A lot of folks get into model railroading based on the love of the real railroad. That wasn't my route to the hobby, but rather I enjoyed AFX race cars through my teen years and when looking for a substitute as an adult, I found o-gauge trains. Yup, I started by highballing a train around a circle. I love the trains, but I do miss the steep banked curves of the racetrack.
Anyhow, watching trains in the basement has more recently translated into wanting to watch trains in the real world. So, 2023 is becoming the year of the railfan and fresh off some tips received in another thread, I made my way to Palmer, MA today. I spent 5 hours at the Depot Road location and enjoyed every minute of it.
I brought a newly acquired BC125AT scanner with me and despite not knowing how to use it was fortunate enough to have the scanner pick up a lot of CSX chit-chat. I can see the scanner is going to be useful. At one point I heard the crew say they were going to clear the tracks so Mass Central could get to do their work. I had never even heard of Massachusetts Central before, so this was the bonus of the day. Actually, the bonus of the day would have to be Palmer as despite living only an hour away, until I asked for railfanning tips on the forum a couple of weeks back, I had no idea the place existed.
Here is my first exposure to Massachusetts Central Railroad:
