This group is dedicated to the Old Colony commuter rail lines of Greater Boston, serving Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod.

Input, information and commentary on all aspects, past, present or future is welcome. The Old Colony lines were operated by the New Haven Railroad until 1959, when service to Plymouth, Brockton,Middleboro, Greenbush and Cape Cod was abandoned.

Train service to New Bedford and Fall River was discontinued in 1958. The lines survived on a freight-only basis thereafter, and the mainline between Braintree and Boston converted to rapid transit between 1971 and 1980.

Work by the MBTA to restore the Middleboro and Plymouth lines commenced in 1992, with a similar restoration of the Greenbush Branch deferred. It is also prosed to return service to New Bedford and Fall River.

Combined, the two restored Old Colony lines are approaching the end of their first decade of MBTA service, and have been consistently among the system's heavily-ridden routes.

The third line to be restored to active passenger service will be the Greenbush line in approximately 2008. This is the infamous line that meanders through Hingham, and on which construction was started in 2002.

Please bear in mind that all new members are subject to moderation in order to prevent spamming.

Please listen 161.490 Mhz for Old Colony Dispatch.

Check out our fellow railgroups,
http://www.yahoogroups.com/massrailfan
http://www.yahoogroups.com/illinoiscentral
Please review these websites.
http://www.mbcr.com
http://www.mbta.com