Photo of the Week: 1/13/2012

One day at work, I heard a train whistle when I happened to be outside. Pan Am's Hillsboro Branch is nearby, so the train must have been running on that line. I was kind of disappointed that I would not be able to chase the train, it was a beautiful day, I had my camera with me, the Hillsboro Branch sees very little traffic and I have never been able to chase a train very far on it despite living here my whole life. When I got out of work a few hours later, I once again heard a train whistle. Chasing the train 3 miles back to Nashua Yard was better than nothing, so I got in my car and started chasing.

I caught the train at Broad Street, Main Street, Temple Street, and Crown Street. The photo is at the last spot, the yard ladder ends at the Crown Street crossing. The Hillsboro Branch splits from the main just as close to the road, but on the other side of the crossing. The train I saw was just the light locomotive, MEC 345, returning to the yard. I don't know how far out on the line it went or what industries it switched, because I was stuck at work then. Actually, I've never been able to chase a train on the Hillsboro Branch much past Broad Street. Perhaps one day I will hear a train whistle when I have a few hours to kill and go chasing.