Massachusetts Central Railroad summary
The Massachusetts Central Railroad (MCER) is a short line railroad whose name implies, operates near the geographic center of the state. It’s owned by John J. Pondelli Jr., who also owns two reload facilities which make up the railroad’s largest customers. Nearly 25 miles of standard-gauge track of the former New York Central System’s Boston & Albany route is used from Palmer northeast to South Barre.
History
The majority of the line was once part of the Boston & Albany’s Ware River branch, that was originally built as the Ware River Railroad in 1868. Eventually, the New York Central had full control by the time of the 1968 merger with the Pennsylvania Railroad to form Penn Central. However, the extensive manufacturing base the branch served had virtually vanished with no customers at the northern end.
Penn Central’s successor, Conrail continued operations until it sold the line to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1979. Under an operating lease agreement, the Massachusetts Central Railroad was incorporated. Since 1979, the MCER has undergone several ownership changes until being acquired by John Pondelli in 2007. In addition to the railroad’s largest customers, Pondelli also owned 11 miles of track and was part owner of the Massachusetts Central before eventually buying out the previous majority owner.
Operations
The Massachusetts Central Railroad serves Pondelli’s reload and warehouse businesses which handle large amounts of plastic pellets, pipe, lumber, construction materials, and highway salt. Gibbs Crossing Reload, located 8 miles north of Palmer, primarily handles large-covered hoppers of plastic pellets. Wildwood Reload, which has unloading areas, warehouse buildings and a large salt shed, is at the far end of the railroad at South Barre. Outside customers include a coated paper producer and a construction debris firm.
The Massachusetts Central’s regular motive power are two EMD GP38-2 diesel locomotives, while a rare Southern Railway EMD NW5 is also in the railroad’s possession. The color scheme on the locomotives serves as a tribute to the heritage of the Boston & Maine Railroad’s “Bluebird” livery of the 1950s.
The railroad interchanges with CSX Transportation and the New England Central Railroad at Palmer.
Read more about the Massachusetts Central Railroad in Trains’ April 2018 issue.
