Bay Colony Millis Line back in action - 1701 cuts through weeds

On 6/21/2022 the Bay Colony Railroad operated BCLR GP8 (Rebuilt GP7) on the overgrown Millis, MA Line to spot 7 loaded cement cars for Tresca Broths Sand & Gravel. These are the first loads to arrive on the line since January and the last move (empties out) was in March. This video shows 1701's whole operation running down to the interchange, running around, then shoving to Island Rd all meanwhile knocking down the 3-foot weeds and other brush along the tracks.
Filmed in Medfield and Millis, MA
6/21/2022
Flickr:
www.flickr.com/photos/1404502...
Comments? Questions?
Just leave a note in the comment section and I'll get back to you.
©2022 South Coast Rail Videos

[@rickcowan7527]

Thrilling to see an old rail line revived!

[@ThomasWLalor]

REVIVED or fertilized???

[@faerieSAALE]

makes me suspicious and ask, "what's up with that!" Seems fishy...

[@ThomasWLalor]

@@faerieSAALE Almost certainly to move nuclear waste material, little used tracks, back trails, who's to see and interfere??

[@JessicaTG2008]

Its always amazing to me when an abandoned line all the sudden gets reused after a long time and companies are willing to send their equipment down the tracks. I know someone likely went out and inspected it first, but Im pretty sure that inspection wasn't much more than "Yup, 2 rails still here, looks good to me" And away we go.

[@AllenSmith81]

Me too in the U.K. we probably would rip up the old rail and replace it to be 100% sure

[@gandalfthegrey8236]

@@AllenSmith81 hence why your companies are all in debt

[@AllenSmith81]

@@gandalfthegrey8236 uhmm only one company owns our rail, it’s called network rail and is a not for profit company owned wholly by the department for transport.. it’s partly why we have high speed rail :)

[@garybussy1035]

Gotta risk it for the biscuit

[@AllenSmith81]

@@garybussy1035 which biscuit is it you think your going to get? It sure as heck won’t be high speed rail.. seems to me the only person getting a biscuit is the railroad shareholders from any money they manage to get with basically zero investment lol

[@ajakejake]

Have not seen that engine move in years good to see the line back in operation. Very local to the line

[@WHJeffB]

Nice catch! It's ALWAYS good to see an old Geep still running, with its high short hood intact. Just as it should be!

[@jockellis]

An SCL brass hat told me in the ‘70s that the Geep 7 was the best locomotive they had ever had.

[@jimfuller113]

Nice to see a line come back when so many have sat unused and torn up.

[@robertculpepper761]

Why they don't cut tracks

[@petermagoun7457]

Love videos showing action on semi-abandoned short routes. There is something magical about a hulking loco working in the middle of nowwhere, tracks not even visible. Nice job!

[@silverfox5319]

Anytime a previously abandoned rail line is put back in service, is a good sign of things to come.

[@VirtualRailfan]

This is definitely my kind of railroading! Excellent video!

[@BostonBeaconPark]

Amazing job! Great to see them running again! That 5T is a killer horn

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks, the horn is great!

[@jamesvanscoy7717]

They need to clean up the weeds asap hope they do and apply weed killer to

[@jamesvanscoy7717]

Gald there running agian

[@ThePaulv12]

Yeah I got the horn.

[@nathanielbolden5053]

That's a Leslie man!...

[@brucefye3778]

Great railfaning video! Good to see an old gal running. I remember them when from when I was little. Weeds, shmeeds. Looks like they need to call DR for an attachment mower.

[@georgepetrillo7316]

It's good to see the rail lines being used again instead of being removed.

[@lasalleman6792]

Great video. Always nice to see old railway lines come back to life. Should happen more often.

[@shawnpowell5876]

Great catch of the BCML back in business! Those weeds have definitely gotta go and hopefully that'll be taken care of so the tracks can be seen again!

[@iankirvan1986]

Excellent, nice to see this again, let's hope the traffic picks up so that they can tackle those weeds! 🙂.

[@CableReadyTechnoSIut]

As a kid, I used to watch 1701 take the trash over the bridge at the canal. Every summer I’d be down the Cape listening for that Leslie horn. That was over 20 years ago! Big piece of my childhood right here, appreciate the video.

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks for watching!

[@Hyrev1]

Great video! Cool views of the loco coming through the trees. Lots of interesting angles..good stuff!

[@disgruntledconservativevet1798]

As fuel prices go up, many of the old rail lines are being reopened. Cheaper to send rail than it is to truck it across country.

[@spaceflight1019]

Safety alert for all of you railfans out there: just because it *looks* abandoned doesn't mean that it *is* abandoned. Be aware of your surroundings when you're walking rights-of-way. They should name the locomotive "Enterprise".

[@timw6928]

Lovely bit of greenery for the boys to enjoy , great stuff hope they can generate more work 👍👍👍👍

[@jennifernuckolls8423]

I retired from a Class 1 railroad always thought the short lines would be a better job just didn’t pay near as much !

[@Tcostello105]

Great catch! Love all the extra filming angles you managed to find! Haha you had to have a few different cameras for this chase!

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks Tom! I had three different cameras lol two video and one for stills

[@davidpulaski5628]

Awesome videography, kinda looks like it was filmed as part of the "Twilight Zone" series. If I was that engineer at the headend I'd be apprehensive about there NOT being rails under that jungle ! Fine job as usual, "SCRV" !!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@RailFanRob]

Man what a great video.. Love the short lines and so scenic 🚂

[@RailFanRob]

Very cool.. Looks like it's traveling on the grass in the beginning 👍🚂👍

[@Milepost1965]

Gotta love those old high hoods, a Diamond in the rough..

[@georgestewart716]

So many rails lines in my 66 years have been abandoned. I lived in Quincy Mass. We lived right next to a rail line that went from Boston to Cape Cod. The Old Colony Line. There was passenger service that mother and I would take from Quincy to Cape Cod in the summer. I have some memories of it but not a lot. Passenger service stopped running in the early 60s. The two tracks were pretty much abandoned. The stations were abandoned too. Relics of a days gone by. Since there were no trains anymore me and my friends would walk miles on the tracks However, in 1971 the Old Colony line was transformed into the MBTA (Mass Bay Transit Authority) subway system from Boston to Quincy. An old line renewed to an active railroad system. Wish all the abandon lines would be reused again. Ahh, the days of travel everywhere in the U.S.

[@robertbullcarmichael9856]

Awesome video. Love seeing an old line back in service. Investing in some Roundup would be a good thing. Help keep the line clear and increase the safety of the crews. Stay safe y'all.

[@candiarchibald9701]

I love that horn. Brings back fond memories.

[@nancygeissler2057]

Great to see it back in action!👍

[@jtc1947]

Nice to see the tracks coming to life again!

[@alcopower5710]

Outstanding footage. Love the GP7/8 👍

[@bobmeginnes324]

Great video - railroading in the jungle.

[@stoddern]

My inner nerd really hopes loco 1701 is called the Enterprise!

[@billbeckett1021]

I was just in Millis last week. I somehow seem to be in the same proximity as you but always on a different day.

[@TI4438]

Awesome horn and best sounding diesel ever!

[@bradfordtownley9363]

Jungle railroading! Cement all the way from Thomaston ME.

[@GandGRR]

Great video. It is good to see someone recording this history. I hope the resurgence bodes well for the economy.

[@charles1964]

I remember going to Nantasket Beach as a kid in the 70's and seeing those old Bay Colony Rail Lines running right through people's back yards in Hingham and Hull...

[@boston7704]

Remember that as well. Never saw a train but at the time (1977-78?) The rails looked clean.

[@Kudlaty771]

That is one delicious 567, especially in those clips when it goes under the bridge and you get that pure exhaust stack sound? ugh, yes.

[@Trains-With-Shane]

1701 looks like she could use a little love but doesn't hesitate a beat when putting in the work. I love old EMD's.

[@mikehudsonrocks9585]

Outstanding catches!!

[@larrystultz7545]

Sweet thank you

[@ThomasWLalor]

Hope you do an autumn video as the leaves are changing, and maybe one in the snow. Absolutely delightful, restful and tranquil

[@alexmartin0508]

Awesome!!

[@JCPATRIOTEANONYMOUSFRANCE]

INCREDIBLE !!! A TRAIN IN THE GRASS !!!

[@Gewehr2180]

This looks just like Tennessee Pass in Colorado. They don't use it anymore but if they run a "Service train" up the rails once every so many years that allows that line to NOT be considered abandoned. The only part of Tennessee Pass that is still in use is the short section that was sold to the Royal Gorge rail road. Other than that depending where you are on the line will depend on what you see. The southern part of the line is quite overgrown with little trees and such and the occasional rock that has fallen on to the tracks. As you get more towards the center of that rail line all the crossings and metals and wires have all been thieved for scrap. The more Northern part of the line is the best looking of the whole line. It goes into some really remote canyons on that side and really it's only accessed by foot by most to go explore a abandoned mine that that rail line used to service. I would love to see that line reopen again. Maybe help relieve a bit of the stress on the Moffatt Line coming out of Denver and over the divide. Unfortunately I moved to Colorado in 1996 and that would have let me see a years worth of revenue trains still utilizing that line but I never knew about that line so I am day late and a dollar short.

[@martineastburn3679]

We have a nice setup here in Lufkin. Two Railroads - big one - main line and yard. Local one (very old) (modern) does the entire town and storage and the yard. They work together nicely.

[@lynne6417]

That is a great Leslie horn!!

[@mathuetax]

They need to find a GP9 with orange and black paint looking at that ROW. :)

[@fhowland]

Love this!

[@jcure]

Super well done video. Really an unseen but interesting part of railroading.

[@ronaldbaker4275]

Love this video! The horn is awesome.🇺🇸🦅⚔️

[@klsc8510]

Those weedy tracks made the old KLS&C look darned good!

[@happyhome41]

Love this ! :-D

[@chadtheartist3424]

This is so crazy. It's awesome.

[@raywills4709]

I think that line could use some vegetation control. Nice video, thanks for sharing!

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

Great video...

[@jimmydcap]

Definitely needs some track attention. Clearing all the grass and weeds.

[@D.O.T.D.]

Seems like that geep wanted to get in the landscaping business Awesome horn and shot 👏

[@feliciascott6874]

I hope they can get that rail easement cleared and upgraded! It would be a good job for a prison work gang to clear the easement. Good to see the line back in action. I am so disgusted with seeing rail lines being turned into bike trails.

[@terryboyer1342]

"It would be a good job for a prison work gang to clear the easement." I nominate the members of the so called Jan 6th "insurrection" committee.

[@bingusmctingus4395]

+terry boyer Shut up, if you spent time actually watching the kangaroo court for the Jan 6th “InSuRrEcTiOn”, you would realize that: there were federal agents and plainclothes officers in the crowds identified with rainbow bands, the FBI also was involved and had agitators in the crowd, the police were ordered to stand down, and Nancy pelosi didn’t make the call for additional reinforcements. (She’s the one responsible for capitol security).

[@terryboyer1342]

@@bingusmctingus4395 If you spent actual time reading my post you would realize I suggest putting members of the fake committee on the chain gang. Not the political prisoners they've illegally arrested and held. You're either lacking in basic reading comprehension or you've got your head in your Bingus. Sheesh!

[@LeahK2018]

Nothing like giving prisoners thick brush on both sides of the tracks to try a escape.

[@Gravity461]

Awesome!

[@claytonabare1551]

Awesome video

[@kingofthepod5169]

First my dad comes back with the milk. Now this? Goodness what a great day

[@DukeCronenwerth]

I love this old Monster

[@HighIronProductions]

Great video. Interesting that the side windows in the cab are welded over. I can't imagine this helps with visibility...

[@jamesrichardson559]

So many lines abandoned in the 1990's. I know of three that would have been making big money for the last ten years in Wyoming and Colorado hauling oil, frac sand and LNG. These corporate board members pull the trigger to soon on abandonments.

[@VictorianMaid99]

very cool

[@OldCBnGuns]

GAF was a huge customer until they closed in 2009. I think it's only Tresca Brothers or whatever it's called now concrete as seen here in the video. There really isn't much industrial in this area anymore. But an amazing video!

[@eligebrown8998]

Looks like there maybe 1 spot that needs some rail work soon. This is cool to witness

[@hemihead68]

Great footage camera work 👍

[@MDBenson]

Great seeing the small-scale last mile(s) railroading that goes on in the USA. One thing always baffles me though - a lot of these side railroads wouldn't even pass a safety inspection in Europe. The amount of sway on the track in some places, split ties, twisted rail etc. Still cool that you folks make it work even on such low grade track, though.

[@sleepyjay2664]

The US has a track classification system from (IIRC) class 1 (worst) to class 6 (best). A class 1 is the railroad equivalent of a dirt road. This a class 1, so it has a max speed of 10 MPH (16 KPH), and only has to be inspected once per month. Given the 3 month interval between uses of this branchline, I expect they did an inspection the morning of this move, or the day before. Most of the mainlines are kept to class 4 or 5 standards EDIT: Note that this is completely different from the North American railroad size classification (class 1 for the six multi-billion dollar operations to the mom-and-pop class 3's).

[@artmchugh5644]

train should be called: the bushwacker "😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@malikipasaributv6273]

Woww Its amazing

[@Hogdriver88]

Cool video and great horn. Does this crew only work this line, and only when there is actual movement?

[@bernicemeade3232]

Old railroad thats great

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks for watching!

[@tracynation2820]

Super. 💙 T.E.N.

[@ME-kc8hn]

I watch the videos of that famous hobo down in Tennessee. He likes to ride in those types of cars because he can climb in out of the weather for the long trips

[@christophergillet5688]

I used to watch his video too. RIP hobo shoestring

[@lilricky2515]

Definitely needs new ties... Rockin and rolling

[@robertbeacham4314]

Why are the windows boarded up on the engine on some of the shots?

[@shakedydogshake]

Nice sounding horn.

[@hardrays]

wikipedi Bay Colony continued operations along the Millis Branch, a roughly eight-mile segment of track between Needham Junction and the former Millis station. When the Millis GAF Plant in Millis closed, the Bay Colony Railroad took a new contract from Tresca Bros Cement shortly after. Fly ash cars from Dragon Cement in Maine were delivered periodically, usually in the summer months to a section of track near Island Road in Millis. Though inactive after the last shipment in February 2019, the line had recently begun to provide freight service again to their current customer on the line and potentially a few new other ones in 2021 and into 2022. Bay Colony holds operating rights in the rest of the segment in the event that other freight rail traffic returns along the span of the segment. This line interchanges with CSX at Medfield.

[@barbararoberto1258]

Nice catch very over grown but still does the job thumbs up

[@rhythmsoftherailroad6484]

I am still looking for the speed racer Weedwhacker attachment to be installed. Did somebody get the lifetime extended warranty from the paint company that covers scratches? Great seeing that woefully under utilized line getting its rails polished some. I wonder if I saw any of these in Framingham?

[@thekingsilverado8419]

Just about 2 weeks ago locally there was a Southern Pacific engine with an engineer possibly a passenger that was waving to people at the intersection here down town. the guy looked just like Nicholas Cage. I mean he coulda been a brother. My business associate passenger said naw couldn't be him but man the guy looked just like him.

[@robertwilliams2623]

Back in my younger day i did a lot of RR track removal and same had 10 inch trees in the track . Hard work but payed good put 5 kids though school

[@maryshoff4918]

Better than any old weed wacker any day !!!!!!

[@SvendleBerries]

Good ol 1701 :D

[@jonbaker3728]

Does the train throttle control ground speed like cruise control, or engine speed, or just throttle position? Does the diesel engine rise and fall in speed automatically as the traction motors call for more power?

[@michaeltb1358]

Does someone check the track condition before operating a train on the line?

[@rj4590]

Hope the crew walking around in those weeds checked themselves for ticks.

[@tooling_engineer]

I was thinking the same thing.🙂

[@billmorris2613]

Good evening and HAPPY 4th of July to all from SE Louisiana 4 Jul 22.

[@timothy4037]

Do you know or have a bell for sale? I want to put one on my peterbilt and use it as a backup warning

[@patricknoveski6409]

Do they have any brush clearing equipment on this R.R. ? Maybe a few Paynes of glass for Engine side windows? Guess a few more deliveries may help. Surprisingly the ties are holding that weight without a fold over. 💪 A little at a time.

[@jamielacourse7578]

I couldn't do that for a living. I use that wonderful sound to go to sleep. And they do that at night ? Pass the espresso......

[@richardschneider4775]

Nice film no Hobos

[@Brandon-ch2ot]

Tresca is getting gravel from these lines now? They got a huge plant

[@nathanielbolden5053]

Bruh that horn is boss!...had to be and ex L$N, Seaboard System, Clinchfield or SCL

[@aprylrittenhouse4562]

Awesome. I was thinking how does that even support that weight?

[@majorlee76251]

Watch out for tics Great video btw.

[@railroad9000]

That track could sure use some weed killer sprayed on the roadbed!

[@PrecisionClays]

Watch out for ticks and chiggers hiding in that tall grass. Love seeing those GP7s