Boston Sand & Gravel

Good Day,

 

Sorry I have not modeled this company. I’m curious, did this company have any diesel locomotives or hoppers? I have an idea for a color scheme for an engine.

 

Regards,

Swafford

An HO club near the Boston area ran an add a while back in MR. They were offering open hoppers lettered for Boston Sand and Gravel as a club sposored car. Don't know if it was a fantasy scheme or prototypical. I know a few workers there and unloading hoppers was mentioned. I believe they used non RR equipment to move cars throughout the yard. I'll try to find out some more info. .

Good Day,

 

My imaginations at work today, I would like to present the Boston Sand & Gravel SD70ACe.  If BS&G had gravel trains several SD70ACe’s would be the ticket for power!

 

Regards,

Swafford

 

 

 

Found this pic on the South Shore Model RR's site. Located in Hingham, MA. .  Don't know if it's prototypical or fantasy. 

 

I pass this location quite often while traveling for my job.  Numerous times I have seen unit trains of hoppers lettered NHN (which I believe is New Hampshire Northcoast).  Apparently this is how BSG receives the raw materials (either sand, gravel or both) that are used to make concrete.

Hi Joe,

 

Thanks for the information on the New Hampshire Northcoast.

 

Regards,

Frank

 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=367940&nseq=1

 

 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=309707&nseq=4

 

OPERATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION Boston Sand & Gravel and its subsidiaries have extensive bulk materials production, logistics and delivery of ready mix concrete, sand, aggregate and landscape products. Our ready mix concrete operations run year round and our database of over 1000 concrete mix designs includes specialty mixes for placing “winter concrete”. In addition to shipping sand and aggregate by truck from our NH aggregate plants, our short line railroad, New Hampshire Northcoast connects with PanAm and CSX main rail line allowing efficient and dependable sand and gravel transport from our Ossipee, NH facility to our metro Boston locations in Charlestown and Everett. Our railroad also provides freight service to customers, hauling bulk goods such as steel and liquefied propane tanks. New Hampshire Northcoast rail service also proceeds uninterrupted through the very challenging winter months. The Company’s aggregate terminal in Everett allows storage and distribution of bulk materials close to Boston. A 12 acre site located along the Boston Harbor, the Everett Terminal is accessible by water, rail and truck. The facility operates an active marine dock with barge capability and a rail spur with connection to the CSX line. The terminal is also accessible by truck and close to the main north-south highways, I-93 and Route 1.

NH NORTHCOAST PRODUCT DELIVERY AND FREIGHT HAUL SERVICE PO Box 429, Rt 16 Ossipee, NH 03864 Tel: 603-539-2789 Fax: 603-539-8060 New Hampshire Northcoast (NHN) was established in 1986 with the purchase of an abandoned rail line which the company rebuilt into the current Class III freight railroad. At its main facility in on Rte 16 in Ossipee, NH, NHN occupies 43 acres of land with various side tracks for rail car storage, a facility for locomotive maintenance and a railcar repair shop. NHN owns 4 locomotives, a caboose and 78 hopper cars (100 tons) and various track maintenance equipment. NHN’s facility Rochester located at 69 Northcoast Drive, just off Rte 16, is home base for Track Maintenance operations. NHN owns and maintains 6 miles of yard track and 43 miles of track and sidings between Ossipee, NH and Rollinsford, NH. NHN also owns trackage rights At Rollinsford, connects with Pan Am Railways and owns trackage rights to the interchange at Dover, NH. NHN provides daily service delivering sand and other aggregate products to Rochester, NH and Boston, MA. NHN also provides a daily freight service to various customers, including McFarland Steel and Eastern Propane. NHN was established in 1986; with the purchase of an abandoned line which was rebuilt into current Class III freight railroad status. Ossipee - 43 acres of land with a locomotive maintenance and railcar repair shop and various side tracks. Rochester – home base for Track Maintenance operations. Track - 43 miles of track, 6 miles of yard track and sidings, between Ossipee, NH and Rollinsford, NH, where NHN connects with Pan Am Railways and owns trackage rights to the interchange at Dover, NH. q Equipment – 4 locomotives, 78 (100 ton) hopper cars, 1 caboose and various track maintenance equipment. q Daily operations - sand and other aggregate products delivered to Boston, MA and Rochester, NH markets on a daily basis in 100 ton hopper cars. Outside freight service – primary customers include MacFarland Steel and Eastern Propane.

I drive by BS&G every day. And work right next to their barge terminal. Never noticed their hoppers. Usually watching the commuter trains entering North Station. Sometimes a couple of nice snow plows parked on the tracks. Always thought it was MTA stuff.

The spur to the marine facility has not been used in years. It used to be used daily by the now defunct Somerville Lumber. Home Depot put them out of business.

In the September 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains on page 60 is an artical titled "ACHIEVING S GAUGE REALISM" which features Dick Iannacone's New England based layout. On page 64 are photos of Fenway Park, Schrafft's Candy factory, and a Gilbert no. 752A Seaboard coaler with a BOSTON SAND & GRAVEL SIGN. Although it is not a accurate model of the actual facility, it does suggest the Boston company. I would think a more detailed model would require quite a lot of real estate on a O gauge layout.

 

Paul Goodness

I use to go past it every day on my way to work but I get off a couple of exits before it know. "Less traffic" I have seen hoppers but didn't notice the markings.

Trackside shot of the Boston Sand & Gravel plant with the Zakim Bridge in the background.

New Hampshire Northcoast hoppers at Boston Sand & Gravel.

Fred:

 

Thanks for the research, very interesting read for those of us who live in New England. FMC, thanks for the photos, it brings Fred's information to life.

I was not prepared to take the picture in my OP, just grabbed the cellphone as I was coming up to it.

 

This aerial picture courtesy maps.google.com shows two spurs with empty and full hoppers alongside the commuter rails.

 

  --Joe