Location: Beacon Park Yard
Railroads: CSX
Amtrak
Frequencies: 160.800
Trains: 20+
Info: There are a number
of good viewing locations around the area. My
favorite is at tha Sports Depot Resturant. You can sit track side
and
watch the switchers make up trains and see the big power take the
trains west.
Name: Mark
Ferracane
Location: Palmer
Milepost: CP-83
Railroads: CSX, Amtrak, NECR, Mass Central
Frequencies: 160.8000(CSX Road), 161.0700(CSX Palmer/W. Springfield Yard), 161.2050(NECR Dispatcher),
161.4150(NECR Road), 160.7700(NECR Yard), 160.5250(Mass Central)
Trains: CSX 20-30, Amtrak 4, NECR 6, Mass Central 1-2
Info: The recently opened Steaming Tender Restauraunt is a great place to get a bite to eat and watch
trains at the same time. It is located in the old B&A passenger station next to the CSX/NECR diamond.
Location: Springfield Station
Milepost: CP97-CP98
Railroads: CSX, Amtrak, CSOR, Guilford
Frequencies: 160.8000(CSX), 161.0700(West Springfield Yard), 160.9200(Amtrak), 160.7700/161.4150(CSOR),
161.1600/161.5200(Guilford)
Trains: CSX 20-30, Amtrak 10+, CSOR 2-4, Guilford 2/week
Info: Springfield seems to be the railroad capital of Massachusetts. Four railroads converge on Springfield.
Amtrak and CSOR from the south, Guilford from the north and CSX from both the east and west.
Location: "The Caboose" in Middlefield
Milepost: QB129
Railroads: CSX, Amtrak
Frequencies: 160.8000, 452.9375/457.9375
Trains: CSX 20-30, Amtrak 2
Info: The Caboose used to be a popular location for railfans. However in the past several years, the
owner of the caboose has become very "anti-railfan" and will try to kick you out. None the less, it is still a great spot
to photograph trains climbing Washington Hill.
Location: Lower Valley Road, Becket, MA
Milepost: MP135
Railroads: CSX, Amtrak
Frequencies: 160.8000, 452.9375/457.9375
Trains: CSX 20-30, Amtrak 2
Info: Lower Valley Road is an excellent location to photograph westbound trains trying (and sometimes
failing) to climb the grueling grade of Washington Hill. A DED/HBD located here as well. PLEASE NOTE: During the
floods in October 2005, part of Lower Valley Road was washed out. As of July 2006 it had still not been repaired. The railroad
crossing can still be accessed.
Location: Summit Hill Road, Becket, MA
Milepost: MP136
Railroads: CSX, Amtrak
Frequencies: 160.8000, 452.9375/457.9375
Trains: CSX 20-30, Amtrak 2
Info: The Summit Hill Road bridge overlooks a the B&A passing through rockcut below. Westbound trains
thunder through the cut while climbing the hill.
Location: Muddy Pond, Becket, MA
Milepost: QB137
Railroads: CSX, Amtrak
Frequencies: 160.8000, 452.9375/457.9375
Trains: CSX 20-30, Amtrak 2
Info: Muddy Pond is another great location to photograph trains. Here you have the options of photographing
trackside, walking to the other side of Muddy Pond and shooting across the water or, if you have a boat from Muddy Pond itself.
And no there isn't a steam engine at the bottom of the pond.
Location: Bullards Crossing Road, Washington, MA
Milepost: MP139
Railroads: CSX, Amtrak
Frequencies: 160.8000, 452.9375/457.9375
Trains: CSX 20-30, Amtrak 2
Info: The is the summit of Washington Hill. Bullards Crossing used to cross over the B&A. However
a few years ago the bridge was removed. Photos can still be taken along the embankment where the bridge once stood.
Location: State Line Tunnel
Milepost: MP165
Railroads: CSX, Amtrak
Frequencies: 160.8000, 452.9375/457.9375
Trains: CSX 20-30, Amtrak 2
Info: Located on Tunnel Hill Road in Canaan, NY, State Line Tunnel is a great photo location from both
atop the tunnel itself as well as trackside.
