Hi Rail truck ride on out of service railroad line - Bay Colony Millis Line

In this video we follow the currently out of service Millis Line from Medfield Jct. to the former GAF Warehouse in Millis, MA. This line hasn't been used regularly since GAF shut down their factory here around 2009 although occasional cement and fly ash moves have happened on a portion of this track since then. The track is currently out of service.
The Bay Colony Railroad no longer exists as its purchase was finalized by the Mass Coastal Railroad in February of 2024. Video taken with permission.
Flickr:
www.flickr.com...
Comments? Questions?
Just leave a note in the comment section and I'll get back to you.
©2024 South Coast Rail Videos

[@kevinkeppler7220]

The locomotive is used to take the cars that CSX delivers to the branch. You can tell how far the line is when the trees and weeds grab the truck. Where it ends, imagine the line continuing straight to the highway (rte 109). The line crossed the road at grade and continued to Medway until about 50 years ago. In the mid 19th century, it continued up the Charles River, ending in Bellingham Center under rte 126.

[@chrisaustin9949]

It actually went further than that, all the way to Woonsocket, RI. The line ran from Boston, near Fenway Park to Woonsocket. The first part, coming out of Boston is currently the D Train of the Green Line down to Rt 9. Then there is a section that is either abandoned or rail trails until it gets to Needham where it serves the commuter train. Then the right of way goes through Dover to Medfield where parts are being turned into a rail trail. Then comes the part in the video. The part from Medway to Woonsocket was abandoned around 1938. You can see the history of this line under "Charles River Railroad in Wikipedia". At about 33:30 they go by the former Millis Railroad station which was the last point on this line served by the MBTA shortly after they took over the line in the 1960s. They had gone down to Medway for one year after taking it over. At about 38:30 they turn to the right into the the GAF Warehouse area. The line use to go straight ahead just before making that turn crossing Rt 109 and going on to Medway.

[@wonst186]

This line now ends at the old Craftsman manufacturing building, which is about to become, or has become, a pot dispensary. The road grade crossing you mention no longer exists, but you can tell where it was.

[@mrmarkthompson2361]

I Love Trains & Finding Old Railroad Beds In Virginia. Some they have removed rails & ties, placed #10 Stone, Compacted. Then turned into "Rails To Trails" for Hiking, Biking, Horseback Riding. Other Rail Beds Not Taking Over Are Used By ATV's. Great For Outdoors People. Rails you showed, If I Lived Up There, I would love to ride my Dirt Motorcycle on them. Keep On Exploring & Godspeed Your Journeys. Sincerely Mr. T.

[@PostalWorker14]

Saw the old bridge abutment in Medway

[@shortliner68]

Thanks for posting this video. I've followed this line before on Google Maps, and their Street View feature at road crossings. I'm really surprised the track wasn't more overgrown beyond where the cement hoppers are spotted, based on what I saw on Google before. I'm glad that beautiful station at Millis has been preserved.

[@danielfarley1118]

That must have blew people's minds seen a high rail come through there

[@billkiesewetter1271]

Very interesting….i suspect there are many abandoned tracks in MA. Enjoyable journey. Thanks

[@roberttaylor3157]

Years ago (50), Clicquot Club beverages used this line to ship soda to Chicago..

[@wavesnbikes]

I believe at @38.18 is where the switch into GAF used to be and the main line would take you all the way to Woonsocker, eventually cut back over the years to what we have now. Hopefully MBTA sees the potential of this line and recovers it, all the way from Needham Junction to Milis and beyond... At least, for the short-term, may Mass Coastal be succesfull here.

[@alwhalen3488]

The main GAF plant switches lead off to the right starting at 22:10. There is nothing left at the site. Warehouse to the left at the same spot (formerly Cliquot Beverage) is used by a retailer for distribution, but not rail-oriented items.

[@billcollins4682]

unfortunately, the town of Dover will not permit it, no trains ever again through DOver ... the millis section along the Framingham secondary maybe....

[@wavesnbikes]

@billcollins4682 if it's rail to trails, the railroad has rights to recover. If Dover is nice go the railroad, the railroad might be nice to them and let them keep a trail on the railroads ROW.

[@yoursweetheart85]

I've been to Millis twice in the past few years. It's a beautiful town, I love how they have the railroad though town.

[@23Sunrise]

Very nice. Thank you for running the rail truck on the line. Maybe there is hope for keeping. Perhaps next time try with with a locomotive.

[@phonebone69]

Excellent video, I often wondered how far the line went past the GAF plant. Maybe MC has a plan for it but they would need some type of customer base before any major work began on the line. The line is intact but it needs a lot of work. Tie replacement and ballast etc …. There certainly is potential !

[@edwardmiessner6502]

This railway is in quite remarkable condition for a line that's been abandoned. I understand from other comments that trains took this line to Bellingham Centre and beyond to towns like Woonsocket, Worcester and even Chicago! I'm hoping the MBTA will take control of this track and restore it in the future for another regional rail line. 🙏🏽

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks for watching!

[@alanbutler2417]

After he crossed the last grade crossing he is on a private spur track that still had an active customer (Hodgson Houses?) in Penn Central days. The turnout on the main was removed and the main was lined into the spur. I believe that was done by Bay Colony which still served a customer for awhile.

[@ruffian2952]

Thank you. Retired brakeman here who remembered the siding but not the consignee name.

[@WA1LBK]

Just discovered this video, Mike. Other than the very substancial overgrowth in spots (Boy could that line use a brush cutter!), the track looks to be in relatively decent shape (better than the Watuppa branch!). as some other commenters noted, this would be a GREAT scenic train ride! I noted lots of industrial spurs (if only there were still customers on them!). Did Mass Coastal recover the 1701 from there? (I'm guessing they propbably did). Other commenters mentioned the line continuing further north; do you know if the former roadbed part of the Milford Rail Trail? Like some of the other commenters mentioned, I wonder how many "double-takes" the high rail truck got from lineside residents, and at the more active grade crossings? That Millis station is gorgeous! 😉 Tom

[@user-pj1lu3be3j]

I was impressed. Any paint left on that hi rider? I have been watching the overgrowth by the Millis overpass by the old GAF factory for years. In a few more years I don't think this truck trip would have been possible without a MOW machine in the lead. 1701 is operational and still pulling the few rare covered hoppers for Tresca. 1701 used to be 'stationed' at 21:40 in the video by the GAF factory but vandals found it an easy mark. Thank You for recording this trip as I think its very important and hope that consists will continue to ride this branch of the Old Colony Railway.

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks for watching!

[@joshbenton4080]

Cool video. I noticed there's no signals along the Millis Line ("Dark Territory") and no guard rails on the bridge crossing a lake / pond, yikes. Was this New York New Haven & Hartford trackage that once had passenger service historically? Outstanding footage though, God bless.

[@Steve_C1984]

Yes, they used to have passenger service as far west as Medway until the mid 60s I believe.

[@deeppurple3489]

Really cool vid, thanks! That line was really neglected! Have they put it back into service! It'd be nice to know! Always happy to see old lines returned to service

[@wonst186]

Not much chance of RTS any time soon, as there is no business along the line that would use such service.

[@justinwiley2072]

Great video! Didn't know the line was intact all the way to the GAF plant. Who owns the line now? Did it go to Mass Coastal in the sale? Did Bay Colony even own the line, or were they leasing track rights from someone?

[@alwhalen3488]

Track is owned by the State and leased to BCLR and now to Mass Coastal.

[@47homeslice]

Nearly a head on collision!!

[@littlewingpsc27]

A forestry mower attached to the front bumper and you could have cleared the line as you went. :)

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks for watching!

[@amfm889]

29:17 Big bug starts getting a ride across the windshield.

[@roberttaylor3157]

The camera makes the length of track look longer than it actually is. From the bridge over the Charles River( love that dirty water) to Island Rd, the large opening is only 1/4 of a mile long.

[@alwhalen3488]

Beginning to end is 3.4 miles

[@roberttaylor3157]

Glad it wasn't my truck they were riding the rails with. probably didn't have any paint remaining on the sides from all those branches scraping @@alwhalen3488

[@alwhalen3488]

That is BCLR's truck and a quick ride thru the car wash later cleaned up the residue from the brush and branches.@@roberttaylor3157

[@cclme1276]

Could be used for Speeders like in NH, but I don’t see MA allowing that.

[@csrrjefflloyd6496]

Somehow, I think a loco pushing a gon or flatcar would have been better through the brush covered tracks than the MOW truck.

[@DanielUnger-gn9ct]

If they fix that up it would mak a great scenic passenger train ride n fix up that train station that station looks historic it's sad how much of the historic train stations are abandoned n the lines too wish they all was fixed up n all put back in passenger rail service again all that history is just rusting and rotting away

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks for watching!

[@DanielUnger-gn9ct]

@@SouthCoastRailVideos ya welcome

[@user-lv9mt6vd5u]

Ghost monsters in those woods!

[@ervinthompson6598]

Is 1701 out of service / abandoned as well ??

[@jasonervoes1326]

Hi Happy New Year to you and your family. Great video. Question Will this railroad track get used again in time or removed to become a bicycle path? Just curious. One more Question. Did these freight trains have cabooses?

[@wonst186]

Almost no railroads use cabooses anymore, the need for them was eliminated decades ago.

[@williamh.jarvis6795]

Today, if you see a caboose on any train it will normally be used as a "shoving platform" car, so that it will provide a safe location for the conductor, who will radio the engineer, at the rear, shoving the train forward. In some cases it might make sense than to have a "runaround track" so that the locomotive may connect to the other end of the train. You can check out other videos here on KZbin, such operations like the Meeker Southern Railroad (owned by the Ballard Terminal Railroad) in Washington state (around Pulliyap, WA), or the Milford & Bennington Railroad (MBRX), used exclusively for the transport of gravel from a Wilton, NH quarry to a processing plant in (west) Milford, NH. (Basically, for any Push-Pull operations.)

[@baker3person]

That was legendary

[@garymessina1609]

Great ride the noise tells me what condition the track is in great video thanks

[@sjlevi99]

It's a lot of work including an out of service line

[@Steve_C1984]

Great video!

[@smittysmitty481]

Cool video!

[@mollycaz1]

Is that the end of the line ? I saw a station where did the tracks go when there was passenger service did it still end where it ends now. When was last time a train used these tracks?

[@ruffian2952]

Ended at Woonsocket...Providence and Worcester branch.

[@MilePost106]

Great video!!!

[@framinghamsecondaryproduct6862]

Great Video, is 1701 in the same spot? I have to pay a visit to it.

[@anthonybenkovitz3913]

Is the mass coastal going to reopen this line?

[@OceanStateRail]

Nice video man!

[@syeet1234]

I assume it’s being inspected for possible use in the future?

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

This is an old video

[@WesternNewYorkRailfan420]

Mass Coastal has officially listed the Millis branch as a part of their trackage so not all hope is lost.

[@syeet1234]

@@SouthCoastRailVideoswhen was a it recorded?

[@alwhalen3488]

About a year ago@@syeet1234

[@PostalWorker14]

Bridge abutment in Medway

[@Thunder_6278]

If there are no potential BIG customers and can't become a viable commuter line, there's no need to save it.

[@user-lk2yr7zg1e]

What did they used to load at the end of the line? It looks like a nice paved area to load rail cars.

[@alwhalen3488]

The last customer to use the warehouse at the end of the line was GAF as a storage/distribution site. The building is now a hydroponic farm (commercial plants ( maybe marijuana) and the extensive parking area is going to become a solar farm. The State is bonkers about solar, even though BCLR had a potential customer for a transload there.

[@stephenkorab6456]

I appreciate the video even though it is old. Please, ... how is this line currently used? Will it be restored?

[@alwhalen3488]

The video is about 1 year old. Pretty much shows the current conditions. Under Bay Colony none of the track was listed as 'out of service' and as you can see it was passable for occasional track patrols. The line was also offered for car storage purposes, but nothing ever came of that. Unlike some vids on KZbin this was a documented BCLR track patrol for FRA reporting purposes and just to make sure the track was still intact. In reality this line was in better shape condition wise than the Watuppa line. Mass Coastal has listed the track as out of service since no traffic is currently moving there. FYI the BCLR 1701 does still run, sort of.

[@stephenkorab6456]

@@alwhalen3488 Thank you very much for your reply and for all that information! It was a wonderful video. It would be great as a tourist excursion! Therapeutic and Serene!

[@rodgodx345]

Well for an out of service at least the tracks still keep in clean LOL

[@tomp8871]

The track looks passable every where, can't be OOS for to long. Who is GAF? Millis looks like the had business back in the day (nice depot)

[@ruffian2952]

GAF, like Bird in East Walpole, made roofing products. Depot last I knew housed some town offices.

[@ruffian2952]

Further the passenger service stopped at Cliquot, Millis, Medway and Woodside at MP 13.99 from West Street (Needham Junction). Caryville at MP 15.23 was end of track. No longer connected to the Boston Switch and Worcester branch.

[@ruffian2952]

Yard Limits at Cliquot, Millis and Caryville.

[@edbaldwin2014]

Let's hope this never becomes a rail trail. Then freight service would never return!

[@princessofthecape2078]

How depressing. Why just leave the locomotive there?

[@WesternNewYorkRailfan420]

The line very rarely gets a cut of cars so the Bay colony always kept a locomotive down their

[@ELOfanatic]

That's the Enterprise! Otherwise known as BayColony/MassCoastal 1701...

[@scr2392]

Now go back at 20 mph

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks for watching!

[@brapppn-can-am-man6906]

Next time, put the camera on the outside if the ride. The footage and picture quality is terrible. So much sunglass coming off the windshield. Will make such a nicer viewing experience.

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

It was not possible to safely mount the camera outside the vehicle.

[@uprr838]

​@@SouthCoastRailVideos Need some Manfrotto SuperClamps and tripod heads to mount on the bumper ;-)