Eastern Route
North Beverly station
Outbound mini-high in remarkably poor condition
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
North Beverly station
And the inbound mini-high does not look much better.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Hamilton/Wenham station
This station is not only named after two adjoining towns, it's actually built right on the town line.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Hamilton/Wenham station
Of course there's an ocean of parking. Need I mention how wealthy Hamilton and Wenham are?
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Hamilton/Wenham station
Typical low-level platforms with a mini-high at one end — the line here used to be double-tracked, but the second track has been lifted save for a few passing sidings, and the stations have a single platform.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Hamilton/Wenham station
Pedestrian grade crossings beyond the north limits of the station platform, as seen from the mini-high
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Hamilton/Wenham station
+1 point for the modern tactile edge treatment, but what's with the fascia board broken off and lying on the trackbed? Don't we have a maintenane contract?
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Hamilton/Wenham station
Looking down the platform at an older, wood-roofed shelter design
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Ipswich station
It's a suburban MBTA commuter rail station, so I guess there has to be MOAR PARKING!
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Ipswich station
Looking down the platform; before the line was re-extended to Newburyport, the northern terminus was here in Ipswich, and the MBTA used this small yard as a layover facility.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport LineRockport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Ipswich station
Looking up the platform toward the shelter and, in the distance, a mini-high
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Ipswich station
A wooden canopy over the ramp to the mini-high, but not over the platform itself, seems like a ... curious choice.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Ipswich station
This mini-high, too, is deteriorating in a rather worrying way. And with daylight fading, Ipswitch is the last stop for this journey.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Rowley station
Across Railroad Ave. from the station, looking south along the two-track right of way
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Rowley station
Looking north across the Railroad Ave. grade crossing towards the platform
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Rowley station
The platform was clearly built on the right-of-way where the second track used to be. Any restoration would likely involve a merge and split around the station.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Rowley station
Can we call this a lake of parking?
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Rowley station
Standard full-length high-level platform, as you would expect for how recently this station was opened
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Rowley station
Canopy design is pretty much indistinguishable from the ones built at the same time along the Old Colony.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Rowley station
Hmmm, some people seem to have biked to the station...
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Rowley station
Unfortunately, it wasn't this year, and maybe wasn't even last year. Looking at that rust just makes me wince.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Rowley station
And again, a two-track right of way to the north of the station as well. This used to be the main line!
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
On the opposite side of Route 1 from the station, antiquated GM GP40MC locomotives #1126 and #1131 idle at the Newburyport layover yard while waiting for their next trips on Monday. A newer MPI HSP46, #2013, is parked just beyond the two antiques.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
This locomotive was originally built for CN in the early 1970s, and it's ... not in great condition. more than 20 years since its last overhaul.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
Another ocean of parking at the end of thel ine; the layover facility and the parking lot are technically in the town of Newbury and not in Newburyport.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
This is a two-track, center-platform, stub-end terminal.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
Fairly gentle ramp up to the platform from the pedestrian grade crossing. (Trains are obviously going past here slowly, it being a stub-end terminal.)
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
Looking down about 1000 feet of track towards the bumper blocks
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
There's another parkiing lot and an eating establishment on the west side of the tracks.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
There's something odd looking on the track up ahead...
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
Apparently they decided they didn't really need all 1000 feet of platform anyway, and added a third egress for kicks?
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
North end of the platform, with the official end of the tracks just beyond
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
This new apartment complex was erected on the site of the former third parking lot for the station. It's not open yet; in the Google Street View the steel framing is just being erected, although the MBTA signage is still up.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
North of the station, the old right of way continues as the Clipper City Rail Trail to the Merrimack River bridge, which is closed (and in fact partially demolished).
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
Looking back south along the platform as the sun finally comes back out from behind the cloud
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
Ooh, there's a train coming!
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
The oncoming train is being led by another GP40MC, #1134, and trailed by Bombardier CTC-1B #1644.
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations
Newburyport station
Signals south of the station
Eastern RouteMBTANewburyport Linecommuter railtrain stations