Smith’s Bridge, Monson, Massachusetts—May 31, 2017

Years ago I’d ride my ten-speed bicycle to the Stafford Hollow Road Bridge in Monson, Massachusetts. I’d wait for Central Vermont’s freight to New London.

If I was lucky, I’d catch CV working upgrade with GP9s/Alco RS-11 making a healthy roar as they approached Stateline Summit.

On the morning May 31, 2017, I was leaving the Monson Post Office (having just mailed a letter to Ireland) when I heard New England Central 608 (running south from Palmer to Willimantic) tackling the grade in town.

I was surprised to see a Providence & Worcester GP38-2 in the lead. I supposed since New England Central and P&W are now both in the Genesee & Wyoming family it makes sense that the locomotives of these two connecting lines would get a bit mixed up.

Regardless, I knew that this would make for an interesting photograph. Among the places I caught 608 was at my old Stafford Hollow Road location.

My late friend Bob Buck had photographed here since the 1940s and always called the location ‘Smith’s Bridge’. I know he would have been delighted to see these photos of a P&W GP38-2 leading the southward freight.

Tracking the Light posts Every Day.

3 comments on “Smith’s Bridge, Monson, Massachusetts—May 31, 2017

  1. Russell buck on said:

    Where is the lunchbag in the foreground of the picture

  2. Russell buck on said:

    Brian never in a million years would p&w be married to necr but these things happen. Very nice shots. Dad would have had them in black and white russell

  3. Dave Clinton on said:

    Yes, he would have been. I still miss him.
    Nice pic in his memory.
    Dave

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