Grafton and Upton Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Grafton and Upton Railroad is a Class III
short line railroad in east-central Massachusetts
. This 16.5 mile line connects runs from Grafton
to Milford
and connects to CSX Transportation
lines at both ends. Following a period of decline and neglect, maintenance and repairs began on the line in 2008 in order to return the line to operable condition.
to a junction with the Boston and Albany Railroad
at North Grafton. The last narrow gauge train ran on July 9, 1887. The line was rebuilt to standard gauge
on September 1, 1887.
On February 17, 1888, the name was changed to the Grafton and Upton Railroad by an act of the state legislature. An extension to West Upton
opened on March 12, 1889, and an extension to Milford
opened on May 17, 1890, connecting to the Milford and Woonsocket Railroad, later a line of the New Haven Railroad.
The Upton Street Railway was absorbed in 1902 and named the 'Electric Loop' or 'Upton Loop'. Passenger service on this loop and the main line was provided by cars leased from the Milford and Uxbridge Street Railway.
In November 1894 William F. Draper
of the Draper Company was appointed to the Board of Directors. The Draper Company eventually purchased the G&U and operated it as a subsidiary.
Electric operations typically took place during the daytime while steam locomotives used the tracks during the night hours. The G&U ceased passenger service on August 31, 1928. U.S. Mail service along with Railway Express service ceased in 1952. Electric operations ceased on July 3, 1946 and the railroad dieselized during the 1950s. It was at this time that the whole line was upgraded to a heavier grade of track, the first overhaul since the narrow gauge was replaced in 1887.
The Draper Company sold the G&U in 1967 to Rockwell International
. Rockwell sold the G&U to a trucking company, Torco, Inc. of Worcester
on January 29, 1979. Traffic has fluctuated over the years of Torco ownership.
The last train to Hopedale was in 1988 and for the next 5 years activity was localized solely to the Grafton yard. In 1993 the G&U bought their current engine, the St. Louis Union Station 212 and began hauling salt to Upton once again. This activity lasted until the late 90's.
Torco, Inc. eventually sold the G&U to the Lucy Family. In 2008 the G&U passed hands once again to Jon Delli Priscoli. Priscoli has made clear his intentions to revitalize the railroad in its entirety from Grafton to Milford, and work began in earnest in early 2008.
. The track was determined to be in usable condition, however track beyond this point was so deteriorated that it would have been dangerous to operate a train.
In March 2008, 50% of the largely dormant G&U was sold, with the option to purchase the rest. Some in the town of Upton
opposed any re-opening or increased use of the railroad line but were unable to have any influence. "We can't stop the railroad," said Selectmen Chairwoman Marsha Paul, "It is going to open. It will be about two years. It's something we'll have to monitor and watch." The new owner, Delli Priscoli, claims that "Railroads are coming back."
In October 2008 the North Grafton depot was expanded to accommodate two cars instead of one.
As of December 2009, the following is in progress or complete:
On December 31, 2009, a test run was conducted, and it was announced that the portion of the line from North Grafton to West Upton was operable.
This is the largest rehabilitation the line has seen since the 1950s.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
short line railroad in east-central Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. This 16.5 mile line connects runs from Grafton
Grafton, Massachusetts
Grafton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,765 at the 2010 census. Grafton is the home of a Nipmuc village known as Hassanamisco Reservation, the Willard House and Clock Museum, and the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine...
to Milford
Milford, Massachusetts
Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
and connects to CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
lines at both ends. Following a period of decline and neglect, maintenance and repairs began on the line in 2008 in order to return the line to operable condition.
History
The Grafton Centre Railroad was chartered October 22, 1873 and opened August 20, 1874 as a narrow gauge connection from GraftonGrafton, Massachusetts
Grafton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,765 at the 2010 census. Grafton is the home of a Nipmuc village known as Hassanamisco Reservation, the Willard House and Clock Museum, and the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine...
to a junction with the Boston and Albany Railroad
Boston and Albany Railroad
The Boston and Albany Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston, Massachusetts to Albany, New York, later becoming part of the New York Central Railroad system, Conrail and CSX. The line is used by CSX for freight...
at North Grafton. The last narrow gauge train ran on July 9, 1887. The line was rebuilt to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
on September 1, 1887.
On February 17, 1888, the name was changed to the Grafton and Upton Railroad by an act of the state legislature. An extension to West Upton
Upton, Massachusetts
Upton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Upton-West Upton, please see the article Upton-West Upton, Massachusetts....
opened on March 12, 1889, and an extension to Milford
Milford, Massachusetts
Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
opened on May 17, 1890, connecting to the Milford and Woonsocket Railroad, later a line of the New Haven Railroad.
The Upton Street Railway was absorbed in 1902 and named the 'Electric Loop' or 'Upton Loop'. Passenger service on this loop and the main line was provided by cars leased from the Milford and Uxbridge Street Railway.
In November 1894 William F. Draper
William F. Draper
William Franklin Draper was an American businessman, industrialist, and soldier who served as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.-Biography:Draper was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on April 9, 1842...
of the Draper Company was appointed to the Board of Directors. The Draper Company eventually purchased the G&U and operated it as a subsidiary.
Electric operations typically took place during the daytime while steam locomotives used the tracks during the night hours. The G&U ceased passenger service on August 31, 1928. U.S. Mail service along with Railway Express service ceased in 1952. Electric operations ceased on July 3, 1946 and the railroad dieselized during the 1950s. It was at this time that the whole line was upgraded to a heavier grade of track, the first overhaul since the narrow gauge was replaced in 1887.
The Draper Company sold the G&U in 1967 to Rockwell International
Rockwell International
Rockwell International was a major American manufacturing conglomerate in the latter half of the 20th century, involved in aircraft, the space industry, both defense-oriented and commercial electronics, automotive and truck components, printing presses, valves and meters, and industrial automation....
. Rockwell sold the G&U to a trucking company, Torco, Inc. of Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
on January 29, 1979. Traffic has fluctuated over the years of Torco ownership.
The last train to Hopedale was in 1988 and for the next 5 years activity was localized solely to the Grafton yard. In 1993 the G&U bought their current engine, the St. Louis Union Station 212 and began hauling salt to Upton once again. This activity lasted until the late 90's.
Torco, Inc. eventually sold the G&U to the Lucy Family. In 2008 the G&U passed hands once again to Jon Delli Priscoli. Priscoli has made clear his intentions to revitalize the railroad in its entirety from Grafton to Milford, and work began in earnest in early 2008.
2000s renovation
In 2004 a test run was made on the track from North Grafton to West UptonUpton, Massachusetts
Upton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Upton-West Upton, please see the article Upton-West Upton, Massachusetts....
. The track was determined to be in usable condition, however track beyond this point was so deteriorated that it would have been dangerous to operate a train.
In March 2008, 50% of the largely dormant G&U was sold, with the option to purchase the rest. Some in the town of Upton
Upton, Massachusetts
Upton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Upton-West Upton, please see the article Upton-West Upton, Massachusetts....
opposed any re-opening or increased use of the railroad line but were unable to have any influence. "We can't stop the railroad," said Selectmen Chairwoman Marsha Paul, "It is going to open. It will be about two years. It's something we'll have to monitor and watch." The new owner, Delli Priscoli, claims that "Railroads are coming back."
In October 2008 the North Grafton depot was expanded to accommodate two cars instead of one.
As of December 2009, the following is in progress or complete:
- The MilfordMilford, MassachusettsMilford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
yard, as well as the ROW up through West Upton has been completely cleared of trees. - The HopedaleHopedale, MassachusettsHopedale is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Hopedale, please see the article Hopedale , Massachusetts....
yard has been completely cleared and the land has been prepared for future development. The old engine house, scale, freight depot, and most of the yard's track have been removed. - The line from West UptonUpton, MassachusettsUpton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Upton-West Upton, please see the article Upton-West Upton, Massachusetts....
to North Grafton has received major upgrades with new ties, relayed stone ballast and extensive ditch work. - The West UptonUpton, MassachusettsUpton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Upton-West Upton, please see the article Upton-West Upton, Massachusetts....
yard had its switches and track refurbished with fresh ties and new stone ballast. Two new spurs were also built
On December 31, 2009, a test run was conducted, and it was announced that the portion of the line from North Grafton to West Upton was operable.
This is the largest rehabilitation the line has seen since the 1950s.
Locomotive Fleet
- Grafton & Upton 1500, an EMD/ATSF (rebuilt) CF7CF7A CF7 is an EMD F-unit railroad locomotive that has had its streamlined carbody removed and replaced with a custom-made, "general purpose" body in order to adapt the unit for road switching duty. All of the conversions were performed by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in their Cleburne,...
- Grafton & Upton 1501, an EMD F7A
- Grafton & Upton 1750Grafton & Upton 1750The Grafton & Upton 1750, former #1702, is a EMD GP9 built in November 1957. The Grafton & Upton bought it from the Bay Colony Railroad in May 2008. The unit was previously part of the Providence and Worcester Railroad's fleet under number 7205 before being renumbered to 1702. Prior to this, the...
, an EMD GP9EMD GP9An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including... - Grafton & Upton 1751, an EMD GP9R
- Grafton & Upton 1001Grafton & Upton 1001The Grafton & Upton 1001, was an ALCO S4, built in June 1952. The Grafton & Upton has used it for the 30–40 years. In May 2008 it was scrapped, having sat dormant in the Hopedale Engine House for 15 years. It was suffering from problems with its wheels....
, an Alco S4 - Scrapped - Grafton & Upton 9, a GE 44-ton switcherGE 44-ton switcherThe GE 44-ton switcher is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Electric between 1940 and 1956. It was designed for industrial and light switching duties, often replacing steam locomotives that had previously been assigned these chores...
- Scrapped - St. Louis Union Station 212, an Alco S4 - Scrapped