Best Month Railfanning the MBTA’s Lowell Line yet! (May 2026)

May 2026 Railfanning on the MBTA’s Lowell Line. This was the best month since this series began with multiple great catches, including several rare Amtrak trains, two MassDOT commuter rail locomotives, and the return of NPCU 90406 to the Downeaster 0:00 Intro 5/24/2026 0:21 Amtrak Downeaster 695 P42DC 107 leads a double-headed 695 through Wedgemere station 0:52 Amtrak Downeaster 696 Phase III NPCU 90406 leads 696 through Wedgemere. This unit was damaged after an accident with a pickup truck earlier this winter. It was sent to Beech Grove Shops in Indiana to be repaired, and returned to Boston not too long before this clip was taken 5/29/2026 1:19 Keolis 367 MassDOT GP40MC 1137 leads Lowell Line outbound 367 through Canal Street in West Medford 5/30/2026 1:49 Amtrak Portland Extra After 691 struck a tree just past West Medford station, it was left on track 1 until it could be picked up. Amtrak sent a Portland Extra with P42DC 123 running backwards to retrieve the damaged unit 2:35 Keolis 5371 While waiting for the Portland Extra’s return, Keolis 5371 pulls into West Medford with MassDOT GP40MC 1125 leading. The consist also included one of two MBTA track geometry coaches 3:52 Amtrak Portland Extra P42DC 123 leads the Portland Extra back into Boston with a damaged P42DC 117 trailing 4:45 Amtrak Downeaster 696 Due to the earlier incident, trains 691 and 693 were combined, with MBTX F40PH-3C 1054 leading both sets to Maine. It later returned on a very late 696, which also included NPCU 90406