Framingham–Worcester Line
Grafton station
Stairs down from the parking lot to the westbound platform
Grafton station
Ramp from the parking lot to the eastbound tracks, which also provides a direct crossover between the platforms
Grafton station
Eastbound mini-high platform and associated ramps
Grafton station
Stairs from westbound mini-high back up to the parking lot; ramp system out of frame to the right
Westborough station
Very large, very empty parking lot — pre-COVID, this lot used to fill up every morning by 9 AM.
Westborough station
Very tall ramp system to connect the eastbound and westbound platforms; the parking lot is on the westbound side
Westborough station
View of the crossover ramp system from trackside
Westborough station
Looooong platforms with short canopies
Westborough station
Ramp up from platform level to cross over
Westborough station
Looking across at the inbound platform
Westborough station
Maybe this steel is not in the greatest possible shape for a station that's only been open for 20 years...
Westborough station
Platform edge treatment seems to be coming detached as well
Westborough station
Looking east from the mini-high
Old Westborough station
A sign on the fence warns that trains no longer stop here
Old Westborough station
WDA Design Group now occupies the Romanesque station building in downtown Westborough which was replaced by the giant parking lot when service was re-extended
Old Westborough station
A look under the old wooden platform canopy roof, still intact
Old Westborough station
The current occupants are using the back side of the station for outdoor storage
Old Westborough station
Close-up of the original lighting fixture
Old Westborough station
Lake Shore Limited
AMTK 100 and 101 lead the westbound Lake Shore Limited past the former Westborough station
Southborough station
Another ocean of parking that used to fill up every morning
Southborough station
Low-level platforms, seen from the esstbound side
Southborough station
Over on the westbound side, a retail establishment that definitely isn't the original station building (which is now a private residence). Note the fencing to discourage MBTA passengers from parking on that side.
Southborough station
Another mini-high with ramps, but no cross-over here. Passengers have to walk all the way to the east end of the platform and then down to Rt. 85 to use an underpass to get between the westbound platform and the parking lot.
Southborough station
What exactly is holding this folding playform edge in place?
Southborough station
It's a wooden door wedge!
Southborough station
I don't understand how this securement system works, but it would be better if we just paid off CSX to stop running over-width trains on this route.
Ashland station
Mini-highs and ramp system at Ashland
Ashland station
This doesn't look in beautiful condition...
Ashland station
Looking across at the eastbound mini-high and ramp system
Ashland station
Looking east at the low-level platforms and tiny shelters
Old Ashland station
Another old Romanesque B&A station now in private hands and no longer being used as a train station, this one is in downtown Ashland.
Old Ashland station
You can see where the old platform was just jackhammered out whenever the railbed was last relaid
Old Ashland station
At least this station has a sign on it to remind people that it was a station once. Richardson's firm had a contract with the B&A to design several passenger stations along the line and on the Highland Branch.
Framingham station
Oh look, it's that rarest of rare birds, an actual signed and sheltered MWRTA bus stop! I bet their GTFS data even has schedules for this stop!
Framingham station
You can tell it's a railroad station because there's a derailed caboose serving some non-railroad function on the other side of the street from the tracks...
Framingham station mural
One of three murals along the line
Framingham station
I don't know what this ATM building was originally, but clearly it's part of the original station
Framingham station
Three branch lines diverage at Framingham station: the CSX Fitchburg Secondary to the north, the MassDOT Framingham Secondary to the southeast, and the truncated Milford Branch to the south. CSX operates a yard along the Fitchburg Sec to the right, and there is a full wye; the westbound platforms and the majority of the station parking are located in the infield of the wye. There was formerly a full wye to the Milford Branch, but when the GM assembly plant closed, the north-to-east branch of the wye was removed. The Framingham Secondary branches off another block east of here, after a turnout that allows yard traffic entering here to cross over to the southern track.
Framingham station
Another of the Richardson B&A stations, this one is now a Brazilian steakhouse
Framingham station
I'm not sure how much o the glasswork is original and how much was redone in one of the station's various restaurant incarnations
Framingham station
Just past the old station location, we're standing on the "inbound" side looking across the tracks at the "outbound" side and the infield parking lot. Note the signal at center left, which controls entry into the CSX yard. Far down at the other end of the platform, the traditional mini-highs and pedestrian bridge.
Framingham station
Unlike all of the other stations on the line, Framingham has elevators rather than a ramp system (or nothing at all) to cross the tracks.
Framingham station
This is the most legible schedule display I've seen at any station.
Framingham station
For safety, the MBTA's construction standards now call for see-through elevator shafts and cars.