Railfanning the MBTA’s Lowell Line (June 2026)

June 2026 Railfanning the MBTA’s Lowell Line at Winchester Center, West Medford, and Canal Street. Train descriptions below 0:00 Intro 0:21 Amtrak Downeaster 685 Phase VII P42DC 113 leads Downeaster train 685 thru Winchester Center on a gloomy 6/22/2026. This was one of the first runs with recently refurbished Horizon coaches after they were pulled from service in mid 2025 due to corrosion issues 0:56 Amtrak Downeaster 686 Just a few minutes after 685, Phase III F40PH NPCU 90406 leads Downeaster 686 to Boston 1:33 Keolis 348 On 6/24/2026, I got to see recently rebuilt and repainted MBTA GP40MC 1776 at West Medford. The paint scheme is inspired by the Boston and Maine Railroad’s Bicentennial unit, and was made in honor of America’s 250th Birthday. The unit is nicknamed the “Spirit of Massachusetts” and was tacked onto a set with an F40PH-3C in the event 1776 broke down 2:27 Keolis 265 On 6/26/2026, I went to Canal Street in Medford for the evening rush hour. The first of two trains I recorded was Keolis 265, a Haverhill Line train the detours via the Lowell Line and the Wildcat Branch every weekday between North Station and Ballardvale. Cab car 1817 brought up the rear, wrapped in an bright green and yellow advertisement for TruNorth Bank 3:15 Keolis 3362 Shortly after 265, the daily 5:45 PM deadhead rolled thru, symboled as Keolis 3362 (Last I checked). Rebuild GP40MC 1117 brings up the rear