In a bid to make Pemberton, NJ look good, Upton, MA now has a town panel to oversee the local shortline (and potential tourist hauler).

The best part is a NIMBY with night vision goggles spying on the railroad.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x987650735/Upton-panel-blasts-railroad

After seeing first-hand how wide spread the campaign has become to tear up the rails in the Adirondacks, remembering the arson at the K&K and now hearing about para-military wannabee's along the G&U, I think it is fair to say the anti-rail trend has become more serious.

Rob

Note: Changed title to reflect that the news report I based my tourist train assumption on may be incorrect.

What has occurred at the railroad to stir up a watchdog group?
More freight traffic?
New types of freight hauled?
Future tourist railroad?
Some newcomers moved trackside not realizing this was an active railroad?

IMHO, Prescoli has set clear ground rules for his railroad. This is due in part because of a NIMBY group in upton that is doing everything to make him and the G&U look like the evil empire that's bent on destroying the communities along the G&U. Oh, and Prescoli doesn't intend to start a tourist trade on the G&U to my knowledge. They bought an F7A a few months ago, and it has gone to the new sibling of the G&U, Mass Costal/Cape Cod Central, which Prescoli now serves as the railroad's president. Prescoli, over all, has tried to maintain a good relationship with the communities along the G&U, but in short, the NIMBY's haven't made it easy. The link to the group's site is here:

http://protectupton.blog.com/

There's a lot of uninformed gibberish IMHO, but if I didn't have more knowledge of railroading than most I would most likely side with them. Sadly, this group seems to be very good at bending the facts.

Dylan Lambert

P.S. Happy Holidays to all!

Thanks for posting the link!

Classic example of BANANA

HI All

I live in Milford, Mass which is not too far from the G&U railroad , which had its home terminal in Hopedale, Mass . Yes whatever Mr.Prescoli does makes news in town . Yes between Milford and Upton they are a lot of people that would wish the railroad would just go away . I would like too see Mr. Prescoli start up a tourist line once he has the railroad rebuild and bring money into the towns because of the tourist trade . There has been a rumor about the possibility of the MBTA storing passenger equipment in the old rail yard in Hopedale , so far nothing has happened .

The town of Milford would not like too see Mr. Prescoli , bring his train into town, the town selectman are also watching his every move . But also when the local CSX freight come too Milford to service it customers , which the glass plant nothing is said about that equipment from the town .

Just because the G&U was not running for many years , it was long from being dead !