Great video! Thank you for sharing! I saw this move several times as a kid but don't think I have video. That fly-by move always seemed risky, but with that siding facing south, was just what they needed.
a LOT of the risk of performing drops is negated when you have an experienced crew... like not leaving enough room on the main to clear the switch, now the engine is trapped... experience is KEY
Nice video, especially dropping of empty boxcars after pulling them out of Schweitzer-Mauduit Int'l paper mill. This plant made cigarette wrapper and other specialty papers and was shuttered in 2008 along with three other mills that they operated in the area. As with all the area's paper mills, inbound pulp was the primary rail commodity. Mead Paper also operated two mills in Lee which provided significant carloadings. Both were sold to a new firm, Onyx Paper. The 1958 built Laurel Mill (1075 Pleasant Street) was a big rail customer but unfortunately was closed. The Beautiful,Two Hundred year old Willow Mill (40 Willow St), originally Hurlbutt Paper, is the last operating paper mill in the area. Although adjacent to the Housatonic Railroad they don't have an active siding (A trestle there still holds two 50' B&M boxcars used for storage). The 1873 built Rising Paper mill on Rt 183 in nearby Housatonic, MA was also an important rail shipper .One of the most gorgeous mills ever constructed, it closed in 2007, and was well known for producing fine art papers. I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a Springfield Terminal crew switching the plant in the 1980's during the strike. The B&M geep had to plow its way through brush along the heavily overgrown wooded spur that crossed the river connecting the mill and the branch line. You would have to see the photos to believe it! The Housatonic Railroad interchanges with the former Boston an Albany main line at Lee, Ma.(site of former G.E.plant).
I wandered around here visiting Lee one weekend in the late Summer 1993. Didn't see any action- by Goose Pond. This video best reminds me the scenes near and around the railroad that my lost photos from that trip showed. That was an awesome humping move they made around 4:25. Almost thought you could get clipped or bust a knuckle on that hard coupling. Also seems that the GP9 has its control stand on the fireman's side. Interesting.
I was going to say the same thing, that was a cool operation, quickly getting the GP9 out of the way and then letting the cars roll down to couple to the other boxcars, man that was a SLAM of a connect though, I cringed on that one!!
"Number one" videos in my roster for the error. Not too many good videos from the '80s to the 90s of New England of the Boston Maine, Maine Central, etc. Miss the days ☹️
I still see the cars waiting to be interchanged with the Housatonic sitting in the yard along East Street in Pittsfield all the time, there aren't nearly as many box cars these days...mostly hopper cars (both covered and open) and the I-Beam flatcars carrying plywood. Awesome footage, thanks for the post!
great filmwork...... and no noxious graffiti on the sides of the cars...... a visit from Ma and Pa (MPA boxcar)..... worked for them "fixing" track once...... thanks and tip of the hat from Bellows Falls, Vermont and a GP-9 (Central Vermont @ New London #4925 ).... memories....
Hi Craig, I made it up to Lee last week and took some photos and posted on my Flickr page. To wont let me lost the link on this comment, however. You can search Nurvon Media Flickr and the Album is called "The Berkshire Route: Lee, MA"
I know train cars aren't champagne glasses, but that's how draft gears get broken.
Great video! Thank you for sharing! I saw this move several times as a kid but don't think I have video. That fly-by move always seemed risky, but with that siding facing south, was just what they needed.
Thanks! Glad you liked it, Craig
a LOT of the risk of performing drops is negated when you have an experienced crew... like not leaving enough room on the main to clear the switch, now the engine is trapped... experience is KEY
Smashing boxcars!
Penn
Yeah the Housatonic never does that anymore...
New Milford RAIL FAN yeah I would never allow it, but its to funny to see em go smashin like that
Nice video, especially dropping of empty boxcars after pulling them out of Schweitzer-Mauduit Int'l paper mill. This plant made cigarette wrapper and other specialty papers and was shuttered in 2008 along with three other mills that they operated in the area. As with all the area's paper mills, inbound pulp was the primary rail commodity.
Mead Paper also operated two mills in Lee which provided significant carloadings. Both were sold to a new firm, Onyx Paper. The 1958 built Laurel Mill (1075 Pleasant Street) was a big rail customer but unfortunately was closed. The Beautiful,Two Hundred year old Willow Mill (40 Willow St), originally Hurlbutt Paper, is the last operating paper mill in the area. Although adjacent to the Housatonic Railroad they don't have an active siding (A trestle there still holds two 50' B&M boxcars used for storage).
The 1873 built Rising Paper mill on Rt 183 in nearby Housatonic, MA was also an important rail shipper .One of the most gorgeous mills ever constructed, it closed in 2007, and was well known for producing fine art papers.
I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a Springfield Terminal crew switching the plant in the 1980's during the strike. The B&M geep had to plow its way through brush along the heavily overgrown wooded spur that crossed the river connecting the mill and the branch line. You would have to see the photos to believe it!
The Housatonic Railroad interchanges with the former Boston an Albany main line at Lee, Ma.(site of former G.E.plant).
Hello Michael, Thanks for the great information....I'm sorry, I never saw your comment until now. Craig
nhrrman Thank You Craig for all those great video's ! I'm from Long Island but I really like New England scenery and railroading.
I wandered around here visiting Lee one weekend in the late Summer 1993.
Didn't see any action- by Goose Pond. This video best reminds me the scenes near and around the railroad that my lost photos from that trip showed.
That was an awesome humping move they made around 4:25. Almost thought you could get clipped or bust a knuckle on that hard coupling. Also seems that the GP9 has its control stand on the fireman's side. Interesting.
I was going to say the same thing, that was a cool operation, quickly getting the GP9 out of the way and then letting the cars roll down to couple to the other boxcars, man that was a SLAM of a connect though, I cringed on that one!!
"Number one" videos in my roster for the error. Not too many good videos from the '80s to the 90s of New England of the Boston Maine, Maine Central, etc.
Miss the days ☹️
Flying cars I’d always twist of a brake end before I’d let them crash so violent like that . Good way to pop a truck off the gauge loaded vs empty
I still see the cars waiting to be interchanged with the Housatonic sitting in the yard along East Street in Pittsfield all the time, there aren't nearly as many box cars these days...mostly hopper cars (both covered and open) and the I-Beam flatcars carrying plywood. Awesome footage, thanks for the post!
Cool video.
I believe it is! Glad you liked the vid, Craig
great filmwork...... and no noxious graffiti on the sides of the cars...... a visit from Ma and Pa (MPA boxcar)..... worked for them
"fixing" track once...... thanks and tip of the hat from Bellows Falls, Vermont
and a GP-9 (Central Vermont @ New London #4925 ).... memories....
They have come a long way haven’t they
Very nice video! Pretty part of Massachuetts
Cars rolling free then WOW at 4:49 I didn't see that coming.
That was harsh.
Cool video, they have had 6 derailments in 2013 alone! Their new slogan should be
'You ship it, We tip it'!, they make Pan Am look like BNSF.
The tracks along Holmes Road, that is.
Hi Carey, If I can figure out how to find it, I'll check it out! Craig
Thanks Carey!
Nice video. All we need now is the trains to return and get better everything on the line.
4:15 - great move !
Ouch!!
Do trains still use those tracks? Always wondered that.
Ya
Hi Craig, I made it up to Lee last week and took some photos and posted on my Flickr page. To wont let me lost the link on this comment, however. You can search Nurvon Media Flickr and the Album is called "The Berkshire Route: Lee, MA"
I'm not familiar with that area, maybe another viewer can help. Glad you liked the vid! Craig
Thanks!
i enjoyed this video very much!
I haven't lived in Pittsfield very long so i'm still grasping some knowledge of the history. i love this video. Is the train going to a GE plant?
very nice video
nurvonmedia is my photo site and its on there as well, thanks!
LOL!