Quincy, MA c.1920. 6-pin Telegraph Pole Line, Train Wreck.

By Joe Maurath, Jr.; posted November 16, 2018

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Quincy is a Boston suburb. One of the main railroad lines extending south from the city is this one, built around 1845. Along the far left we see a six-pin telegraph line, probably constructed in the 1890s. This was a vital telegraph and railway route, connecting much of southeastern Massachusetts with Boston. Not too much longer after this photo was taken this telegraph line was rebuilt with new poles and 10-pin crossarms. Hard-drawn copper wire replaced the former iron wire. I enjoyed spending a lot of time during the 1960s and 70s searching this right-of-way from about where the photographer stood here...further south about 40 miles looking for insulators. I never found anything too fancy but it is safe to say that this route indeed is a favorite memory lane for me, since it was the first RR I hiked along (and that was during 1964).

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