Grafton and Upton Railroad

Infobox SG rail
railroad_name=Grafton and Upton Railroad
logo_filename=Gu_logo.jpg
locale=Massachusetts
marks=GU
start_year=1873| end_year=present
hq_city=Worcester, Massachusetts
The Grafton and Upton Railroad reporting mark|GU is a Class III short line railroad in east-central Massachusetts. It is currently undergoing track maintenance and plans to increase business over the next two years.

History

The Grafton Centre Railroad was chartered October 22, 1873 and opened August 20, 1874 as a narrow gauge connection from Grafton to a junction with the Boston and Albany Railroad at North Grafton. The last narrow gauge train ran on July 9, 1887. The line was rebuilt to standard gauge on September 1, 1887.

On February 17, 1888, the name was changed to the Grafton and Upton Railroad by an act of the state legislature. An extension to West Upton opened on March 12, 1889, and an extension to Milford opened on May 17, 1890, connecting to the Milford and Woonsocket Railroad, later a line of the New Haven Railroad.

The Upton Street Railway was absorbed in 1902 and named the 'Electric Loop' or 'Upton Loop'. Passenger service on this loop and the main line was provided by cars leased from the Milford and Uxbridge Street Railway.

In November 1894 W.F. Draper of the Draper Company was appointed to the Board of Directors. The Draper Company eventually purchased the G&U and operated it as a subsidiary.

Electric operations typically took place during the daytime while steam locomotives used the tracks during the night hours. The G&U ceased passenger service on August 31, 1928. U.S. Mail service along with Railway Express service ceased in 1952. Electric operations ceased on July 3, 1946 and the railroad dieselized during the 1950s.

The Draper Company sold the G&U in 1967 to Rockwell International. Rockwell sold the G&U to a trucking company, Torco, Inc. of Worcester on January 29, 1979. Traffic has fluctuated over the years of Torco ownership.

Torco, Inc. eventually sold the G&U to the Lucy Family, the current owners of the line.

In March 2008, a portion the largely dormant G&U was sold. The town of Upton opposed the re-opening/increased use of the railroad line but was unable to have any influence. "We can't stop the railroad," said Selectmen Chairwoman Marsha Paul, "It is going to open. It will be about two years. It's something we'll have to monitor and watch." [3] The new owner, Delli Priscoli, claims that "Railroads are coming back." [2]

Locomotive Fleet

*Bay Colony 2443, a CF7
*Bay Colony 1702, an EMD GP9
*Grafton & Upton 1001, an Alco S4
*Grafton & Upton 9, a GE 44-ton switcher
*St. Louis Union Station 212, an Alco S4

References

* [1] [http://www.earlpleasants.com/search_1.asp Railroad History Database]
* [2] [http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x2086329157 Upton parcel may be developed by railroad]
* [3] [http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x269372205 Upton residents worried about trains]

External links

* [http://www.nrhs.com/spot/grafton/index.html National Railway Historical Society - Grafton and Upton Railroad]
* [http://photos.nerail.org/show/?order=byrail&page=1&key=Grafton%20%26%20Upton NERail - Collection of new and old Photos]
* [http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9840 Railroad.net forum topic about the Upton Loop]
* [http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=391&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=2dab93a442cbd7b4e8bba4b161127fcb RAILROAD.NET G&U Forum]