DECLINE AND OBLITERATION

New highways, unfair regulation, a changing economic environment and high labor costs were some of the factors that destroyed the old way of railroading in Rhode Island. Although the nation's railroad industry is now vibrant there was no place for the old Northup Avenue Classification Yard when times changed. Freight traffic on the New Haven fell during the 1950's and the hump was closed around 1958. There was relatively little use for it by that time since many of the routes that required a classification yard had been abandoned or generated few car movements. The New Haven was bankrupt and merged with the Penn Central at the end of 1968. The PC soon was bankrupt and was merged with several other failing eastern roads to form the government owned Conrail. Freight service on the old joint P&W-B&P mainline through the Northup Avenue yard is now provided by the reborn Providence & Worcester while passenger trains are operated over the old eastbound mainline by Amtrak.

The old Northup Avenue trackage has seen various uses over the past half century. Flat switching continued for a while after the hump closed. The old car repair area became an engine servicing facility when the Charles Street roundhouse was closed in 1970. MBTA commuter trains were stored there and Amtrak used many tracks for storage of work equipment. The flat land was useful for building sites and much of the land is now used by various commercial lnterests. A road runs down the center of what was once the yard. Alhough most of the Northup Avenue Classification Yard has been obliterated, there are still some tracks and cars there which offer a faint hint of a memorable past.

Although the hump is gone and the yard is in decline, this photo taken by Bruce Nelson July 6, 1973 of PennCentral and Providence & Worcester diesels at the old hump tower gives the impression of a busy operation. The view is to the south with Smithfield Avenue in the backround.

The new engine house was built next to the old car repair shop building behind it. The engine facility replaced the Charles Street engine yard which closed due to a highway project. The Smithfield Avenue viaduct is at the left of this 1975 view to the north. Photo by Edward J. Ozog

Penn Central E-8's, SW's and GP's wait at the new Northup Avenue engine facility in this 1975 view north toward the Smithfield Avenue viaduct from the Silver Spring Street side. Northup Avenue once crossed this location Photo by Edward J. Ozog

Northup Avenue yard was used as a layover yard for MBTA trains. The ALCO PA-1 still has a D&H emblem and wears a "Warbonnet". The coach is ex New Haven. The view is toward the north in 1978. Photo by Edward J. Ozog

The engine house at Northup Avenue is a Conrail facility in this 1980 view.

Photo by Edward J. Ozog

Amtrak ALCO RS-3's at Northup Avenue yard in 1980. View is to the north from near the new engine facility.

Photo by Edward J. Ozog

Two units of the New Haven's "Roger Williams" Budd RDC train operated by Amtrak at the Northup Avenue yard in June 1978. The Branch Avenue bridge shows on the left. Silver Spring Street is on the right. Photo by Edward J. Ozog

Warwick 106 was Moshassuck Valley 9 but was repainted when the P&W acquired the MVRR and Warwick. No.106 is at the old car repair area in 1984, a location the engine would not have visited when working for the MVRR and interchanging cars at the Woodlawn end of the Northup Avenue yard. Photo by Edward J. Ozog

March 1984 view north from the Smithfield Avenue Bridge. The hump is long gone but a floodlight tower and Tower "A" mark the spot. The Amtrak facility occupies much of the old yard. I used to sit on my bicycle on this bridge and watch cars roll down the hump.

Photo by Edward J. Ozog

September 1984 view from below Branch Avenue looking toward the Smithfield Avenue viaduct. The Amtrak train for New York is on the old eastbound mainline. The old westbound mainline was located just outside the picture on the left The "new" enginehouse located next to the old car repair shop is out of service. Photo by Edward J. Ozog

P&W 2201 is switching cooking oil at the remains of the Northup Avenue Classification Yard in June 1986. The view is north toward the recenly rebuilt Smithfield Avenue viaduct. Grass is now covering what was the westbound classification yard.

Photo by Edward J. Ozog

The June 1986 view to the south is toward the Branch Avenue viaduct and the state capital building. Only the wide open space suggests that a large hump yard occupied the area. Photo by Edward J. Ozog