September 7th, 2006
We made a field trip to Westfield, Massachusetts to see the Pioneer Valley Railroad and their funky CF7 units, catching a Guilford train at Hatfield on our way to Deerfield yard and seeing the Vermonter at Northfield on our way home.
Westfield, Massachusetts
(map) Westfield is the home of the Pioneer Valley Railroad, which hosts several ATSF-built CF7 frankenstinian locomotives.
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PVRR #1 switches the north end of the Westfield yard.
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PVRR #2 switches a gondola into the shop.
Hatfield, Massachusetts
(map) A Guilford line runs through Hatfield south of East Deerfield yard toward Springfield.
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A Guilford train makes around five miles an hour toward East Deerfield yard.
Deerfield, Massachusetts
(map) Home of the Guilford lines, Deerfield has a large yard and junction. Guilford has a reputation for arresting (not fining) trespassers on its property, according to locals, and the yard is not very accessible without trespassing. It is limited to a bridge on a dead-end road that leads to the yard.
Northfield, Massachusetts
(map) Home of Northfield Mount Hermon School, where I attended high school and met my wife, Northfield has the junction of the NECR and MEC lines in a rural area near the Vermont border.
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AMTK #56, the Vermonter, passes under the bridge at East Northfield junction with two P42dcs and 4 cars.
