THIS BLOG MOVING TO A NEW HOME

This blog will be moving to a new home based out of my homepage with Zenfolio.  Here is the link to the new blog with a new look.  

Providence & Worcester Railroad

Superbowl Sunday - PRWO/WOPR Rare Daytime Run
On February 5th, 2012 the New England Patriots were to play in the Superbowl. The normal, night time P&W train PRWO run had changed schedule for the day. I can only assume that the job hours were changed to accommodate the crews to that they could also enjoy the Pats in the Superbowl. With that the P&W ran the usual run from the (PRWO) Valley Falls Yard in Cumberland, Rhode Island to Worcester, Massachusetts; with the return run later in the day (WOPR). 

P&W 2007 & 2011 lead train PRWO north through the crossing at Sutton Street in the Rockdale section of Northbridge.

A going away shot of PRWO at Rockdale amidst the old sidings previously used for the Rockdale area mills.

WOPR on the return trip to Valley Falls, Rhode Island, southbound at Uxbridge, Massachusetts

WX-1 at Greenwood Yard - January 31, 2012

P&W train WX-1 switches cars at the Greenwood yard.

25% Off Photos - Railroad - Fire - Scenic

Have a look at my web page. There have been some price changes to a reduced rate.  Also, as a special thanks I am offering an additional 25% off any photo print order through my web page. Valid until March 31, 2012. Offer valid on prints only.

Take advantage of this savings by entering Coupon code at checkout: 25OFF at www.photographybydmwenc.com 

I still have a remainder of 2011 Grafton & Upton Railroad themed calendars available at $6.95. I have about only five of the 2012 Grafton & Upton Railroad themed calendars left in stock at $15.00 each. Once they are gone, they are gone. Order a calendar and get FREE SHIPPING by entering coupon code: SHIPGUFREE at checkout.

Again, thank you for supporting my photography work and calendar projects. Feel free to pass this offer on to anyone else who you think may be interested.

RAILROAD - FIRE - SCENIC - NEW ENGLAND PHOTOS

Grafton & Upton Railroad Photos from January 24, 2012

It has been quite some time since I've had the occasion to get out for some railroad photography. Of course a fifty degree January afternoon made things that much easier. On Tuesday, January 24, 2012 I caught up with the Grafton & Upton Railroad crew at the Upton Yard. I caught the tail end of their work at the yard, as the crew was finalizing placement of tank cars, which they brought up earlier that morning. From my observations, the Upton Yard has transformed quite a bit since my last visit. Additional track laid at the Grafton & Upton terminals, trans-load facilities. It appears that business is on the rise at the G&U with a large number of rail cars at this location.

The crew were running the pair of GP9R’s, the 1750 & 1751. The crew soon departed the Upton Yard after finishing the morning’s work. The GP9’s ran light engines back to North Grafton. Here are a few photos from that morning. For the rest of the photos from that day and additional Grafton & Upton Railroad photos:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL GALLERY

G&U 1750 & 1751 at the Upton yard

G&U GP9R's prepare to depart the Upton Yard with light engines.

Grafton & Upton Railroad 1750 & 1751 pass by Williams Street on the return trip to N. Grafton

 

For additional photos of Grafton & Upton Railroad, please check out additional G&U galleries here

As always, all of my photos are available for sale through my web page at: WWW.PHOTOGRAPHYBYDMWENC.COM

I have almost sold out of my 2012 calendars.  "A Railroad at Work - Featuring the Grafton & Upton Railroad". Once these are gone, they are gone. I only have two calendars remaining. I sold out very well on these this year. Despite the end of 2011, I have a number of the 2011 G&U themed calendars available at $6.95 +$3 S&H. Check out my merchandise page HERE to view the products or place an order.

The Emperor Returns to a Grafton Firehouse:

Blackstone Engine House No.3 - Farnumsville Station

The 1853 Emperor takes its new home at the Farnumsville Firehouse

After many long years of not being housed in an original Grafton Fire station, the Emperor, originally from the (New England Village Station) at North Grafton, will make its new home across town at the renovated 1853 Blackstone Engine House in the Farnumsville section of South Grafton.  This hand tub fire engine was one of three original pieces of fire apparatus for the Town of Grafton purchased in 1852.  On December 30, 2011 the Emperor was moved from a local private collector’s storage to the recently refurbished firehouse, now a museum.  This private collector of Grafton purchased this piece and brought it back to Grafton in the 80’s and was refurbished to some extent by the Grafton Job Corps in 1991.


This Blackstone Engine House is a town owned building which has been refurbished and preserved by local historian Skip Michniewicz, who has put many of his own hours in to the preservation of this building. Michniewicz has added many artifacts from his own personal collection to have appearance of being from the period. The Farnumsville firehouse was in service from 1853 to 1968.

As for other two original engines, The Blackstone, which was originally housed at Farnumsville, is said to be in a Phoenix, Arizona fire museum.  The other was The Rescue, which I believe might have been purchased by a local collector and is back in Grafton.

Here are several photos of the Emperor's arrival to an original firehouse:

*Photos not for use without permission. Please ask and I can accommodate. 

Blackstone Engine House No. 3
Farnumsville, MA

Grafton Fire Department Galleries: New Photos Added

Added three new galleries to my web page at www.photographybydmwenc.com with three different fires of the Grafton Fire Department from the 90's.

Start off with one of several structure fires that occurred at the site of the Fisherville Mill, along Main Street in South Grafton.  This was one of the first fires at that location, occurring September 5, 1992 around midnight. This front office building was said to be a former post office at one time, but last tenant was Duralite Co., manufacturer of lawn furniture, which closed in the 80's.  The Fisherville Mill stands right behind this structure. The mill later burned in a full scale conflagration in 1999. We arrived on scene at the same time Station 3 arrived.  I have full length video of this fire, which shall soon be released to DVD.

 Click here to view the full gallery of the Duralite Fire

Second fire from August 29, 1993 on an early morning fire at a vacant/abandoned house at 103 Merriam Road, Grafton.

Click here to view the full gallery of the 103 Merriam Rd fire

The third fire is an early morning hour fire at a vacant/abandoned farm house at 70 Adams road from May 30, 1993. Upon arrival it was fully involved.  This location was outside the water district, with no hydrants available. Water had to be shuttled in from Grafton and mutual aid towns. 

Click here to view the Adams Road fire

Many more photos from Grafton and Worcester coming soon. A DVD series is in the works of various from from the early 1990's from Grafton, Worcester, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and more...

Kirkbridge Buildings Blog: Asylum Architecture & History

I was recently contacted by Ethan McElroy, who runs a great web page/blog on Kirkbridge Buildings, Institutional Asylum type buildings. He was interested in a series of photos from my collection of the Worcester State Hospital Fire which devastated the WSH on July 22, 1991. Ethan used some of the photos as part of his blog.  He has a great collection of images from various State Hospital buildings and a vast amount of historical information on these unique buildings of days past.  Check out his web page here: http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/.

I also have a full length video of the Worcester State Hospital fire which is soon to be in the works and will be released at a future date.

Added Photos: Worcester FD - May St. Fire

Added photos of Worcester Fire Department, 4 Alarm Fire May Street, exact date unknown, somewhere around mid-90's.  Click here to visit the full gallery of this fire

New Photos Added: Worcester Fire Dept. - Pleasant St Multi-alarm Fire

Added another gallery of fire photos from the early 90's, with Worcester Fire Department working a multi-alarm fire at Pleasant St.  Check out my webpage here for the full gallery from this fire

New Fire Photos Added: 70 Oread St Worcester FD

Added some vintage Worcester Fire Department photos, with a 3-Alarm Fire Box 1180, 70 Oread Street, Group 2, January 15, 1995. Check out the Worcester FD - Oread St Fire gallery here to view the full set.

Here is a sample of the gallery: