On October 24, 2013, Amtrak’s southward Vermonter is south of Three Rivers in Palmer, Massachusetts. I’ve often favored this view along the old Central Vermont Railway where the tracks run along the side of the road. The train is approaching Palmer’s yard limits and is trundling along at a casual pace.
Everyday scenes like this one are easy enough to find, yet tend to hold their interest over time. Items such as the trash cans on the left and the car on the road may someday garnish greater interest than the P42 leading the Vermonter.
Yet, someone interested in trains in the future may see this and exclaim, ‘You mean that way back in 2013, they ran the Vermonter via Three Rivers? No way! Why?’
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Yes! Everyday.
From Three Rivers to 30th street station, Philly!
Hi Tom,
You have about a year left to enjoy the Vermonter on its present routing. From what I understand, the switch to the Conn-River route between Springfield and East Northfield will likely occur in December 2014.
It’s a pity that a Boston-Palmer-Amherst-Brattleboro run couldn’t be introduced to take the place of the Vermonter.
Brian
As an Amherst, MA resident, I’ll be sorry to see the Vermonter go back to its original routing via Holyoke and Northampton. (The new rails have been lying beside the tracks on the River line since summer, so the change is coming.) I have to agree that seeing a train that started in Washington, D.C., and zoomed along the Northeast Corridor so far off the beaten path is strange. Almost like street running. But, come to think of it, it’s also hard to visualize that trolley cars used to run on streets in very rural places, and the rare photos of them are wonderful and surprising–ordinary as the sight was at the time. Great picture!
They may garnish the train photograph now, but they will eventually garner more interest than the train… 🙂
You mean the trashcans on the left 😉
Keep up the good work – really enjoying the site.
Want to make a point of visiting Palmer next time I’m over in MA.
John