Lowell, Massachusetts: Part 3

Lowell, Massachusetts (Part 3)

After you get your shots at Western Avenue it is time to continue your trip. Take a right onto School Street and then take a left at the next set of lights, which will put you on Broadway. Go straight on Broadway past the old canal lock and through the campus of UMass Lowell. At the end of Broadway, take a left onto Pawtucket Street and you will immediately go over bridge above the Pan-Am mainline. If you look out the passenger's side window you will see a signal and quite often the lead power of a westbound train.

Once you are over the bridge you will come to another traffic light and the merge with Middlesex Street. Just after the lights there is a small commercial building to the right and if there is a train at the signals you can pull into the parking lot and get a shot. After you do this, take a right back on Middlesex and keep on going to the last two stops on our tour. 

WAITING ON A SIGNAL -- A blue dip SD-40-2 from the parking lot of the commercial building on Middlesex Street.

We will end our tour actually in Chelmsford. The first stop is Riverside Cemetery, which is across the street from St. John's Catholic Church. Pull into the cemetery and go up in back. You can park here and get out and there you will find the tracks and another set of signals. Quite often you will also find another train waiting for a crew or a clearboard.  The cemetery is very old and the road in the back goes up a steep hill, so if you park there set your brakes. 

FOREIGN POWER --  CSX power at the head of a westbound waiting for a signal behind Riverside Cemetery. Through the trees you can see the Merrimack River.

After you have checked this are out, take a right on Middlesex and go about another quarter mile up the road and you will be in the North Chelmsford junction. This is where the line to Nashua branches off the mainline and if you are patient and lucky, you can often catch something passing through. 

ROLLING EAST -- An eastbound through North Chelmsford passed the former mills.

It is quite possible to get four trains on this little tour. Although, none of them may be moving. Still, it is a pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning and with luck you will see something unusual or interesting. I have seen BNSF units up there, P&W units at the head of coal trains, a wide variety of leased power and of course CSX power up from Worcester.  I hope you have enjoyed this virtual tour and if you have a chance, I hope you give Lowell a shot. It is an interesting place, which a lot of history.