With the Vermonter route now completely re-signaled the next chapter in my big New Englande adventure is pivoting to the former Boston and Main Western Route Main Line which is currently under assimilation by CSX. Having made friends with a local signal enthusiast who also happens to have a car I was able to round trip myself up on the Acela for a weekend of signal shenanigans. The first half of the trip involved seeing what could be documented on Amtrak's Downeaster route between the Massachusetts border and Saco, Maine. The photos will cover the trip up and a couple of Downeaster catches on the WRML.
Like so many of my recent journeys my trip started off at the BWI Airport Rail Station where I managed to catch an uncommon MARC diesel doubleheader with MP36PH-3C #34 and GP39H-2 #75 with a northbound Penn Line train.
Because BWI only twos 2-3 Acela departures each weekday I was having to first backtrack to Washington Union Station. Arriving near the start of the evening peak I caught the lineup of MARC cab cars at the Union Station buffer stops before waiting for my 6pm Acela departure. My train that day would be Acela set #11 with power car #2017 on the south end.
The 6pm Acela out of Washington is a Friday only run to Boston that completes its journey at 110am. Here is ACS-86 #639 at Penn Station and ACS-86 #618 across the platform from Acela power car #2036 at Boston South Station.
The new hotel that sacrificed about 2 car lengths of South Station platform length was nearing completion with the arched pedestal forming a somewhat open air concourse in front of the existing South Station train hall. Because the last Red Line had already departed shortly before 1am, I was forced to take a much more expensive Uber to my friend's house.
Heading out the next day my first catch was Downeaster Train #694 with Amtrak Phase III Heritage painted F40PH cabbage car #90406 with P42DC #95 pushing on the rear passing under the B&M signal bridge at CPF-241 near Rollinsford. The new CSX signals are waiting to be put in service.
On the way to lunch we lucked into this old fixed distant signal on the former B&M Conway branch.
Part of the CSX "bribe" to neutralize local political opposition was promises to invest in Downeaster route capacity improvements like additional double track main line between the Maine border and Wells. Here we see the new WILLIE crossover about a mile west of the Wells station.
The station near Wells, ME was opened in 2001 as the Wells Regional Transportation Center for the new Downeaster service. Like all the Downeaster stations it features a partial high level platform, restrooms and a currently unstaffed ticket window.
In the age of two position (lower quadrant) semaphores, three state automatic block signals were implemented using two semaphore blades with R/Y, G/Y and G/G as the indications. As color light signaling came into vogue, the G/G clear indication held on at some railroads with the Guilford Rail System winding up being one of the last. This target type LED signal was installed around 2020 and can be seen here displaying double green clear for the approaching Downeaster train #695 with P42DC #94 and F40PH cabbage #90214.
The Saco Transportation Center is similar in style to Wells, but larger and with a tourist information office inside.
As the sun set there was just enough time left in the day to catch northbound Downeaster train #699 that was using the same trainset as the earlier train #694. Note that the train still has the extra Horizon coach that were briefly added for extra capacity before being the entire Horizon class was semi-retired due to vestibule end corrosion about a week after this photo was taken.
That's all for Day 1 of my 2025 Greater Boston trip. Tune in next week when I cover Lowell, Ayer and Sherley.
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