Bay State Model Railroad Museum
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This Convention Is Dedicated to the Memory of Robert A. Buck (1929-2011) Bob Buck in the cab of GMRR 302 in Palmer in 1999. (Brian Solomon Photo) A descendant of the first English settler of Warren, Massachusetts, Bob Buck was born and raised there, within sight and sound of the Boston & Albany Railroad. From the time he was first able to lift his eyes above a window sill in his family home, he grew up watching a steady parade of NE-2 articulateds, A-1 Berkshires, J-2 Hudsons, and a changing potpourri of Consolidations, Mikados, Pacifics, tank engines and, later, the early New York Central diesels that replaced them. As he grew into teenage years, Bob made friends with local railroaders and spent many hours riding in the cabooses and cabs of local freights serving the Warren area. An early interest in photography, coupled with a skilled photographer's eye, allowed Bob to capture the rapidly disappearing world of steam railroading, not only on the B&A, but all across the United States and Canada. Although Bob had a great passion for railroading and railroad history, the flame burned brightest on the subject of his favorite: the Boston & Albany Railroad. Throughout his life, Bob collected and selflessly shared any photographs and documentation he could find on the B&A. Whether you were an aspiring author, a renowned expert, or simply a novice with an interest in the "Albany Line" (as it was known to old timers), Bob would generously offer access to his collection and his tremendous insight, spiced, of course, with a large dose of colorful jokes and anecdotes, in true "Yankee Fashion.” Bob was a founder and for many years the director of the huge Amherst Train Show held annually in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Many of the recipients of Bob's kind mentoring over the years have gone on to make their own contributions to railroad history and preservation. Indeed, some of the NYCSHS members you will meet at this convention are here partly due to a spark that Bob helped to kindle at some time in the past. 1 Bob in the fireman’s seat of A-1a Berkshire 1424. (Ken Buck Photo) (Left Photo) Bob at his store, Tucker’s Hobbies, in Warren, Massachusetts. (Right Photo) Bob watches a westbound roll by at the Steaming Tender Restaurant in Palmer. Both photos by Brian Solomon. 2 Boston & Albany (NYCS) The Boston and Worcester Railroad was chartered June 23, 1831 and construction began in August 1832. The line opened in sections: to West Newton on April 16, 1834; to Wellesley on July 3; to Ashland on September 20; to Westborough in November 1834; and the full length to Worcester on July 4, 1835. The original single-track line was doubled-tracked from Boston to Framingham in 1839, and on to Worcester by 1843. In 1843, the B&W introduced season passes to West Newton for $60, effectively introducing the concept of commuter rail. The Western Railroad was chartered February 15, 1833 and incorporated March 15, 1833 to connect the B&W to the Hudson and Berkshire Railroad at the New York state line. Construction began in 1837, and the Eastern Division to the Connecticut River in Springfield opened on October 1, 1839. The Western Division, through the Berkshire Hills, opened in sections from both ends from the state line to Pittsfield May 4, 1841, West Springfield to Chester May 24, 1841, Springfield to West Springfield (across the Connecticut River) July 4, 1841, Pittsfield to "Summit" August 9, 1841, and Chester to Summit September 13, 1841. On October 4, 1841 the first train ran along the full route. The Castleton and West Stockbridge Railroad was incorporated in New York in 1834 as the New York part of the Western Railroad, and changed its name to the Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad (chartered May 5, 1836, organized May 20). Construction began in December 1840 and the line opened from Greenbush (east of Albany) to Chatham on December 21, 1841 and to the Massachusetts state line on September 12, 1842. It was leased to the Western Railroad for 50 years from November 11, 1841. This railroad replaced the Hudson and Berkshire Railroad east of Chatham, which was abandoned around 1860. 3 Two mergers on September 4, 1867 and December 28, 1870 brought the three companies, along with the Hudson and Boston Railroad, together into one company, known as the Boston and Albany Railroad. The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad leased the B&A for 99 years from July 1, 1900. This lease passed to the New York Central Railroad in 1914; throughout the entire time, the B&A kept its own branding in the public eye. The NYC merged into Penn Central on February 1, 1968. In 1883, the B&A acquired track then owned by the New York and New England Railroad as far as Newton Highlands, and, in 1884, began the construction of a line northwest to the B&A mainline, creating a commuter loop. "The Circuit," as this route was called, officially opened in May 1886, providing double-track operation from downtown Boston through Brookline to Newton Highlands, then north into Riverside, and four tracks on the mainline from Riverside back to downtown so that commuter and mainline operations did not conflict. By 1889, as many as 35 trains traveled the Circuit daily, providing commuter service. In 1899, the new South Station union station opened in Boston, a few blocks northeast of the old terminal. That terminal had been located on the west side of Utica Street (Boston, from Kneeland Street south to Harvard Street, now part of the South Bay Interchange. Even earlier, the terminal was in the block bounded by Kneeland Street, Beach Street, Albany Street (now Surface Artery), and Lincoln Street. By the early part of the 20th century, commuter rail service was provided east of Worcester, with intercity rail continuing on west. The intercity trips were taken over by Amtrak on May 1, 1971, and, on January 27, 1973, the MBTA acquired the line east of Framingham. Service beyond Framingham was discontinued October 27, 1975, as the state did not subsidize it. Conrail took over Penn Central on April 1, 1976. On September 26, 1994, some rush hour trains started to serve Worcester on Conrail trackage (which became CSX trackage on June 1, 1999), extending to most trains beginning on December 14, 1996. The MBTA acquired the rest of the line from Framingham to Worcester as part of an agreement announced in 2009. As part of the deal, clearances on the line west of Interstate 495 will be improved, permitting full double stack service from Selkirk Yard in New York to an expanded CSX intermodal freight facility in Worcester and a transload facility near I-495. The deal was closed on June 17, 2010. CSX's Boston Subdivision retains the right to use certain MBTA-owned track. Boston & Albany Memories 4 New York Central System Historical Society, Inc. 2017 Convention & Meeting Marlborough, Massachusetts - May 5 – May 7, 2017 The Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel 181 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA 01752 Schedule Historic Sites Presenters Boston Historic South Station Carl Liba – “The New England Friday, May 5, 2017 Worcester Union Station States, Boston to Chicago” Registration Palmer Union Station Malcom Laughlin – “NYCS Speaker Presentations Memories from 50s, 60s, and Highland Branch/Riverside Line Self-Guided Activities Later” Chester, MA – NYC (CSX) Mainline Collinwood Shop open Malcom Laughlin – “Current State Line Tunnel – NYC (CSX) Saturday, May 6, 2017 Carload Freight on Former B&A” Mainline Bus to Worcester Union Station with Nick Ariemma – “Railroad Berkshire Scenic RR Museum NYCSHS exclusive rail excursion on Photography (Then & Now)” Springfield Union Station the former Boston & Albany line to Robert Jones – “B&A Latest Historic Boston South Station West Springfield Yard Book” Convention Banquet at Best Western Worcester CSX Intermodal Yard Mike Tylick – “B&A History” Hotel Boston North Station Victor Hand – “The Railroad Guest Speaker, Brian Solomon, Author Famed Hoosac Tunnel Photography of Victor Hand” General Members Meeting Hobby Stores & Layouts Noel Widdifield – “NYCSHS Collinwood Shop open following Charles Ro Supply Company Resources to Model the NYCS” Meeting Palmer Hobbies Larry Faulkner & Manuel Duran- Sunday, May 7, 2017 North East Trains Duran – “Digital Methods For Train Show 9 am – 3 pm Bill’s Friendly Train Shoppe NYC Structure Modeling” Collinwood Shop Open Trains on Tracks Richard Stoving – “My Final Speaker Presentations 8 Layouts Open Layout” NYCSHS Website: www.NYCSHS.org to Some of these presentations may change download registration forms. Hotel Rooms and others will be added. Openings are Register in our store: www.NYCSHS.net $129 – standard room. $159 – deluxe room, both plus still available. If you have a presentation Disclaimer: The schedule & list of speakers and 6.25% tax. Cut off date for reservations are you would like to give, contact Joe Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Best Western Royal Plaza. layouts is the best that the committee Burgess at [email protected] or Noel 1-888-543-9500. 181 Boston Post Road West Widdifield at [email protected] understands as of April 1, 2017, and may Marlborough, MA 01752 www.rplazahotels.com change due to factors beyond its control. 5 New York Central System Historical Society, Inc. Office of the President Greetings: Welcome to the 2017 Annual Convention of the New York Central System Historical Society. I extend this welcome on behalf of the officers and Board of Directors of the NYCSHS, Convention Chairman Joseph Burgess, the members of the Convention Committee, and all who have given both time and talent to make this event truly memorable.