new operation, the G&U’s track department has upgraded the line from FRA Excepted Track to Class 1 standards, which is the fed- eral agency’s minimum requirement for car- rying passengers. As for power, the G&U rosters an all-EMD
lineup consisting of both classic cab and hood units, and even sports a unique GP7u mother/ road slug set. The F7A can sometimes be seen leading the daily freight run to Hopedale pro- viding the unusual view of an F-unit leading a revenue freight in the 21st century.
G&U Operations For a shortline with about ten miles of active
track, there are plenty of railfanning spots to visit. With the line’s rather slow speed, chases from North Grafton to Upton and Hopedale are quite easy. A typical day on the G&U as of this writing starts out mid-morning at the yard in North Grafton, where the crew will assemble the southbound train, and head out towards Hopedale. Switching typically occurs in Grafton Center, Upton, and Hopedale. Lis- tening to the scanner helps to gauge when the crew is ready to continue on their way. The return trip to North Grafton depends on the amount of work needed to be done in Up- ton and Hopedale, along with any trackwork along the way that can slow up the train’s progression. Running from grade crossing to grade crossing without fracturing local speed limits is fairly easy with the G&U’s track current- ly at FRA Class 1 standards, combined with
TOP RIGHT: Leo Landry throws a signal to engineer Kevin Gallagher in the G&U’s North Grafton yard as a little nighttime switching was occurring during a railroad-sanctioned night photo shoot on October 13, 2012. Lumedyne lighting was provided by Steve Carlson, Nick Palazini, Shaun McGinnis, Mike Peverett, and Fred Jones.
RIGHT: The distinctive G&U logo is proudly dis- played on the nose of F7A 1501.
BELOW: Train GU1 rolls south along Freedom Street towards the current end of the line in Hopedale, Mass., on March 27, 2014. THOMAS NANOS PHOTOS
50 MARCH 2015 •
RAILFAN.COM
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