Program Meetings are held, unless otherwise noted, at 8:00 PM on the Third Thursday of the month at the Union Church in Waban, MA. These feature programs with speakers knowledgeable about railroad operations, history and travel. Upcoming programs are listed below.
On the first Tuesday of each month we hold a more informal social gathering: FIRST TUESDAY. This is where we usually prepare a trip flyer or our monthly newsletter, the Callboy, for mailing. These sessions are held at Newton Highlands Congregational Church, starting rather casually about 7:00 PM and are usually followed by an impromptu slide show or video program unless there is a Board meeting or the work session runs unusually late. Members and non-members alike are welcome.
For last minute updates or meeting cancellations in bad weather, please call our information line at 617-489-5277.
Third Thursday Monthly Program Meetings
(Held at the Union Church in Waban unless otherwise noted.)
Thursday, February 16, 8:00 PM: Program Change: ‘European Narrow Gauge – Steam and Electric’
Mass Bay RRE welcomes Dr. Peter Northover, of the Oxford University faculty, as our speaker for the regular program meeting in Waban on Feb. 16. Dr. Northover – in his own words, “half metallurgist, half archeologist and married to a metallurgist” – will present an illustrated lecture, “European Narrow Gauge – Steam and Electric.”
Since Dr. Northover entered Oxford as a student in 1966, he has been photographing narrow-gauge lines. He has also been involved since his student years with the Oxford University Railway Society, which just celebrated its 80th anniversary. He now works with the British “National Railway Museum” at York, which has in its collection a carriage from Britain’s last horse-drawn passenger train – his great-grandfather used to drive it!
Our member Tom Chase and Dr. Northover have been friends for many years. When Dr. Northover planned a visit to Connecticut that coincided with our meeting, Tom contacted our Program Coordinator to see if he could arrange to have him speak to us. (Member Rick Conard kindly agreed to move his previously scheduled presentation on the Central Mass. Branch of the Boston & Maine to our June 21 program meeting.)
Dr. Northover described his program thus: “…steam, which would include the Isle of Man, France, Germany, and Austria. Add in vintage electrics, you would also get Italy, Spain and Switzerland and some rather good scenery. Even in Austria, that would get you 1910 trams in Innsbruck towing 1896 steam-tram trailers.”
Thursday, March 15, 8:00 PM: Robert Bell, President Of The Valley Railroad, Visits Mass Bay RRE
Robert Bell, President of Connecticut’s Valley Railroad (operator of the Essex Steam Train), will pay us an overdue visit at our March 15 program meeting, to tell us about the activities of southern New England’s busiest tourist railroad. We had invited Mr. Bell to speak in March 2008 – our first year at the Union Church in Waban – but a last-minute schedule conflict upset our plans. Instead of describing how VALE (its correct reporting marks) planned to rebuild its Knox & Kane “Chinese Mikado” 2-8-2 58, now we expect Mr. Bell will be able to tell us how the rehab work was done!
Thursday, April 19, 8:00 PM: ‘Dinner in the Depot’ with David Wulfson of Vermont Rail System
Join fellow Mass Bay RRE members on April 19 for a (re-scheduled) Dinner in the Depot at the 1892 ex-B&M Malden, MA station, restored as Pearl Street Station Restaurant. Social hour (cash bar) and dinner before we hear from our guest speaker, David Wulfson, President of Vermont Rail System. Vermont Rail has been a family business for the Wulfsons since their lease of the state-owned former Rutland trackage from Bennington to Burlington in 1964. Mr. Wulfson will describe how VRS restored its flood-damaged lines last fall in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, Vermont’s worst natural disaster since the March 1927 floods. Flyer in next month’s Callboy – order your dinner tickets from Steve Butterworth promptly!
Meeting speakers always wanted! Brad Harding, Mass Bay RRE's Program Coordinator, is developing our 2011-12 program of speakers. To offer a program, email Brad at lbharding@verizon.net .
First Tuesday Callboy Mailing Meetings
(Held at Newton Highlands Congregational Church)
Tuesday, February 7, 2012: Callboy mailing at 7:00 PM; Board Meeting at 8:00 PM. No program.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012: Callboy mailing at 7:00 PM; Beauchemin Collection video: TBA. Member slides and videos also welcome.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012: Callboy mailing at 7:00 PM; Board Meeting at 8:00 PM. No program.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012: Callboy mailing at 7:00 PM; Members' Night! Bring your personal favorite slides or videos to share with the rest of us.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012: Callboy mailing at 7:00 PM; Board Meeting at 8:00 PM. No program.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012: Callboy mailing at 7:00 PM; Beauchemin Collection video: TBA. Member slides and videos also welcome.
Meeting Locations
MBRRE Program Meetings are usually held at the Union Church at 14 Collins Road (corner of Beacon Street), Waban, MA, (near the Waban MBTA stop on the Green Line):
If you are arriving on the T, exit the station onto Beacon St.; the Church is adjacent to the Waban Station.
If you are driving, take Exit 21 East off Route 128 (I-95) onto Rte. 16 (Washington St.). At the first traffic light east of 128 fork right onto Beacon St. and go 0.9 mile. The Union Church is on the right just before Beacon Street jogs to the left over the Green Line. If the church lot is full you may park on the street or in the Waban Station parking lot. CLICK FOR MAP
First Tuesday Meetings are held at The Newton Highlands Congregational Church, Lincoln & Hartford Sts., one block west of Walnut St. and two blocks north of Route 9 in Newton Highlands. Take a T Green Line "D Riverside" car to Newton Highlands and walk one block west. Driving east on Route 9 from 128, go under the T Green Line "D Riverside" overhead bridge; turn left at first traffic light; go two blocks north on Woodward Street to the blinking light; turn right onto Lincoln Street. Meetings begin at 7:00 PM. Enter the church basement from the Hartford St. parking lot. The church normally keeps this door locked; ring the bell!! CLICK FOR MAP
Check the Callboy or the website to confirm date, time, and location of meetings.
"STOP - LOOK - LISTEN!"
Mass Bay RRE members currently volunteer their time and skills to:
--Serve as officers and Directors (we have no paid employees)
--Organize, prepare for and staff our excursion trains
--Write for, edit and produce our Callboy newsletter
--Arrange our program meetings and special events
--Maintain and constantly improve our website
--Tell the media and the public about our trips, meetings and events
--Handle our “back office” financial, legal and corporate administration
We always welcome new volunteers. With today’s expanded e-communications, more RRE members find they can contribute from home or work locations beyond the Boston area. Join us in keeping Mass Bay RRE one of the most active railfan groups in New England!
To Volunteer, Contact Us:
Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc.
PO Box 4245
Andover, MA 01810-0814, or
Information Line 617-489-5277 or 978-470-2066
Email: info@massbayrre.org or visit our "Contact Us" page.
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