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 first "railfan trip" in the United States 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, 77 years after that "first fantrip", Mass Bay RRE continues to organize specially-chartered excursion trains throughout New England.

See also FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for more information about Mass Bay RRE.

UPCOMING TRAIN EXCURSIONS:

See EXCURSIONS PAGE for details on all excursions.

Sunday, May 20, 2012: ‘Hoosick Junction Limited' Rutland, VT to North Bennington, VT & Hoosick Junction, NY on the Vermont Rail System. This will be our first excursion over the entire line from Rutland to Hoosick Junction in over 20 years!
Only a few seats left! Order today!

Saturday, July 28, 2012: ‘Sunset Steam Special’ on the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. Save for one early-morning departure, the Cog has gone all-diesel. Relive the glory days of steam and smoke on our specially-chartered steam-powered trip to the summit of New England’s highest peak. This special event starts with a tour of the Cog’s 1897-vintage shops, followed by a 5:30 PM departure from the base station. Tickets on sale early May!

Sunday, July 29, 2012: ‘North Country Explorer’ on the Conway Scenic Railroad. North Conway to Redstone & Hazens, NH Our special train will cover all operable portions of the ex-Maine Central ‘Mountain Division’ from Redstone to Hazens. First-Class, Dome and Full Dining Car service available. Tickets on sale early May 2012.

Saturday, October 13, 2012: ‘P&W Fall Excursion’ on the Providence & Worcester Railroad. Worcester, MA to Willimantic & Groton, CT. First passenger train over the upgraded Willimantic Branch between Plainfield & Willimantic in many years! Tickets on sale August 2012.

Saturday, January 5, 2013: ‘Steam in the Snow’ on the Conway Scenic Railroad. North Conway, NH to Notchland. Our sixth annual steam-powered photographers’ special, with multiple photo stops featuring 0-6-0 steam locomotive 7470.  Tickets on sale October 2012.

THIRD THURSDAY PROGRAM MEETINGS:

See MEETINGS PAGE for schedule and complete details of all programs.

Programs including railroad industry experts, tour experiences, railroad technology, classic rail-related films, and much more! (NOTE: Mass Bay RRE's Program Meetings are held at the Union Church in Waban, Newton, MA, starting at 8:00 PM unless otherwise noted. Please read all announcements carefully.)

Thursday, May 17, 8:00 PM: "Engine Service on the Fitchburg Division:" With retired Boston & Maine/MBCR engineer Alan MacMillan.  At Union Church in Waban.

Thursday, June 21, 8:00 PM: "The B&M’s Central Massachusetts Branch:" Presented by Mass Bay RRE member Rick Conard.  At Union Church in Waban.

Thursday, July 19, 8:00 PM: Irving Thomae of Norwich, VT, tells us all about "The Montpelier & Wells River Railroad."  At Union Church in Waban.

Thursday, August 16, 8:00 PM: "Trains in High Definition."  Member Ralph Hawkins shows High-Definition  home videos from railroads in Norway, Britain and the U.S. At Union Church in Waban.

Saturday, August 18, 10 AM - 5 PM: "CHESTERMEET." See Tours & Events, below.

FIRST TUESDAY SOCIAL MEETINGS:

See MEETINGS PAGE for detailed schedule.

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

TOURS & EVENTS:

See EXCURSIONS PAGE for more details.

'CHESTERMEET:' Saturday, August 18, 10 AM to 5 PM at the Chester Railway Station, Chester, MA. A day of railroading fun and discovery in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. This special Mass Bay RRE event features a photo presentation at 2:00 PM about current New England railroading by author-photographer Kevin Burkholder and a tour of the preserved 1840s keystone-arch, laid-stone bridges of the Western Railroad, the first US mountain railroad.  COMPLETE EVENT DETAILS

 
Granite Railway Quarry-to-Wharf Tours. 3-1/2 hour guided tours explore the history of the Granite Railway - the first chartered U.S. commercial railroad (1826) - in West Quincy and East Milton, MA. 2012 Tours June 9 & 10, July 21 & 22.  TOUR DETAILS AND SCHEDULE.

OTHER INFORMATION and NON-MASS BAY RRE ACTIVITIES:

See the DiscoveRail Page for tourist railroad schedules, railroad-related museum hours, and special events such as excursions and shows. These announcements also appear in our monthly newsmagazine, The Callboy. (Use browser "Back" button to return to home page.)

See the MEMBERSHIP PAGE for information on how to Join Mass Bay RRE and a printable Application Form.

 
Send an Email to Mass Bay RRE using the links on CONTACT US page.

See OTHER DIVISIONS for information on other chapters of The Railroad Enthusiasts. For local RRE membership information, contact one of these Divisions near you.

The RAIL LINKS page contains links to the sites of operating railroads, other railfan organizations, railroad museums, preservation groups, points of interest, and more.

MASS BAY RRE OFFICERS & DIRECTORS:

President: David W. Brown
Vice President: Alan B. Butler
Secretary: William Crawford
Treasurer: Charles W. Jack

Directors: David J. Astorian, J. Leonard Bachelder, Victor J. Campbell, Stephen L. Delaney, John W. Ehrlich, Thomas R. Engel, Ralph S. Hawkins, Loring M. Lawrence, Robert S. Popovac, Everett Reynolds, Sue Waldron Sample

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 2012 Award has been granted to the New England Electric Railway Historical Society (The Seashore Trolley Museum), to pay for key components needed to complete the restoration of former Bay State Street Railway Car 4175. 

Read an account of the history of Car 4175 HERE.

2013 Award Applications

The application period for the 2012 H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award is now closed.  Applications for the 2013 Award will be available in Spring 2012. 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.

 
View a complete description of the H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award and download an application.

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 Capital Limited 5/2/2009 (New!!)
Housatonic Flyer 5/16/2009 (New!!)
The Griffins Local 7/18/2009 (New!!)

DVD Description & Order Form

See Pictures of Recent
Mass Bay RRE Excursions: