Historical Photographs of the Local Railroad

Photo Gallery 1

Old photos of trains on the Lexington and Reformatory Branches are in limited supply; but color photography is all the more exceptional. So we were quite delighted when former Bedford resident George M. Dimond made copies of his 41 Lexington Branch color slides available to the Friends.

During the 1950s, George chronicled the transition from steam to Diesel-hauled trains on the branch. The scenes he captured offer a valuable historical perspective into the daily happenings on our local railroad. Also, for the historian studying the branch line, the availability of color images of the rolling stock, stations and facilities provides new insights.

FBDP is pleased to feature photos from the lens of Mr. Dimond on this web site. We will periodically update the gallery with more images, so please check again.

The Lexington Branch's daily local freight train, the "BB Local," is seen heading northbound through Lexington, Massachusetts, on February 23, 1953. Boston & Maine Railroad "Mogul-type" locomotive #1451 handled the duties this day.

B&M locomotive #1478 was towing a four-car passenger train to Boston on the morning of March 18, 1953. The train was photographed soon after it crossed from Bedford into Lexington, as it passed by the Lexington Sand & Gravel Company's spur track.

Budd Rail Diesel Cars were sometimes shunned by rail photographers because they were perceived to have run steam engines off the railroad. However, George Dimond made an exception when a three-car train of RDCs travelled over what was then a freight-only portion of the Lexington Branch in Billerica. The occasion was an excursion chartered by the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts on June 8, 1958. RDC #6152 is seen heading northward about one mile south of Billerica Center.

Steam power had yet another three years of life on the Boston & Maine Railroad when George M. Dimond snapped this photograph of "Pacific-type" locomotive #3639 with its Boston-bound passenger train in East Lexington. Six coaches suggest that the Lexington Branch's commuter business was still going strong on this April 21, 1953.