Too many vandals in that region of the country (note that engines and lead coaches still sport grills over the windows there).

I think the longest train I ever saw was 6 cars but I'm not sure...used to go over to the yard at West Cambridge to see trains. The main was double-track there, and there were a couple of grade crossing style bells on each side of the main, to warn the train crews when the trains were coming through.

Also watched from Park St./Somerville and Porter Square/Cambridge.