[Note: make sure you check the default resolution that YT gives you when you go to watch videos like this as I have seen a number defaulted to SD, which is not very watchable! I don’t know if the video being in 4k is influencing that default resolution]
Date: Wednesday April 5, 2023
Resolution: 4k with 30 FPS (iPhone 14 Pro Max)
[details of the 18 trains are below my description; all train videos/photos were from Ayer MBTA station unless noted]
I hadn't been to Ayer in a couple years so I asked my son Tom, who's much more of an expert on trains in that town and surrounding areas than I am, to come with me and show me around as necessary. We didn't hit all the locations (like Ardent Mills or SanVel) but we did hit a few, including lunch at the railfan-famous Shirley Sub Shoppe. We were in the area from just before 10AM and stayed until just after 4:30PM. I think the final tally was 18+ trains or moves on the day. It's a long video; skip over the many MBTA trains if you get bored! It was a cold day, so I had gloves on much of the time; they caused me a few operator errors in trying to start and stop videos with them on, especially for M427, so I apologize for that.
Enjoy!
The list of trains we saw in Ayer or Shirley that day is as follows:
# 1
Time: 09:55
Train Symbol: MBTX 410 (IB to Boston)
Power: MBTX 1128 (GP40MC); 0x0x1
Consist: Passenger (5 cars)
# 2
Time: 10:01 (initial sighting)
Train Symbol: CSXT FI-1 (EB [turn])
Power: MEC 5956 (C40-8); 1x0x0
Consist: Mixed Freight (~12 cars)
# 3
Time: 10:12 (initial sighting)
Train Symbol: CSXT AY-4 (WB [turn])
Power: MEC 7541 (C40-8); 1x0x0
Consist: Mixed Freight (~12 cars)
# 4
Time: 10:32
Train Symbol: MBTX 409 (OB to Fitchburg)
Power: MBTX 1131 (GP40MC); 1x0x0
Consist: Passenger (4 cars)
# 5
Time: 10:55
Train Symbol: MBTX 412 (IB to Boston)
Power: MBTX 1133 (GP40MC); 0x0x1
Consist: Passenger (4 cars)
# 6
Time: 11:33
Train Symbol: MBTX 411 (OB to Fitchburg)
Power: MBTX 1136 (GP40MC); 1x0x0
Consist: Passenger (5 cars)
# 7
Time: 11:53
Train Symbol: MBTX 414 (IB to Boston)
Power: MBTX 1131 (GP40MC); 0x0x1
Consist: Passenger (4 cars)
# 9
Time: 12:05
Train Symbol: CSXT M427 (SB)
Power: CSXT 470 (CW44AC), CSXT 5350 (ES40DC), CSXT 482 (CW44AC); 3x0x0
Consist: Manifest ([unknown] cars)
# 10
Time: 13:25 (initial sighting)
Train Symbol: CSXT (?) AY-RELIEF (yard/power move)
Power: NS 7679 (ES-44DC), NS 4054 (AC44C6M), NS 6954 (SD60E); 3x0x0
Consist: Power Move (no cars)
# 11
Time: 13:38
Train Symbol: MBTX 415 (OB to Fitchburg)
Power: MBTX 1127 (GP40MC); 1x0x0
Consist: Passenger (5 cars)
# 12
Time: 13:54 (photo only)
Train Symbol: CSXT AY-1 (NB [yard])
Power: MEC 7575 (C40-8); 1x0x0
Consist: Mixed Freight ([unknown] cars)
# 13
Time: 13:56
Train Symbol: MBTX 418 (IB to Boston)
Power: MBTX 1136 (GP40MC); 0x0x1
Consist: Passenger (5 cars)
# 14
Time: 14:58 (initial sighting)
Location: Shirley, MA (from inside the Shirley Sub Shoppe)
Train Symbol: CSXT FI-1 (WB [turn])
Power: MEC 5956 (C40-8); 1x0x0
Consist: Mixed Freight (36 [?] cars)
# 15
Time: 15:32
Location: Ayer, MA (Sandy Pond Rd. crossing)
Train Symbol: MBTX 419 (OB to Fitchburg)
Power: MBTX 1131 (GP40MC); 1x0x0
Consist: Passenger (4 cars)
# 16
Time: 15:50 (photo only)
Location: Ayer, MA (Sandy Pond Rd. crossing)
Train Symbol: CSXT M426 (NB)
Power: CSXT 478 (CW44AC), CSXT 3024 (ES44AH), CSXT 953 (ES44AH); 3x0x0
Consist: Manifest ([unknown] cars)
# 17
Time: 16:19
Train Symbol: MBTX 422 (IB to Boston)
Power: MBTX 1127 (GP40MC); 0x0x1
Consist: Passenger (5 cars)
# 18
Time: 16:32
Train Symbol: MBTX 421 (OB to Fitchburg)
Power: MBTX MPI HSP46 (MPI HSP46); 1x0x0
Consist: Passenger (4 cars)