Framingham–Worcester Line
West Newton station
This overpass doesn't look so hot. Washington Street forms a very large, signalized rotary here, so both overpasses are technically "Washington St.".
West Newton station
Umm, this doesn't look so good either.
West Newton station
West Newton has a fairly small commuter parking lot. This is one of the denser neighborhoods in Newton so there should at least be the potential for walk-up access, but the horrendous Turnpike cut doesn't help matters.
Newtonville station
And Newtonville doesn't look much different from the others, except that it has a wooden stairway rather than steel. Looking east here from Walnut St.
Newtonville station
Looking back up at the stairway. (There's another stair at the other end of the platform, but I didn't bother to walk the third of a mile to actually look at it.)
Newtonville station
Oh, did I mention all these stations are on curves?
Worcester Union Station
An inbound train, pushed by MPI HSP46 #2007, serves the station, as seen from the roof of the parking garage.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Looking off toward the northeast at the other three tracks and the rest of the train; note the small fragment of the former fifth track remains, attached to the building at bottom center
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Looking west from the garage at the junction of the Providence & Worcester (rgiht two tracks) and the Bostob & Albany (left four tracks). The P&W main line runs parallel to the B&A for about a mile before crossing underneath the B&A to turn south into the P&W's yard.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Just past the P&W tracks in the distance is the WRTA central bus hub, next to an office building that also belongs to WRTA.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
The eastbound train to Boston is now pulling away past the CSX Worcester Intermodal yard, just out of frame at right. The viaduct is I-290.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Walkway from the Union Station parking garage into the station proper
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
A restaurant, a bar, the cops, and the state agency that regulates pot shops all share space with the trains here, since (like most railroad stations these days) the actual amount of railroad business to be conducted is small and requires little space.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Long corridor into the main hall of the station, lined with photographs supplied by the Worcester Historical Museum
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
One of the historical photos shows platforms for five tracks!
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
The Great Hall is not a train hall! The spiral stairs at left lead up to the platform.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Cops at right, where I assume there used to be ticket windows once upon a time.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
MBTA scrolling information sign above the pamplhet rack at right
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
A plaque added during the 1999 renocation.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
This is the Great Hall. It's just a hall.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Main entrance foyer for the station, with more stairs and wayfinding signage.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Looking west from the front entry towards the P&W viaduct heading northwest through downtown Worcester; in the station's heyday, the third leg of the wye would have been directly overhead.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Some demolition going on, I think removing the stub of the third leg of the wye.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Note thje frieze on the front of the station: "BOSTON AND ALBANY • NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN AND HARTFORD • BOSTON AND MAINE" — the Providence & Worcester was leased by the New Haven until 1971 and the bankruptcy of Penn Central.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Intercity bus station on the P&W side of the station
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
WRTA offices
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
The WRTA central bus hub is located in between the tracks and the office building
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Some folks waiting for an intercity bus (I think they eventually gave up and decided to wait for the commuter rail instead — too bad they just missed the inbound train!
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Now up at platform level, the high-level platform here is longer than a mini-high but still far from full-length.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Looking across the tracks at the parking garage where a bunch of peple were out partying on the roof
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Somewhat narrow ramp and walkway around to the P&W side of the station
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
It's not obvious but that structure covers the spiral ramps for the parking garage.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
The restaurant offers outdoor seating on the old New Haven/B&M platform
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
There were obviously more than two tracks before, but you can still see the remains of the platforms adjacent to the P&W tracks. (I would guess that, before urban renewal, the B&M had separate tracks extended to a srub end terminal here, but I haven't been able to find any information about how this station actually operated other than the picture I showed earlier. I suspect the rusting steel plates cover stairways.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Looking northeast along the P&W tracks
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
A signal tower that once controlled the interlocking between the P&W and the B&A.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Back over on the B&A side of the station, looking southeast from the west end of the high platform
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Looking all the way down the platform towards the layover yard, which unfortunately is located on the wrong side of the station
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
You can tell that, when the I-290 viaduct was built, the wye leg to the northbound P&W, shown in the historic photo, was still present here, even though it is now long gone. I don't know the exact history, but it's at least plausible that it could have lasted, unused, until the station was renovated in the 1990s.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
When commuter-rail service was re-extended to Worcester in 1994, the reopening of Union Station was still five years in the future, so the MBTA had to build a temporary platform and its own parking lots, at the east end of the station track. I'm not sure how, or even if, they provided for accessibility (the construction might have started before ADA regulations came into force).
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
CSX Worcester Intermodal terminal is on the south side of the tracks. Note the abandoned low-level platform at center right: the new high-level center platform will be located there. (During construction, a temporary platform will be constructed first, and the platform track will be closed and realigned, so all trains will serve the next track over.)
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Although painted for handicapped parking, the walkway from here to the existing high-level platform is not properly accessible and will be reconstructed as a part of the new center platform project.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Looking down at the MBTA parking lot and the I-290 ramp to Shrewsbury St.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
MBTA Worcester Layover yard, which has three full-length tracks and one short track, with hotel power to keep engines warm without idling overnight. All the trains seen here are pushed by MPI HSP46 locomotives.
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Linecommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Container crane at CSX Worcester Intermodal
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Linecommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Looking all the way up the platform from the easternmost end
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester Linecommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
High-level platform with red signals illuminated
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations
Worcester Union Station
Milepost painted onto a stone block
FraminghamWorcester LineMBTAWorcester LineWorcester Union Stationcommuter railtrain stations