What's New from FBDP

The Latest News
From FBDP

UPDATED ON JUNE 20, 2008

In Chronological Order

Bedford Freight House Online Store


June 20, 2008 Meeting Minutes The Meeting Minutes page has been updated. It contains PDFs of meeting minutes from the FBDP Board of Directors meeting and the Selectmen's Depot Park Advisory Committee.
June 18, 2008 Volume 14, Issue 2 Volume 14, Issue 2, of FBDP's newsletter is in the mail. Included in this 12-page issue is part one of a conversation with Arlington Heights native Paul Harling. He talks about growing up along the Branch during the 1930s and '40s. Video excerpts from this interview are posted on FBDP's Oral History web page.
April 20, 2008 Narrow-Gauge Track Work on 5/10/08 Tom Dickey has scheduled a B&B work session for Saturday, May 10, at 8:00 A.M. Please join us -- no special skills are required. E-mail Tom a message for additional information. Update on 5/10/08: See the B&B Track web page for photos from this work day.
April 20, 2008 Web Site Redesign We are working behind the scenes on a comprehensive update of this web site. Click here for a preview of the new home page.
April 2, 2008 Freight House Renovations The state has initiated its Freight House renovation project. They estimate completion within 450 days. Photo Photo
March 16, 2008 Oral History Updates Clips from our July 2006 oral history interview with Town Historian John F. Brown are being edited and posted to FBDP's web site. Please visit the Oral History page.
March 7, 2008 The Railroad Leaves Town -- March 29th Professor Joseph Schwieterman, author of When the Railroad Leaves Town, will make a presentaton on Saturday, March 29, 2008, at 12:30 P.M., at the Bedford Public Library meeting room. Local B&M lines, including the Lexington Branch, will be a focus of his talk. The event is free to the public, and light refreshments will be provided. Click here to read more in a PDF document.
March 7, 2008 Volume 14, Issue 1 Volume 14, Issue 1, of FBDP's newsletter is in the mail. Included in this 12-page issue is an article about the "Mogul"-type steam locomotives that were once popular on the local railroad.
February 20, 2008 Bedford Depot Is for Rent Proposals are due by March 24, 2008. Contact the Bedford Facilities Department at 781-275-5290 for more information. Basic background information is available on this web page.
January 5, 2008 Freight House Bid Opening The Massachusetts Highway Department has opened the first round of contractor bids for their Freight House renovation project. Work on the building is expected to commence sometime this year.
December 3, 2007 Volume Six DVD Production of "The Films of John M. Boardman, Volume Six," has been completed. Buy this great DVD for $29.95 at our online store or by clicking this button:
October 26, 2007 Narrow-Gauge Track Session Foreman Tom Dickey has scheduled a B&B track session for Saturday, November 17, at 8:00 A.M. Current and new "Gandy dancers" are invited to participate. Please e-mail Tom to be on his mailing list for this and future sessions.
October 26, 2007 Depot Study Presentation Key findings from an architectural study of Bedford Railroad Station will be presented by the Depot Park Advisory Committee on Tuesday, November 6, at 7:30 P.M., in the Selectmen's meeting room at Bedford Town Hall. The public is invited to attend.
October 16, 2007 2007 Officer Elections The incumbent officers were reelected by the members in attendance at the Annual Meeting on October 13.
September 7, 2007 Volume 13, Issue 3 Volume 13, Issue 3, of the FBDP newsletter was bulk-mailed on September 7. Members: please contact clerk Ed Stickney if you do not receive this issue in a reasonable period of time.
August 30, 2007 Depot Study Final Draft The Depot Park Advisory Committee is now reviewing the final draft of the Depot architectural study and preservation plan. Highlights will be published in the upcoming newsletter issue.
July 9, 2007 2007 Annual Meeting on October 13 Save the date for FBDP’s 2007 Annual Meeting and officer elections: Saturday, October 13, at 1:00 P.M., in the Bedford Public Library meeting room. After the business portion of the meeting, a video preview of Volume Six of The Films of John M. Boardman is to be shown. (This new DVD will go on sale later in the fall.) Then, members may visit ex-B&M RDC 6211 at Depot Park to see the progress that has been made to renovate the car. Nominations for the offices of president, treasurer, clerk and vice president may be made from the meeting floor.
June 1, 2007 Volume 13, Issue 2 Volume 13, Issue 2, of the FBDP newsletter was bulk-mailed on May 30. Members: please contact clerk Ed Stickney if you do not receive this issue in a reasonable period of time.
May 21, 2007 Depot Study Interim Report Click here for an update about the Bedford Depot architectural study.
May 14, 2007 Project 6211 Is Gaining New lighting, air conditioning and more ... Check out the progress that is being made on Rail Diesel Car #6211. Photo
May 3, 2007 Boardman Volume Two Available Again The popular DVD, The Films of John M. Boardman, Volume Two, is back in stock at our online store.
May 3, 2007 Freight House Bid Opening Is Delayed The Massachusetts Highway Department announced its intention to defer opening bids for their Bedford Freight House renovation project to the November/December time frame.
April 4, 2007 New Book on Sale FBDP is please to add to is online store, A Field Guide to Southern New England Railroad Depots and Freight Houses. This 346-page softcover highlights every station and freight house building still in existence in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Yes -- Bedford Freight House and Depot are included! As with all our merchandise, sales proceeds benefit the Friends.
March 17, 2007 Oral History Addition Another oral history interview has been conducted and added to the archives. Paul Harling recounted how he rode in the locomotive cab of a Lexington Branch train on the last official day of steam in 1955. When time permits, we'll post video excerpts on the Oral History page of this web site.
March 2, 2007 Volume 13, Issue 1 Volume 13, Issue 1, of the FBDP newsletter was bulk-mailed on March 2. Members: please contact clerk Ed Stickney if you do not receive this issue in a reasonable period of time.
March 2, 2007 A "Virtual Tour" of the Reformatory Branch Rail-Trail Check out this web extra to Volume 13, Issue 1, of the Bedford Depot News newsletter.
February 28, 2007 Hobby Show Schedule (Spring 2007) Hobby Show Committee chair Barry Sampson has announced a slate of upcoming railroad shows he plans to attend. A wide array of FBDP's merchandise will be on sale at these venues. North Billerica Train Show, Middlesex Canal Museum, Sunday, March 4 South Shore Model Railway Club Show, Hingham, Mass., Sunday, March 25 Nashua Valley Railroad Show, Bolton, Mass., Saturday, May 5
February 23, 2007 Freight House Reopening Remains on Hold Bedford Freight House remains closed as the building awaits renovation by the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD). It appears to us that the soonest the building might reopen is sometime in 2008. The latest word from the state is that bids for their $453,000 project will be opened in April. The next steps would include selection of the general contractor and filed sub-bidders, execution of contracts, and then authorization from MHD to initiate the work.
February 14, 2007 Remembering Thomas F. McHugh We are saddened to learn of the death of Thomas "Trigger" McHugh, a 40-year veteran of the Boston & Maine Railroad. In July 2005, Mr. McHugh was videotaped for FBDP's oral history project. We are in the process of transcribing the nearly three hours of recordings for a future newsletter series about Tom's railroad career. Over time, video excerpts of the interview will be posted in the Oral History section of this web site, too.
February 1, 2007 Newsletter Is To Expand FBDP's newsletter is to gain 50% more pages, starting with the next issue. This issue will kick off an interesting series about the Boston & Maine's attempts to curtail passenger service on the Lexington and Reformatory Branches in 1926. The story will be told through reprints of enlightening newspaper articles, rare documents from the Interstate Commerce Commission's files, and the writings of residents who organized themselves against the railroad's efforts.
January 14, 2007 Reformatory Branch Rail-Trail Meeting The Bedford Bicycle Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Wednesday, January 31, at 7:30 P.M., in the Town Hall auditorium, to receive public input on the proposed surfacing of the Reformatory Branch Rail-Trail between Railroad Avenue and Concord Road.
January 14, 2007 North Billerica Train Show FBDP will be represented by Barry Sampson at the Billerica Train Show on Sunday, March 4, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. The event will be held at the Middlesex Canal Museum at 71 Faulkner Street in North Billerica, Massachusetts. Organizers plan to have four operating model train layouts and 12 vendors present.
December 4, 2006 "Bedford Depot News" Volume 12, Issue 5, of FBDP's newsletter was mailed on December 4. Members: please contact clerk Ed Stickney should you not receive it within a couple weeks.
October 29, 2006 Whistle Post Arms Restored Thanks to John Filios and Edward Stickney for repairing the upper-quadrant yellow arms on the two whistle posts near Bedford Station. The presence of this arm on a whistle post indicated to train crews that the upcoming grade crossing had to be flagged -- that there was no automatic protection such as flashers. Click here to view a short Flash video of John and Ed at work.
October 27, 2006 Firm Selected for Depot Study The Selectmen have awarded a $40,000 contract to Menders, Torrey & Spencer, Inc., to perform an architectural study of Bedford Railroad Station. Information about this study may be read in this excerpt from the company's proposal. (1.8 megabyte PDF file)
October 27, 2006 State Delays Freight House Bid Opening Word from DPW Director Richard Warrington is that the Massachusetts Highway Department has rescheduled opening bids for their Freight House renovation project. The agency has moved the bid opening from late November/early December to April 2007. We have not received an explanation for this additional delay.
September 27, 2006 Bid Opening Is Delayed The Massachusetts Highway Department is deferring the opening of bids for its Freight House renovation project until late November/early December.
September 27, 2006 Designers Submit Proposals for Depot Study Three design firms -- Carr, Lynch & Sandell, Inc., Menders, Torrey & Spencer, Inc., and TTL-Architects, LLC -- have submitted proposals to the Town of Bedford for an architectural study of the Railroad Station Building at Depot Park. The Selectmen have appointed a Designer Selection Committee to evaluate the proposals. The study is to examine both the interior and exterior of the building and produce schematic design drawings for any proposed renovations.
September 22, 2006 B&B Encore If you missed seeing the historical exhibit about the Billerica & Bedford Railroad last year, here’s another chance. The Middlesex Canal Museum has extended this exhibit through the fall. The Museum is located at 71 Faulkner Street in North Billerica, and is normally open on weekends between noon and 4:00 P.M.
September 22, 2006 "Bedford Depot News" Volume 12, Issue 4, of FBDP's newsletter was mailed on September 22. Members: please contact clerk Ed Stickney should you not receive it within a couple weeks.
September 19, 2006 "Romancing the Rail" on October 25 Bill Patton, a former Boston & Maine station agent who worked at Lexington, Arlington and Arlington Heights during the 1940s, will speak at the Wednesday, October 25th meeting of the Bedford Historical Society. The title of Mr. Patton's talk is "Romancing the Rail," a look at vintage railroad postcards and magazine art. The Society holds its meetings at the Congregational Church at 25 The Great Road. Refreshments will be served at 7:30 P.M.
September 15, 2006 Depot Park Flower Garden Kudos go to the Bedford Garden Club for their attractive flower garden at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and South Road. Photo 1 Photo 2
September 1, 2006 2006 Annual Meeting on October 14 The Board of Directors have set the 2006 Annual Meeting for Saturday, October 14, at 1:00 P.M. It will be held in the Bedford Public Library first floor meeting room.
September 1 , 2006 A Call for Project 6211 Volunteers Although the DPW is having most of the rail car's renovation work performed by contractors, certain tasks are appropriate for volunteers to accomplish. Check our Project 6211 web page for more information.
September 1, 2006 MHD to Open Freight House Bids We hear that the Massachusetts Highway Department is to open bids on their $344,000 Bedford Freight House renovation project in September.
September 1, 2006 B&B Track Foreman Has a Backyard Railroad The Metro West Daily News published an article about the two-foot-gauge railway that Tom Dickey built in his backyard.
August 2, 2006 Rail Diesel Car 6211 The DPW has made progress with restoration of RDC 6211 at Depot Park. New windows have been installed and the electrical contractor has been hired. Read more on the Project 6211 page.
June 9, 2006 Boston & Maine RDCs On our RDC History web page, we've created a slide show of the B&M Budd Car photos that Alan E. MacMillan donated to FBDP. Our thanks go to David S. Hutchinson for scanning these prints and negatives.
June 9, 2006 Newsletter Addenda on the Web Newsletter readers may notice that certain articles conclude by mentioning a web address. This is a link to supplementary information on FBDP's web site. Here is an example: www.BedfordDepot.org/060607
June 9, 2006 "Bedford Depot News" Volume 12, Issue 3, of FBDP's newsletter was mailed on June 9. Members: please contact clerk Ed Stickney should you not receive it within a couple weeks.
June 6, 2006 B&B Track Work Foreman Tom Dickey has called a narrow-gauge work session for Saturday morning, June 24 (not on the 17th as previously noted). To be placed on his e-mail list, please contact Tom at: TomDickey@BedfordDepot.org
May 18, 2006 Funding for Depot Architectural Study The Massachusetts Historical Commission has awarded Bedford a matching grant of $24,000 to perform an architectural study of the old Boston & Maine Railroad passenger station on Loomis Street. The study is to examine both the interior and exterior of the building, and will produce schematic design drawings for any proposed renovations. The project is being directed under the auspices of the Facilities Department.
April 11, 2006 Freight House Renovations Started Interior demolition of Bedford Freight House is underway.
April 7, 2006 Mixed-Use Zoning The Planning Board's proposed "village style zoning" for the Depot Park area was passed at Bedford's Annual Town Meeting.
April 7, 2006 "Bedford Depot News" Volume 12, Issue 2, of FBDP's newsletter was mailed on April 3. Members: please contact clerk Ed Stickney should you not receive it within a couple weeks.
February 8, 2006 RDC 6211 Photo Thanks to Richard Symmes and the Walker Transportation Collection at the Beverly Historical Society for sharing this snapshot of RDC 6211 that was taken in 1956.
February 2, 2006 RDC Operations Manual Is Donated We thank engineer Alan E. MacMillan for donating his personal copy of a Budd RDC manual that he used on the B&M. It will be a fitting exhibit inside the restored #6211 at Depot Park.
January 5, 2006 More Video Exhibits Added Three additional video clips from our June 2004 conversation with Ralph E. Fisher have been added to the Oral History page. The late Mr. Fisher occasionally worked on the Lexington Branch local freight train between 1946 and '52.
January 2, 2006 The Magnificent Models of Wilbur Frey Our friends at the Walker Transportation Collection of the Beverly (Massachusetts) Historical Society call our attention to a new exhibit. On public display in their museum are 25 large locomotive models that were made by master craftsman Wilbur T. Frey. Get more information and see photos on their web site.
December 5, 2005 Volume Four DVD After much work, "The Films of John M. Boardman, Volume Four," has been completed. Buy this great DVD for $29.95 at our online store or by clicking this button:
December 1, 2005 Freight House Renovations on the Horizon Mass. Highway has informed the Bedford DPW of its intention to advertise the Freight House renovation project for bid. FBDP began the process of suspending its operations in the building in January. The contents are being placed in storage. We invite you to make a "virtual shopping visit" to the Freight House through our online store.
October 28, 2005 Intersection Nearing Completion Final paving and striping of the Depot Park intersection have been completed. The traffic signals will be installed in November, according to the DPW. Photo Photo
October 3, 2005 2005 Annual Meeting Members attending the Annual Meeting on October 1 re-elected the incumbent officers to two-year terms. No other official business was transacted. A PDF of the Annual Report is available for download on the Meeting Minutes page.
June 21, 2005 Intersection Project Is Progressing In Spring 2005, the Bedford DPW awarded an $839,000 contract to Charles Contracting Company of Watertown, Massachusetts, to rebuild the South Road/Railroad Avenue/Loomis Street intersection. Crews will be at work during the summer and through autumn. Photo These roads cross in front of Depot Park. Photo The redesign will provide new turning lanes, 10-foot-wide concrete sidewalks that link the Minuteman Bikeway and Narrow-Gauge Rail-Trail, and signal-controlled crosswalks. Pedestrians and cyclists should find it safer to cross the road once the project is complete. Photo As of June 21, the contractor has removed most of the old pavement in preparation for a base layer of asphalt. Photo The old Lexington Branch rails across South Road are now gone. Consider how many trains traversed this iron over the years! Photo
May 2, 2005 Rail-Trail Maps Are Now Available Online PDF (Adobe Acrobat) versions of our guides to the Reformatory Branch and Narrow-Gauge Rail-Trails are now available for download from the Minuteman Bikeway page.