News

Detonated blasting cap found on tracks near train station

By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
Staff Writer
Published: June 29, 2009

WENHAM — Kids looking for rocks along the train tracks yesterday made a puzzling discovery: a detonated blasting cap on the tracks near the commuter rail station.

The discovery temporarily shut down a section of the parking lot near the Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing and police made a passing train continue to the Ipswich station without stopping.

Police Sgt. Jeffrey Tobey said there was no evidence of any explosive material on the tracks or else they would have shut down the Newburyport line.

In fact, the detonated blasting cap wasn't even on the tracks anymore.

Tobey said the two kids brought their discovery to the Hamilton police station down the road.

Hamilton police contacted MBTA police who are now working with the FBI on an investigation, Tobey said.

"Something had exploded," Tobey said. "When the T police bomb squad got there, they were pretty comfortable it wasn't an issue. Nothing else was located but they will continue to look at it."

Tobey said he does not know how long the blasting cap had been there. Tobey added the department will step up their patrol of the railroad tracks in response to the find.

Along with Wenham, Hamilton, and T police, a Wenham ladder truck responded.