Future Tsw Route Proposal: Mbta Lowell & Haverhill Lines And Amtrak Downeaster In 2009

Setting: 2009

Map:

(note: during this time the Haverhill Line did not stop at Oak Grove)

Line Length:
Boston - Haverhill: 33 Miles
Boston - Lowell: 25.5 Miles
Boston - Haverhill via Wildcat Branch: 34 Miles

Locomotives:
MBTA EMD GP40MC (with Ghetto Grills)

MBTA EMD F40PH (with Ghetto Grills)

MBTA Bombardier CTC-1B Cab Car (with Ghetto Grills):

MBTA MBB CTC-3 Cab Car (with Ghetto Grills added):

Amtrak GE P42DC:

Amtrak ex-EMD F40PH Baggage Cab Car NPCU in Downeaster Paint:


Rolling Stock:
MBTA Pullman-Standard BTC-1C (series 200–202, 204–214, 216–258):

MBTA Bombardier BTC-1A (series 350–389):

MBTA Bombardier BTC-1B (series 600–653):

MBTA MBB BTC-3:

Amtrak Amfleet I:


Services:
MBTA Lowell Line - North Station to Lowell (GP40MC & F40PH)
MBTA Lowell Line - Lowell to North Station (CTC-1B & CTC-3)
2009 Lowell Line schedule: https://archive.org/details/lowell-line-eff-02-16-09

MBTA Haverhill Line - North Station to Haverhill (GP40MC & F40PH)
MBTA Haverhill Line - Haverhill to North Station (CTC-1B & CTC-3)
MBTA Haverhill Line (Limited Express) - North Station to Haverhill via Lowell Line and Wildcat Branch (GP40MC & F40PH)
MBTA Haverhill Line (Limited Express) - Haverhill to North Station via Lowell Line and Wildcat Branch (CTC-1B & CTC-3)
2009 Haverhill Line schedule: https://archive.org/details/haverhill-line-eff-02-16-09

Amtrak Downeaster - North Station to Haverhill via Anderson/Woburn and Wildcat Branch (P42DC)
Amtrak Downeaster - Haverhill to North Station via Anderson/Woburn and Wildcat Branch (F40PH NPCU)
2009 Downeaster schedule: https://juckins.net/amtrak_timetables/archive/timetables_Downeaster_20090420.pdf

Summary:
This is a revised version of a prior route suggestion of mine. This time, I propose for it to be set in 2009, 10 years before the two current existing MBTA routes. This route will not only provide a very interesting concept, with it being a route that provides two high-frequency Commuter Rail lines and one Intercity Amtrak route to drive, along with a vast array of diverse equipment to run the services, it will also be a unique way of exploring a bygone era of the MBTA, with older equipment such as the original F40PH which is no longer in service, and MBTA equipment still being fitted with the ghetto grills, which will provide an interesting perspective and experience that I believe has never been seen before in any Dovetail product. To anyone from Dovetail reading this, I hope you see the same potential of this route that I do, and will consider my proposal, as some things have changed in these lines over the past 16 years, I will be delighted to answer any questions that anyone may have. Thank you.

 

Here are some good reference videos as well, just to get a sense of what it was like, but also showing how different North Station and Andover were from how they are now:

 

+1 to this idea! Having been qualified on this territory for the last 10 years I can attest to the multiple scenario opportunities BON-North would offer. Commuter rail at minimum would include the Fitchburg, Lowell and Haverhill lines, while the Downeaster could be routed via the Wildcat or the Western route through Reading.
B&M/PanAm/CSX also provides freight service to several customers on the Lowell line and shares the main line between Haverhill and Lowell Jct. But the best freight scenario would probably be the nightly gravel train to the Boston Sand and Gravel terminal at Tower A.
Inclusion of the Grand Junction running track would tie into existing content on the south side and would provide enough hands-on content to warrant a route of its own. Especially considering the route has several hand throws, busy grade crossings, direction changes, and crosses multiple juridictions.
The most challenging content would be the massive MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility located just north of North Station. Although, it shouldnt be any more difficult than the Southhampton street yard on the south side.
Perhaps a modder can even explore what revenue service over the Grand Junction would entail? After all, discussion of a North-South link almost always centers around construction of a new tunnel and rarely acknowledges that a connection already exists...