This former Boston & Albany depot burned back in September. There is a group trying to save it, but CSX is claiming the rubble is hazardous material. Such a shame. Years and years have gone by with no real effort made to transfer ownership of the property away from the railroad. Looking at what remains in the lower photo, I'm wondering if it can really be saved?
http://eastbrookfielddepot.com/2010/11/ ... losed-yet/


Photo: Bullard Collection

Photo by M. MercPhoto by Pat Schmidt

Having regrettably been involved with this kind of situation before, I would suggest that CSX is not actually worrying about "hazardous materials" but rather hazardous conditions that results from the debris, loose walls that could potentially fall, the attraction of the ruins to curiosity seekers that could injure themselves or get hit by a train, etc.

Regrettably as well, unless someone has LOT of money to spend, this pretty well fits the textbook definition of a "lost cause." It would be more cost-effective to "clone" this building at a location further away from the tracks at the same site, with up-to-date building methods, wiring, etc. than to attempt to rebuild atop these ruined walls.

Save it? There is nothing there to save. Time to move on.

I would say this depot's fate is certain as it will most likely be demolished soon! It's really ashame as it looked like a nice depot before the fire,but the only thing that could possibly save it now is luck and lot's of money! The group should have thought more about saving it before the fire.

ADM's right on this one as the hazardous condition and the liability issue alone has this ones fate sealed.Look at the chimney alone how the brickwork flares way out at the top making it extemely top heavy and whats holding the walls? Nothing! It's just one big accident waiting to happen and fall down and kill some idiot that would walk inside.If it was away from the live RR tracks and if you had lots of money,and if the brick/stone walls were stable and secure you could probably reframe the interior and put a new roof on.Who in their right mind would even want to tackle something of this degree and then it certainly wouldn't qualify to be on any historic register with so much of the original gone.There are plenty of other neglected depots out there that need to be saved before they end up looking like this one!