Massachusetts Coastal Railroad

Massachusetts Coastal Railroad. It is a shortline railroad operating freight services primarily in Southeastern Massachusetts and on Cape Cod. The company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Hyannis. It operates over trackage formerly owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and other lines, connecting to the national rail network via CSX Transportation and Providence and Worcester Railroad.

History

The railroad was founded in 2007 by Jon Delli Priscoli, who also owns the Grafton and Upton Railroad. Its creation was spurred by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts's acquisition of the Old Colony Lines from CSX Transportation for commuter rail service, which required a new operator for the remaining freight segments. The company began operations by taking over the Buzzards Bay to Hyannis line, a route historically part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad network. Key early contracts included serving the Canal Electric Generating Station in Sandwich and the Massachusetts Military Reservation. The railroad's history is intertwined with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's efforts to preserve freight rail service on Cape Cod following the cessation of Penn Central operations decades earlier.

Operations

The railroad's primary business is moving freight, including construction aggregate, fuel oil, propane, and road salt. It interchanges traffic with Class I carrier CSX Transportation at Middleborough and with regional carrier Providence and Worcester Railroad at Mansfield. A significant portion of its operations involves serving the Joint Base Cape Cod military installation, transporting materials for the United States Air Force and United States Coast Guard. The railroad also provides transloading services at its Wareham yard and has occasionally operated seasonal passenger excursions, such as the Cape Cod Central Railroad's dinner trains, under contract. Operations are coordinated with the dispatch centers of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority due to shared trackage rights.

Rolling stock

The railroad's fleet primarily consists of secondhand EMD and General Electric locomotives acquired from other shortlines and Class I railroads. Its motive power includes several EMD GP38 and EMD GP40 models, which are well-suited for the light-density, seasonal traffic on the Cape Cod peninsula. The company also operates a variety of freight cars, including hopper cars for aggregate and salt, tank cars for liquid fuels, and boxcars for general merchandise. Some equipment is leased from larger railroads or private car owners, particularly for specialized services. The distinctive maroon and gold livery of its locomotives is a common sight along the Cape Cod Canal.

Route and infrastructure

The railroad's main line extends approximately 80 miles from Middleborough to Hyannis, traversing the towns of Wareham, Buzzards Bay, and Sandwich. This route crosses the Cape Cod Canal via the vertical-lift Buzzards Bay Railway Bridge, a structure owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The company also operates the Falmouth Branch, which serves the Massachusetts Military Reservation and the Woods Hole oceanographic community. Most track is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and maintained to Federal Railroad Administration standards for light-density freight operations. Key infrastructure includes transload facilities in Wareham and a yard and engine facility in Hyannis.

Corporate affairs

The railroad is a privately held company owned by Jon Delli Priscoli's G&U Rail Group. It maintains close operational and contractual relationships with state agencies, primarily the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The company has been involved in various public initiatives to preserve and expand freight rail in the region, sometimes collaborating with the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority. Its corporate offices are colocated with its operational headquarters in Hyannis. The railroad operates under the reporting mark **MC** and is a member of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.

Category:Rail transportation in Massachusetts Category:Companies based in Barnstable County, Massachusetts Category:Railway companies established in 2007