A move that wasn't possible a few months ago now finally occurs on the Western Route. For years now, the line has been signaled to operate in a single direction on each track, the near track here for outbound (northbound) and the far track for inbound (southbound). With the installation of a new interlocking here just north of Melrose Highlands and removal of the historic but past their useful lives Boston & Maine searchlight signals, trains can now easily operate bi-directionally on both mains. In this case, a Downeaster routed around track work on the Lowell Line gets around a commuter train making local stops before switching back over to the normal track 2 so as to not interfere with an outbound commuter train. The fog in the background is starting to dissipate on this humid and relatively warm December morning.
Once treated like a backwater with decrepit locomotives, cars and track, Massachusetts has become a star in the Amtrak constellation with electrification to Boston, service to Maine and an upgraded Connecticut Valley line.
