeing the HSPs on the south side though. The north side has been getting all of the good power recently.
I am a Boston Railfan an I fully agree!
Anytime you’re up in Boston let me know
It’s another train train if you haven’t checked it out already it’s during the summer time the T operates the Cape flyer. And sometimes you’ll really get lucky and see some real antique iron pulling it To be specific an F9 in New haven livery there’s also the Cape Cod scenic Railroad which has 2F9’s that are painted in that livery
1060 is the newest 3c
If been to Boston on Boston Sprinter
Came to Miami
what how can there be a gp on the south
I really enjoy your videos from the east coast. We don't really have anything like that here in Arizona.
Question though. Why do some trains have both single level and bi-level cars? Does that just make up the consist or are there other factors, not including cab cars? Noticed this also on NJ Transit.
The cars are interchangeable and they pretty much treat one car like another and some trains are solid double-deckers but I see very few solid single level trains. MBTA is unusual in that sense
@@3985uprr On the MBTA you will see at least one bilevel car on every train part of the reason I do this is because the bilevel cars have a lavatory on them where are the single levels do not and the MBTA is gradually phasing all of them out in favor of bilevels I live in Lynn Massachusetts and used Newburyport Rockport line quite frequently
@@MattyC62185 They are very heavy cars. They had to rebuild lines on the Old Colony because of that. The single level cars are antiques.
@@3985uprr ya they are heavy but the advantage of those is on off peak hour trains you can run fewer of them plus those have a lavatory and more bike storage they are 1/3 more capacity for people as well so instead of 6 cars of the old single level you can run 3 or 4 of the bilevels they are made by either Kawasaki Or Hyundai Rotem
@@3985uprr also you missed a shot at a Ride on a PCC Streetcar from the 40s From South Station you take the Ashmont branch to Ashmont station and then you can hop on a PCC streetcar to Mattapan from there It’s amazing that 1940 technology is still running
How do you retire from railfanning? Is there a railfanning pension plan?
I wish!!! It’s implying that I’m retired and have more time to railfan.
Did u say “Please” and was it the “springtime” little grasshopper train man??
@Retired Railfan hello sir I will be taking Amtrak P280 from Albany Rensselaer to NYP Moynihan Train Hall the 1st week of May
Darn i could have given u a green line horn show
I didn’t hang out on the GL. I was only there for 7 and a half hours. I’m sure I’ll get to that.
May go up there and check out the extension to Tufts fairly soon. If you see a tall senior citizen with an iPhone chances are that’s me.
No MP36?
Sent for rebuilding
They look strong but Puke Purple is not my thing.
*The Earth is Flat.*
But to me, the ugliest trains by far is anything Talgo Makes. Those things are absolutely hideous looking
Wish the MBTA had electric trains. Man those stains at the beginning at the station. Yuck.
No offense but those HSP-46s are very ugly.
Don’t worry retired Railfan takes no offence by that
@@nerailvideos No. I most certainly do not!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
He refers to them as “Horse Shit Piss” when we text each other 😂😂😂
@@3985uprr the hisp suck soo much I seen them all the time on the south side I’m sick of them
@@mbtaghost2583 hello
The hsp46 locomotives I prefer, the f40ph are overrated, just like the fl9 locomotives and E8 locomotive, overrated.