Railroad restoration: Newport, RI Rail Line rebuild 2/27/2023

In this update we take a closer look at the restoration of the south end of the Newport Secondary Rail Line. This track is getting rebuilt after a bike path project finished up along the ROW. Trains are planned to return later this year. This is an isolated tourist rail line so freight won't be restored here at this time.
Filmed by a volunteer of the Old Colony & Newport Railway
Newport, RI
2/27/2023
Flickr:
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©2023 South Coast Rail Videos

[@FreedomNH-kj9xy]

I think it's a great thing that many old rail beds are being restored and used both for tourism and commercial purposes.

[@jerrys9226]

Unbelievably while this is being restored, the active track from Otis , Falmouth and Bourne, Mass, is currently being pursued by the Bourne Bikeways people to be completely torn out. They were going to go alongside, but now they want the whole thing. It ain’t going to happen, but it’s still annoying.

[@scottmorehouse]

They need to do this in the Catskills NY

[@brianfalzon6739]

Awesome news to hear

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Thanks for watching

[@xyz061220]

Love the ambient sound, including the camera operator walking in the ballast. No speaking, no music ... -:)

[@svenmartin840]

Once that gets completely restored. You can have trains going from Newport to Boston via the MBTA. Or Amtrak.

[@sebastian.stamour]

Its the next logical step for the MBTA Fall River branch. They'd have to rebuild the line between Fall River and Tiverton as well as the bridge

[@bosskxx1]

That's not even in the realm of possibility. Even if you had unlimited money to fix all of the short comings with the line, the fact that a short portion of it goes through Naval Station Newport makes any type of regular service impossible. Also the fact that there is so many "at grade" crossings makes any train go really slow as a result.

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

It’s not “impossible” like you make it out to be. Stay tuned to see what’s possible over the next several years.

[@bosskxx1]

@@SouthCoastRailVideos While I admire your optimism, I just don't see the Navy pouring a lot of resources to allow trains go through its base on an any sort of regular interval. Especially during busy times. They would need at least 2 people at minimum to open and secure the rail gates. In addition I don't see any possible way of rerouting the rail line to avoid it.

[@sebastian.stamour]

@@bosskxx1 the Providence and Worcester already goes through SUBACE Groton. The rail line is fenced off and they just go through and the gates are at the RR crossings and cars have to stop.

[@wrjidema]

In stead of connecting with the national grid by rebuilding the Sakonnet River bridge also a carfloat (e.g. to Fall River) can be used to reintroduce rail freight. Cf. the NYNJ Railroad.

[@NormanJaquemotRebel]

Heading towards the Navy's facilities. I bet they'll rebuild the bridge at Tiverton. Too much money put on Mass Coastal tracks that lead to RI. They already have masts in the water near the car bridge, so I'm sure they'll replace the bridge in a year or two.

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Not quite what’s going on but I like the spirit. Maybe write a letter to RIDOT in support of the bridge.

[@billgoin4004]

How old is the track? Look on the rail it has a manufactured date.

[@Nakedbilove408]

I wish they'd bring Amtrak back in service From Hyannis to New York

[@JackieontheTrunk]

Not exactly a busy construction process/site. Is this project active?

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Yes….

[@ThomasWLalor]

I think a train just passed. I can see its tracks!

[@danmathers141]

There are houses right there. I don't think those people want the train back.

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Ok, and?

[@geoffadams5537]

It's happening in the UK as well,not only commuter lines but heritage lines as well.

[@ryansansom6901]

Hello, the UK has some great heritage lines like the U.S, and it is a damn shame that some folks with political agendas go out of the way to destroy them. Quite a few heritage railways and old railroad lines here in the U.S.A have been ruined on the count of political agendas and special interest groups being greedy and all for themselves. The UK is doing a good job at restoring some of the lines lost because of the rail service cuts made under Beeching. Forgive me if I misspelled Beeching. The UK has done a much better job at preserving it's historical buildings and architecture. So many beautiful old buildings and landmarks have been torn down in the U.S, and replaced with poorly constructed, bland, and ugly buildings with no character or detail whatsoever. Hopefully younger Americans will start changing how historically significant structures and railways alike are preserved for future generations. Take care and be safe my friend.

[@geoffadams5537]

But at the same time we lost many line lines as well, such as the Great central from Sheffield Victoria via the woodhead route via Manchester and points south through Nottingham Victoria Leicester central and on to London There was also a couple of scenic routes shut as well , one being the much loved somerset and Dorset from Bournemouth west to bath green Park,as well as the Great Western mainline from Paddington to Birkenhead on the Wirral in Liverpool. Some other lines axed was the Midland main line through the peak district and the northern line from Nottingham Victoria via week daycross junction connecting with the great northern line to Grantham and on to Skegness and Cleethorpes, Many secondary lines closed all part of the notorious "Beeching Cuts" Wales was hit hard by the closures as was Devon and Cornwall and Somerset,one line was saved, the west somerset line to a seaside town At Minehead. So yes we don't do things by half as I mentioned earlier on the great central line ,two parts were saved one section in Nottingham and the other one being in Leicestershire at Loughborough,there is on going work to reconnect the two halves of the old main line once completed it will creat a line ,18 miles in length. Thus creating a heritage line with double track for around 16 miles of double track between the outskirts of two cities. It's costing millions of pounds but will creat jobs. So if you want any more information on the great central check out there website. Cheers from new Zealand

[@WHJeffB]

So is the ultimate goal to rebuild the run around track at the station (bus terminal end) so that the locomotive can run around the train? Or is it just going to be a single track into the station like it is now?

[@SouthCoastRailVideos]

Double stub into the station

[@WHJeffB]

@@SouthCoastRailVideos Ah... Makes sense. Thanks.

[@tomroise9426]

Who is rebuilding this line and for what purpose? Why are they taking so long?

[@JBell._]

This is for when the T goes there in 2050 hahaah

[@allankaufman2550]

I wonder who is paying for this renovation.