Fixing Your Branch Line: Needham Line
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 03. 2023
- Even though MARC would be the next commuter railroad heading south from the first episode's railroad (the LIRR), it doesn't have enough branch lines to qualify for an episode in this series. Therefore, we're shipping up to Boston to review the MBTA. I must say, this has been one of the hardest decisions to make as to which branch line to review, since they all have their own little quirks, but I ultimately decided to choose the Needham Line based on its odd history consisting of various railroads, and what happened to part of the line over time.
Credit for all photos used go to their original photographers
All music used in this video is from the CZcams Audio Library.
Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the copyright act 1976: allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Video Credit: @stormrail4540
Music Used in Order:
Up Above - Letter Box
Tango Bango - E's Jammy Jams
After You - Dan Lebowitz
Dispersion Relation - Kevin MacLeod
Blue Mood - Robert Munzinger
Timeless - Slenderbeats
Dispersion Relation by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Worcester is an English name, and it's pronounced 'Woosster' (a bit like 'book'). As for MBTA branchlines as a whole, I thought Stoughton was the shortest branch on the network. I've driven on that line a few times in Train Sim World, and that's how I heard about it.
It seems like the shortest line too, while actually riding on the train. Idk why lol
Woostah
Supposedly the Stoughton branch will be extended to Fall River and New Bedford at some point, but that remains to be seen
@@Geforce2187 They're actually building the stations right now! Service should be opening later this year! (but knowing the MBTA it will probably be next year at least)
Bostonian here. Good video but I have a few comments.
1. Wooster, Glostur, Hayvril, Needum, Deadum
2. Looking at the Needham line, it makes more sense to make the Needham stations part of the green line or end altogether if they’re gonna see rapid transit close by instead. Meanwhile everything up to West Roxbury station is being built up super fast. It would make more sense to convert that into an orange line extension instead since there’s like five buses that end up running the at corridor.
A more interesting question would be how to handle the Fairmount line. It ought to be turned into rapid transit since it runs through such a dense and underserved portion of Boston but they can’t add third rail due to Amtrak. They specify the need to keep that line open for them as a backup entry into Boston.
also Portsmith
Needs to be double tracked for more service. And it’s wooster
almost every north side town name you said was wrong
The return to New Hampshire for the Newburyport line would be exceedingly difficult as the sing bridge over the Merrimack river between Newburyport and Salisbury has been disabled along with most of the rails and several overpasses north of the river through to Portsmouth have been removed along with the lit bride over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth and Kittery, ME.
Excellent idea and for the Green line to Needham Junction this needs to be given a new letter like F Branch Needham Junction that way it prevents a passenger the green line D Branch Union Square to Riverside boarding the wrong train. Needham line be extended to Rhode Island
As a greater bostonite, im glad that our commuter rail system got reviewed, but I have some things to say
1. you pronounced some town names wrong, but don’t sweat it, a lot of people do. for reference, Gloucester is “Gloss-ter”, Amesbury is “Aims-bury”, Portsmouth is “Port-smith” and Haverill is “Hey-vrill”
2. I-95 wasn’t built in the 50’s here, that section of highway is/was Route 128, built as a ring road around Boston. I-95 construction did not reach here until like 1978. 128 actually has an interesting history of its own, spurring a lot of development, it practically kicked off the rise of the technology industry in Massachusetts
3. the issues with extending north of Newburyport and on to Portland would be the swing bridge over the Merrimack which has not swung since 1965, it’s apparently in good condition last time they inspected it, but that was in the 00’s. not to mention, both lines from Portsmouth to Dover have become roads, with buildings along them
Late Addition (4). extending the Newburyport line at least as far as Portsmouth would be good but in addition to that, I’d add station stops on the current line at Everett, Revere, and the center of Chelsea. Plus, I’d re-open the branches to Marblehead, Amesbury, and Danvers or Topsfield via Peabody
Pronunciations aside… Great video. Electrification of the commuter rail network is a must! Also bring back our branches on the Newburyport line in the form of trolleys or busses or something and increase frequency on the line overall!
Extending the Newburyport line would be nice but it scares me that we’d see a drop in reliability with any extra signaling infrastructure maintenance required. Already the MBTA struggles to maintain its existing signal infrastructure, particularly in Beverly where it branches off into Rockport
I regularly ride both the Green line and the Needham line and wanted to weigh in.
The Needham line extends to Needham Junction and beyond to serve the downtown area of Needham. Yeah the alignment definitely sucks, but the alternative is burying it underground, which the MBTA does not have the funding to do.
Extending the D line seems like a good idea in theory, but the D line is already the longest Green line branch and it would double the travel time to Needham Junction.
Edit: Woster and Needum
Love your work--Proud rider of the DownEaster !!
Les go! Finally a Pensyfan video on MBTA.
The MBTA Heath Street Green Line used to continue through Jamaica Plain to Arborway Station, which was adjacent to the Forest Hills station. Center Street in Jamaica Plain is pretty congested, so reinstating that connection might have to involve a different right of way - which would be expensive. When it was still intact, I used it to commute from Northeastern University to West Roxbury. Now I'd have to hike over to the Orange Line.
You should do the Hartford/Springfield Line
This^ and also the part north of Springfield up to Brattleboro for the whole Connecticut River line, feel like that whole line has so much potential that’s being wasted.
@@TheAlluminatus agreed
CDOT does not have enough branches (4) to qualify for an episode in this series.
0:24 The problem in Montreal isn't a branch line problem. The problem is that trains are operated as commuter trains and don't offer much service during the rest of the day. What Montreal needs to do is to move toward an all day service.
Appreciate the credit!
Great to see another one of these!
I honestly just think they should never have gotten rid of the tracks between Needham and Medway. The Millis Branch could have been more than it is today.
great liked 👍
Your mispronunciation of pretty much all the MA town names is sure to spark some rage
I'm not a New Englander, and some of them are based on British pronunciations of similar towns.
@Pensyfan19 Plus, we don't make it easy. Needham (my hometown) = Needum. Dedham = Dedum. BUT Waltham is not Walthum, it's WalTHAM... just like FramingHAM. Good luck if you didn't grow up here. (Also, it's"Wustah.") Nice job on the branch that shaped my love of trains.
Greenbush line needs a looking at
Good series.
Idea for the next fixing your branch line: The CTA Yellow Line (Skokie Swift). This is the only remaining remnant of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad. Last I checked, it isn't going to be easy, because supposedly people have built all over the right-of-way beyond Skokie.
Can you do Heritage Corridor?
Very simple convert it into subway service with a 2nd track and 3rd rail extend the orange line to needham jct. then revive the Bellingham line but take over needham heights and act as an express line after reaching the D line. It becomes a new line that acts like an express of the D and C becoming a beacon street express before going into the regional rail system.
Oh, come on! Havana, Havana, Havana! 😅
Needham is pronounced "need-um" here in MA
Marc could work but just do the Camden line cause it’s the most least used
Do one on the Praias do Sado-A Line in the Lisbon metro area
Request:do one in the greenport branch please
That's the honorable mention for the LIRR episode.
Ironically I suggested him to do the Newburyport line but forgot to mention it used to be so much bigger go all the way to Portland, ME
Should check GO Transit in Toronto has few Bad line (Milton line, Barrie Line)
But GO Transit is Add Second track for four lines. But Richmond Hill line has Single track and heavy freight trains & VIA has 1 train call Canadian.
11:52 🤓 it's actually pronounced hay ver rill, or hay ver roll, either is varied in pronunciation by locals who live in middlesex county mass (i know, the second h is silent in haverhill).
I think MBTA has bigger problems right now
NH is a nimby wasp nest cris sinnunu ways are hopefully on on their way out
7:11
The other operator is MARC
Are you going to talk about chinese diesel locomotives? Maybe you can discuss about the locomotives outside of America and Britain. Also great video as always.
I don't have too much expertise on that particular topic, although I do know that many of them are based on American GE designs, and that traditional passenger lines that these diesels run on are being replaced by high speed rail.
@Pensyfan19 Thank you for your response :)
I wanna help with the candiac line as im a montrealer. And il help with important details
What's even worse is off peak. They run full size trains but with only two cars in actual passenger operation. The rest are kind of just there for the ride. I just don't get it.
I assume that's due to the requirement of conductors needed per car, so they try to push all of the passengers into fewer cars so it's easier for one conductor to count everyone.
@@Pensyfan19 yeah but can't they do that with just two passenger coaches? In fact they use two conductors for the job anyway. Yet you see SEPTA, NJT, and MTA doing that no problem. All it means is extra fuel to burn, coaches that could be put to use elsewhere, and even the platforms are made useless because they only use the hi-level additions.
@RaisedLetter I suppose so, but that requires more switching and rearranging which takes time.
@@Pensyfan19 riding on a rush hour train, we got delayed because these coaches are configured poorly. They take too much time on low-level so they opt to use these small hi-level platforms and then disembarking takes longer because only two of a possible 8 or 10 doors can be used at a time.
12:11 Gloucester is pronounced Gloss-tur
So, What Railroads Are Left?
See the map at 0:38
@@Pensyfan19 Really, Go and Exo? THEY'RE NOT IN THE STATES. Also, Does this mean episodes 10 and 11 this series aren't happening because I didn't see the denver RTD, which has 4 lines.
@@brendanu1680 Canada is within North America, so I plan on mentioning them. RTD will not be included since I feel it's too soon to judge them, seeing that some of their lines won't fully open until 2066...
@@Pensyfan19 So what will episode 10 be on(The one after Metra,Exo,Go and Metrolink)?
@@brendanu1680 Something
Trainfan19 do you have a discord server for all your subs could join?
My discord server invite link is on my channel description, but here it is: discord.gg/6NCUCa4pjA