GROTON BOUND Mass Bay RRE’s Fall Circle Tour special swings through a curve approaching the Noyes Road overpass in Stonington, CT on 10/15/2011. Providence & Worcester GP38-2s 2008 and 2006 head a seven-car consist that originated in Worcester, ran to Providence and Groton, and returned to Worcester. The two veteran Geeps have completed 30-plus years of P&W service since coming to the railroad new from Electro-Motive in 1980.
Photo by Doug Scott

Providence & Worcester
Fall Circle Tour
October 15, 2011

by John Reading

On Saturday, October 15, Mass Bay RRE operated its fifth Fall Circle Tour, a 175-mile loop excursion originating in Worcester that traveled the Main Line and Norwich Branch of Providence & Worcester and a section of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. About 210 passengers and Mass Bay RRE’s volunteer train staff (see the list on Page 4) enjoyed a cool, rain-free day, though bright morning sunshine gave way to broken overcast by mid-afternoon.

Passengers who arrived early at P&W’s South Worcester headquarters found our southward-facing, seven-car special conveniently placed for boarding. P&W veteran GP38-2s 2008 and 2006 led power car 668, coaches 7625, 7626 New York and 7627 Rhode Island, diner 8340 Connecticut, parlor 4567 Massachusetts and observation 90 New Englander.