RECENT THIRD THURSDAY PROGRAM MEETINGS
Most recent Third Thursday program meetings may be viewed at any time on the Mass Bay RRE YouTube channel
This page lists Mass Bay RRE Third Thursday programs presented in 2025.
For programs presented in 2024, go to: MBRRE Past Meetings 2024
For programs presented in 2023, go to: MBRRE Past Meetings 2023
For programs presented in 2022, go to: MBRRE Past Meetings 2022
For programs presented in 2020 & 2021, go to: MBRRE Past Meetings 2020-2021
Thursday, July 17, 8:00 PM, live-streamed via Zoom Webinar:
Video: 'Flagler's Train - The Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad'
Flagler's Train is a one hour documentary, produced by WPBT2, which chronicles the imagination and achievements of Henry Morrison Flagler, who spearheaded the development of the over-seas railway connecting Key West to the existing Florida East Coast Railway.
The Overseas Railroad (also known as Florida Overseas Railroad, the Overseas Extension, and Flagler's Folly) was an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to Key West, a city located 128 miles (206 km) beyond the end of the Florida peninsula. Work on the line started in 1905 and it operated from 1912 to 1935, when it was partially destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane. Some of the remaining infrastructure was used for the Overseas Highway.
This video originally aired on PBS stations in January, 2012 and was presented to Mass Bay RRE on July 17, 2025. You can view the program now on the PBS website.
'To see whats going on in the Railroad Industry, get out of New England'
Presented by Nathaniel Hurst
For all that goes on with railroading here in New England, career Train Dispatcher Nathaniel Hurst understands that there is much more to the railroad industry and the American economy than just the six New England States.
Nathaniel's program takes us on a journey to see and hear about what's happening in the railroad industry outside of New England. We'll visit the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Canadian National, Union Pacific, the Meridian Speedway and others in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.
RIGHT: CPKC Train No. 181, a hotshot intermodal/auto train from San Luis Potosi Mexico to Chicago, makes its way east on CPKC's Elgin Subdivision through downtown Bensenville IL, nearing its destination of CPKC's Bensenville Yard on Oct. 14, 2024 . With a couple Kansas City Southern SD70AC's with 121 Intermodal Containers and 15 loaded auto racks this day, Train 181 and its counterpart No. 180 (Chicago to San Luis Potosi) have been much of the talk since the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Southern merger in April of 2023. (Nathaniel Hurst photo.)
This program was presented on June 19, 2025. You can view the program now on the Mass Bay RRE YouTube channel.
A Special Third Thursday 'Members Night'
Our Third Thursday Zoom in March was a special edition of our popular "Members Night," in which meeting attendees provide the program material. The evening consisted of the following:
● Greg Guimond showed two short programs. The first is a Pete Lerro photo charter on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad on October 26-27, 2024, including several photo runbys and some trly spectacular photography.
The second covers a DAK photo charter on the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat on October 8-9, 2024, including a freight special behind #40, a night session at the station in Essex, and a passenger train behind #97.
● Doug Scott showed a short program titled 'East on 66: Following the Transcon November 2024.' Stops include Flagstaff, Joseph City, & Holbrook, in Arizona, plus Los Lunas and Belen in New Mexico.
This program was presented on March 20, 2025. Video of the program will be available soon on the Mass Bay RRE YouTube channel.
'A Life in Railroading: From Tower 15 to Beacon Hill to Capitol Hill'
Presented by Ross Capon
Ross Capon fell in love with railroading while hanging out at the B&A's Riverside station, which was an impressive railroad junction before the Highland Branch was converted to what is now the MBTA's Green Line. Working for Guy Rosmarin, a special assistant to Gov. Francis W. Sargent, and later for Secretary of Transportation Alan Altschuler, Ross played a role in saving the region's commuter rail system when powerful interests sought to kill it. His work in Washington helped Amtrak in general, and its national network in particular, survive life-threatening budget challenges.
Ross's program recounts his life and career in railroading, from those early days to his advocacy for the MBTA, Amtrak, and passenger trains in general, with an emphasis on the early days and a focus on the history of the Riverside station and Tower 15.
RIGHT: Riverside Station and Tower 15 in 1961. (Ross Capon)
This program was presented on Feb. 20, 2025. You can view the program now on the Mass Bay RRE YouTube channel.
'200 Years of Beauty: Transportation and the Catskills'
How the railroads and steamboat lines helped to build America's first great "destination resort area"
Presented by Carl Fowler
From 1823-1942 the Catskill Mountains area in Greene County, New York was built by a remarkable early/original multi-modal transportation system, combing stagecoaches, steam trains (both narrow and standard gauge), a mile-long inclined railway and Hudson River steamboats to move literally tens of thousands of visitors each week to fill amazing grand hotels, boarding houses and cottag
Carl Fowler's program traces the rise and fall of the 3-foot gauge Catskill Mountain RR, the CMRR-affiliated Otis Inclined Railway, the standard-gauge Ulster and Delaware RR, the Hudson River Day and Night Lines, the West Shore RR, and the resorts they served, including the Catskill Mountain House and the amazing Hotel Kaaterskill, which with 1200 rooms was for a time the largest hotel in the world.
RIGHT: The fabled Otis Elevating Railway
The program places these carriers and landmarks in the context of the amazing natural wonders that drew them – the 3,000 foot deep Kaaterskill Clove, the towering Kaaterskill and Haines Falls and the five state views from the Hudson Escarpment. Here too was the center of the first major American movement in paintings – the grand landscapes of the "Hudson River School" painters. The program includes both contemporary and historic photos, maps, brochures and even deck-plans for the overnight river palaces of the Hudson River Night Line(s).
Carl Fowler worked full time selling passenger rail service for 34 years as General Manager, Vice President and finally President of Rail Travel Center/Rail Travel Adventures. He was able to travel over 350,000 miles by train during his life and can share perspectives both as a devoted train buff and as a rail travel professional. He is a 50-year member of the Rail Passengers Association (aka NARP) and served as a past Vice Chair of the RPA, as well as a long-term member of its Council and Board.
This program was presented on Jan. 16, 2025. You can view the program now on the Mass Bay RRE YouTube channel.
Site maintenance by members of Mass Bay RRE.
Page updated on July 24, 2025
