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Next Stop! PALMER!
Palmer, Massachusetts is the Town of Seven Railroads! This site is for railroad enthusiasts, visitors, railroad historians, local citizens, or anyone interested in learning more about Palmer's defining theme along the Great Steel Highway.
Let's look back in time when Palmer, like almost every city and town was suddenly transformed by the building of railroads. Railroads inspired visions and dreams. They created a network that linked the nation. They brought with them prosperity, jobs, opportunity, adventure, business, and new technology that shaped the way we live. Everyone listened for the lonesome whistle in the distance that signalled the impending arrival of the train bringing the mail, material goods, or to ship a product. The stations in every village and town became the center of community livelihood.
Palmer is rich in railroad history. Located in central New England Palmer became a natural hub of a larger transportation system. Palmer had five operating railroads in its heyday with as many as forty trains a day.
Palmer has one of the finest architectural remnants of a bygone era, the H. H. Richardson designed station, and it has the remnants of the adjacent park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The park begs to be restored using the original available plans! It was Olmsted who also designed New York City's Central Park. The original grotto was once hidden in the overgrowth of weeds and mounded earth.
The original grotto is now easier to view in person!
For now we'll only show you a portion of the Interstate Commerce Commission February 17, 1916 drawing of the original grotto that will become the centerpiece and part of the recreation of Palmer's famous Olmsted Park using all original drawings! The color photo above today only reveals the top of the 12' high grotto. Today's excavations are revealing a famous Palmer landmark that has been buried for about 60 years! Already the 120-year old tar and stone walkway above the grotto has been discovered under over a foot of earth!
Around March 20, 2010 the area around the grotto was cleared of trees and brush. Only a very small portion and the top of the grotto is revealed in this picture. The grotto was originally 12' above the surface of the 4' deep pond.
Today Palmer is internationally known. Railroad enthusiasts already know how to find the rail systems in Palmer. Many come here to witness and enjoy the action on three remaining and converging lines.
Palmer was often called the Central Link to New England.
New service for Palmer in the 1950's!
Imagine being able to board a train in Palmer and travel almost anywhere in the Nation! Imagine safely parking your vehicle in Downtown Palmer and boarding a train at the depot. More and more people are desiring the ease of rail travel rather than using congested highways or dealing with some of the hassles of air travel.
In the 1950's railroads tried to reduce costs to operate passenger service. The "Budd Car" also often called a "Beeliner" began to replace regular trains. This scene was typical for Palmer.
Relive a grand era of relaxing travel as you sit back and see the real backyards and byways of this country as the train sweeps you along to your destination! Forget about watching the road or the vehicle next to you.
Take a walk to the club car for a refreshing drink! From Palmer, you might enjoy a ride to Boston for an overnight stay and attend a Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park. Or go west and south through Springfield and Connecticut to the Big Apple, New York City, to enjoy a weekend stay, Times Square, and a Broadway show!
Imagine enjoying the luxury of rail travel once you board the train at Palmer! All you'll have to do then is to forget the stress of driving on the highways. When you come home, home is not too far down the road from the station!
Rocked to sleep by the sway of the train! Now it's time for breakfast!
See what Palmer once was because of the railroads, and learn how the great steel highways can lead the entire Quaboag Hills Region around Palmer to the future.
Restored rail passenger stops can become economic engines to stimulate growth.
Visit www.greatamericanstations.com to learn more.
The downtown area of Palmer was once a lively commercial district when passenger trains served the town. Today the station area is a place for railroad enthusiasts to witness railroad action. Railroad enthusiasts at Palmer represent all age ranges and gender.
For others, standing on the platform creates a sense of wanderlust that could only be satisfied by riding a train!
Wake up! Nothing could be finer than breakfast in the Carolinas on the train!
With a platform in Palmer, trains could stop for passengers almost TODAY!
ALL ABOARD!