Welcome Aboard!! Whether your interest in railroading centers on rail travel, photography, history, models or just a love of trains,
Mass Bay RRE may be for you!

Mass Bay RRE is a non-profit [501(c)(3)] educational corporation, organized for the promotion of public interest and understanding of railroads. In The Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc., you will find amateur and professional railroaders alike who share your enthusiasm for the rails, and are quite willing to share their experiences with you.

Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc. traces its beginnings to 1934, when our founders sponsored what has been called the world's first "railfan trip" on the now-abandoned Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad. Since then, we have sponsored hundreds of railfan excursions, many of them over "freight only" tracks. Our trips have covered almost every past or present New England rail route.

Today, as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of that "first fantrip", Mass Bay RRE continues to organize specially-chartered excursion trains throughout New England.

UPCOMING TRAIN EXCURSIONS: See EXCURSIONS PAGE for details.

 
Saturday, September 11: Return of the Moose!  Special train excursion covering the entire resurrected Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railway from Belfast, Maine to Burnham Junction.   Tickets now on sale!  Call 978-470-2066 now to order!   Excursions Page

Saturday, October 16: Our popular P&W FALL CIRCLE TOUR returns for its fourth year!  Our specially-chartered train excursion departs Worcester MA for a loop through Providence and along the coast to Groton CT, Norwich & Plainfield.   Don't miss this trip!!  Tickets now on sale!  Call 978-470-2066 now to order!   Excursions Page

Sunday, January 2, 2011: STEAM IN THE SNOW!!  Our annual photographers' special on the Conway Scenic Railroad, starring 0-6-0 steam engine 7470, steams out of North Conway bound for Notchland and a half-dozen photo runbys.   Tickets on sale in September!

See the EXCURSIONS PAGE for other scheduled excursions!

THIRD THURSDAY PROGRAM MEETINGS: See MEETINGS PAGE for schedule & details.

Programs including railroad industry experts, tour experiences, railroad technology, classic rail-related films, and much more! (NOTE: MBRRE's Program Meeting locations and dates may vary. Most meetings are held at the Union Church in Waban, Newton, MA, starting at 8:00 PM. Please read all announcements carefully.)

Thursday, September 16, 6:00 PM: DINNER IN THE DEPOT and ANNUAL MEETING at the Pearl Street Station restaurant, 53 Summer Street, Malden, MA.  Featured guest speaker: Kristina Egan, Project Manager for the South Coast Rail Project.

FIRST TUESDAY SOCIAL MEETINGS: See MEETINGS PAGE for schedule.

 
Newsletter Mailing; Informal Member Slide or Video Programs; Board Meetings. Held at the Congregational Church, Newton Highlands, MA at 7:00 PM.

TOURS: See EXCURSIONS PAGE for details.

 
Granite Railway Quarry-to-Wharf Tours. Our 3-1/2 hour guided tours explore the history and surviving remnants of the Granite Railway - the first chartered U.S. commercial railroad (1826) - in West Quincy and East Milton, MA.   Our 2010 tour season concludes with tours scheduled for August 28 & 29, September 25 & 26, and October 23 & 24. Full schedule & tour details.  Advance reservations required - contact Tour Leader Vic Campbell at 617-822-4046.  

NON-MASSBAYRRE ACTIVITIES: See TIMETABLES PAGE.

 
Tourist railroad schedules, railroad-related museum hours, and special events such as excursions and shows. These announcements also appear in our monthly newsletter, the Callboy. (Use browser "Back" button to return.)

Membership:
 
How to Join Mass Bay RRE; Printable Application Form.

Contact Us:
 
Send an E-Mail to Mass Bay RRE.

Other Divisions:
 
All existing chapters of Railroad Enthusiasts. For local RRE membership information, contact one of these Divisions near you.

Rail Links:
 
Links to operating railroads, railfan organizations, railroad museums, preservation groups, points of interest, and more.

This site has been visited times.

Mass Bay RRE Excursion DVDs are now available. These are an ideal gift for your favorite railfan...or for yourself!

Videos Available:
Steam in the Snow 1/5/2008
Berkshire Flyer 5/17/2008
Granite City Extra 4/4/2009 (New!!)
The Griffins Local 7/18/2009 (New!!)
DVD Description & Order Form

See Pictures of Recent
Mass Bay RRE Excursions:

The H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award

Mass Bay RRE member Leigh Webb created the H. Albert Webb Memorial Award in 2000 to recognize his father's love for New England railroading. Mass Bay RRE acts as Mr. Webb's agent in soliciting applications for the award, reviewing the completed applications, and administering the grants as they are used.

The 2010 Award went to the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum in Portland, ME, which will use the funds for boiler repairs to ex-Bridgton & Saco River steam locomotive 7 (Baldwin, 1913).

2011 Award Applications

Mass Bay RRE is now accepting applications for the 2011 H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award. Nonprofit, tax-exempt [Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3)] organizations that preserve historically significant railroad equipment, structures or information from New England railroads are eligible to apply, whether or not they are based in New England. The successful applicant will receive a single $10,000 grant.

 
Complete description of the Award.

Download 2011 Award Application