You know, the bridge is actually active, it just never received frequent use until Amtrak revived service on this line again. If isnt commonly used for freight traffic, because most trains are headed in and out of the yard at East Deerfield, and there are no "through trains" that bypass the yard in East Deerfield. This is a very important freight yard, as it is located right at the heart of the old B&M system- in a sense. The two major lengths of the B&M system, the North-South and East-West main lines, met in this location. Both are still active. Because these two high-traffic Maine lines met, a yard was built along the river to allow transfer of freight cars between the two lines, a light repair facility, and locomotive servicing accomadations. The original roundhouse is still present, though to my knowledge, it no longer sees much service, if any at all. Note that on the opposite side of the bridge from your photo-shooting location, there are old telegraph structures fixed to the side of the bridge. These are particularly old, and date back at least 70 years ago. Once had capacity for a total of 30 wires! Now however, in the disrepair they are currently in, only a handful of lines could be payed out across the river. Similar structures can be found on other bridges of the B&M system. The Central Vermont had only two arms on its older structures. In later times, the B&M cut back to two, the CV to one, and then the B&M to one, and the CV converted to radio. The B&M updated their lines extensively in the '70s, replacing most of the old glass insulators with ugly plastic ones. The glass can still be seen in the right places, but there isn't much left. Under Gilford Management, the B&M finally went all out for radio some time in the early '80s I believe.
The two things I love most in photography: reflections and unexpected perspectives of common objects. Both are here! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's why I call my blog "Reversed View." ;-) A beautiful day in Western Mass!
DeleteYou know, the bridge is actually active, it just never received frequent use until Amtrak revived service on this line again. If isnt commonly used for freight traffic, because most trains are headed in and out of the yard at East Deerfield, and there are no "through trains" that bypass the yard in East Deerfield. This is a very important freight yard, as it is located right at the heart of the old B&M system- in a sense. The two major lengths of the B&M system, the North-South and East-West main lines, met in this location. Both are still active. Because these two high-traffic Maine lines met, a yard was built along the river to allow transfer of freight cars between the two lines, a light repair facility, and locomotive servicing accomadations. The original roundhouse is still present, though to my knowledge, it no longer sees much service, if any at all. Note that on the opposite side of the bridge from your photo-shooting location, there are old telegraph structures fixed to the side of the bridge. These are particularly old, and date back at least 70 years ago. Once had capacity for a total of 30 wires! Now however, in the disrepair they are currently in, only a handful of lines could be payed out across the river. Similar structures can be found on other bridges of the B&M system. The Central Vermont had only two arms on its older structures. In later times, the B&M cut back to two, the CV to one, and then the B&M to one, and the CV converted to radio. The B&M updated their lines extensively in the '70s, replacing most of the old glass insulators with ugly plastic ones. The glass can still be seen in the right places, but there isn't much left. Under Gilford Management, the B&M finally went all out for radio some time in the early '80s I believe.
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