Two Hours At Gardner, Ma Options

[Eaglefan9727]

Today, I had a rare chance to railfan a couple hours in Gardner, Ma which is only about a mile from my house. Out of the 2 hours, I only saw one train. Anyways, I took some candid shots as well during my 2 hour excursion.

Just a piece of rolling stock sitting on one of the tracks

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF1.jpg)

The box that has the Gardner, Ma sign

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF2.jpg)

Looking toward Boston

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF3.jpg)

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF5.jpg)

Future building for the MBTA commuter rail for some sort

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF4.jpg)

Some track equipment

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF9.jpg)

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF10.jpg)

And here is the solo train that I saw on my excursion

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF6.jpg)

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF7.jpg)

(IMG:http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/Eaglefan9727/MSTS%202/RF8.jpg)

[CRQ5508]

she's not the 60mph high speed freight line she once was... then again, anything that the shadow of Guilford touched was damn near ruined... some nice shots. I haven't been out your way in a few years...

EDIT: Then again, I haven't really gone railfanning in a few years... Except for occasionally watching the loaded or empty coal train go through. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[milepost56]

Interesting shots Randy, but 2 hours for one train would damn near put me to sleep. We have quite a few locations in and about the Chicago area were you will see 50 to 100 trains a day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

That trackage and surroundings look very interesting, thanks for sharing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[bnsf1959]

Two hours wait? Hmmm, gotta find where the action is like milepost said above. There is plenty of areas in Chicago to see lots of action. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Eaglefan9727]

Thanks guys....

I agree.....Two hours is a long wait for one train. That is why I really dont like eastern railroading as I grew up and raised on western railroading in the Los Angeles area (SP and SF). And that is a reason why I rarely go railfanning these days.

I could always make a trip to Worcester which is about 30 miles south of me, But with that. I might have see 3 or 4 trains within the same 2 hour period.

[Major Ursa]

Two hours? I get board after an hour at my two railfan spots. Still though, nice photos there.

[milepost56]

Its all about the excitement of whats coming around the bend or whats behind that headlight a mile away. To most people its just a long, dirty and noisy nuisance that interferes with there life, to those of us railfans it could be the next messiah!

At Pine junction in Gary, IN we can spot trains a mile and a half to two miles away which is cool because we get time to prepare. We also get so many trains there are times when you have to choose which side of the right of way to be on, many times a poor choice when you have about every railroad sharing a long stretch of multiple tracks. With CSX, NS, SSB&SS, EJ&E, CN, CP and Amtrak you will see just about everything on the tracks from run thru power to the latest or oldest locomotives.

I enjoy the New England railroading and the3 great pictures taken there.

Again thanks for sharing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[akajim]

Its all about the excitement of whats coming around the bend or whats behind that headlight a mile away. To most people its just a long, dirty and noisy nuisance that interferes with there life, to those of us railfans it could be the next messiah!

At Pine junction in Gary, IN we can spot trains a mile and a half to two miles away which is cool because we get time to prepare. We also get so many trains there are times when you have to choose which side of the right of way to be on, many times a poor choice when you have about every railroad sharing a long stretch of multiple tracks. With CSX, NS, SSB&SS, EJ&E, CN, CP and Amtrak you will see just about everything on the tracks from run thru power to the latest or oldest locomotives.

I enjoy the New England railroading and the3 great pictures taken there.

Again thanks for sharing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Next weekend, Kev !!!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/foof.gif) Ron K

[akajim]

Two hours wait? Hmmm, gotta find where the action is like milepost said above. There is plenty of areas in Chicago to see lots of action. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Next weekend, Ken!!

Ron K (IMG:style_emoticons/default/foof.gif)

[Eaglefan9727]

Its all about the excitement of whats coming around the bend or whats behind that headlight a mile away. To most people its just a long, dirty and noisy nuisance that interferes with there life, to those of us railfans it could be the next messiah!

I agree 100 percent. It excites me when I see a powerful train with their headlights coming my direction. As for others, People just dont understand I guess as I had someone in the area called the police and stated that their was a suspicious person hanging around the railroad tracks, So I had a run in with the law that day. It seem like the officer didnt understand what railfanning was, So I told him that I was train watching instead.

At Pine junction in Gary, IN we can spot trains a mile and a half to two miles away which is cool because we get time to prepare. We also get so many trains there are times when you have to choose which side of the right of way to be on, many times a poor choice when you have about every railroad sharing a long stretch of multiple tracks. With CSX, NS, SSB&SS, EJ&E, CN, CP and Amtrak you will see just about everything on the tracks from run thru power to the latest or oldest locomotives.

That is my kind of train spot.