High Green

B&MRRHS

High Green Episode 5: Mager Greenough Interview, 1988

B&M No. 3624 (4-6-2) Class P-2, sallies forth from the fortress-like Salem, MA depot. Wayne Brumbaugh photo. Digital image made from photograph in Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society Archives. Cat. No. 2011.21.36. Gift of Preston S. Johnson who acquired binder of Brumbaugh photos from James P. McGill, former B&M train dispatcher. Copyright Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society, Inc.

In this episode we feature an interview from 1988 conducted by B&MRRHS member Richard W. Symmes with retired conductor Mager Greenough (1923 - 1997), who worked for the Boston & Maine for 43 years starting in 1941. His stories focus mostly on his experiences working the Eastern Route between Boston, Salem, Portsmouth and Portland. Along the way Mager describes in great detail the life, humor, and everyday experiences of the railroad man during this last golden period of the B&M.

"There's never been a day when I didn't look forward to going to work" - B&M conductor Mager R. Greenough

(From the Salem Evening News., 1984.) “There's but one work to sum up the 43 years Mager R. Greenough of Danvers has spent on the Boston & Maine Railroad: Tradition. We wonder how many of today's young people can share the same experience; they find it exhilarating to wake up to a new day and a job they love. For most, it seems a drudgery. Mager Greenough never had that problem. For the past century there has been a conductor by the name of Greenough serving with the local railroad on a daily basis, and that tradition of service to the people of North Shore will end this month. The Greenough family has been as much of an institution as the railroad. And you have to understand that ever since Mager Greenough, now 61, was old enough to listen to the tick of a conductor's watch, he was prepared to follow the family tradition. Greenough closes out 43 years of service and it'll be the first time in 105 years that a Greenough hasn't been there to yell "all aboard", collect tickets and help to keep the railroad running on time. The tradition began in 1879 when Greenough's grandfather, also named Mager, started out on the Marblehead run, and he spent 51 of his 80 years working on the railroad. His portrait hangs at the Depot Restaurant in Beverly. Greenough's father, Clarence, was a conductor for 45 years, as was his uncle, Walter, for 32 years. Tradition. Greenough has seen the changes from steam engines to the diesels to the Budd cars, but the biggest change has come in the improvements in communications, specifically the radio. Trainmen no longer have to walk to a telephone along the line to talk with the tower. Radios provide instant communication and this has helped keep trains running on time. Mager Greenough is going to be missed when the 5:49 pulls out of Ipswich on the first morning in June , marking the first time in 105 years that a member of his family has not worked on the railroad. There is something to be said about tradition.”

B&MRRHS

High Green Episode 4: On the Trail of the B&M

Author Charles Martin, whose book “New Hampshire Rail Trails” bridges the gap between rail and trail enthusiasm.

In this episode of High Green, B&MRRHS member and Online Committee member Andrew Riedl interviews author Charles Martin, whose book “New Hampshire Rail Trails” is a comprehensive guide to the railroad history and modern aspects of some of the B&M’s former rail lines.

B&MRRHS

High Green Episode 3: The Young Guns

The Boston & Maine ceased to be an independent corporation nearly forty years ago - but that isn't stopping a new generation of avid railfans, preservationists, modelers and explorers from keeping its history alive. We introduce the young members of our online committee (Andrew, Neil, Connor and James), and discuss the ways that this younger group is doing just that.

B&MRRHS

High Green Episode 2: Conn River Conversation

Boston & Maine/ Canadian Pacific train SPCP (Springfield, MA - Canadian Pacific at Newport, VT) heads north at Claremont Junction, June 1980. Michael C. Bump Collection

In this episode we talk to Mike Bump, an engineer for Pan Am Railways who grew up in Claremont, NH along the busy Conn River Line in the 1970s and 1980s. As a young railfan, Mike chased and tape recorded the nearly constant action on the Conn River, allowing us to close our eyes and travel back in time. Listen along as the sounds of 100+ car Boston & Maine and Central Vermont freights come alive!

B&MRRHS

High Green Episode 1 - Rebirth of #1228

Somerville, MA, November 1971. BM SW9 #1228 inside Boston Engine Terminal. Henry W. Marrec photo, B&MRRHS Archives.

In today’s episode we speak to Reuven Grehan, an employee for the Milford-Bennington Railroad, about the effort to restore their classic Boston & Maine EMD SW-9 diesel locomotive for functional freight service. We also talk with volunteers Zack Knutsen and Neil Rousseau on how they are assisting the project - and how you can join the effort!