Fascinating history of the norwich and worcester railroad which ran between norwich, connecticut and worcester, massachusetts as well as the steamboats that connected norwich to new york city. He acquired the train symbol nickname wx1 for his frequent research trips between worcester, keene, and bellows falls, vt. Its opening jumpstarted worcesters rapid transition from agriculture to industry, and introduced the irish to town, the first of many immigrant groups that were to come in search of work and new homes. The worcester road, in 1843, began to run special trains to newton. The boston and albany railroad was formed by a series of mergers beginning in 1867 that subsumed both the first commercial line in new england, the boston and worcester railroad chartered 1831 and the western railroad 1833, the. Service operated until the late 1960s when the boston and maine railroad discontinued its passenger rail service north of springfield. The boston and worcester railroad was chartered june 23, 1831 and. Just look a few miles north and south to our neighbors weston and needham. While the collection is of great interest in regard to railroad history, it also holds value as a resource. The boston and lowell railroad was a railroad that operated in massachusetts in the united states. The rail lines of northern new england a handbook of railroad. In 1867, the boston and worcester railroad changed its name to boston and albany railroad as service was extended all the way to albany, ny. While the collection is of great interest in regard to railroad history, it also.
Location of the boston and worchester railroad, 1835. Beginning date 1832 ending date 1867 former title report of the directors of the boston and worcester railroad corporation to the stockholders together with the report of john m. Learn more about railroad history with this selection of books available in the museum store. Since the berkshires made construction of a canal infeasible, boston turned to the emerging railroad technology for a share of the freight to and from the midwestern united states. These images constitute a record of the companys construction activities, rolling stock, stations, and specialized equipment from the late 1890s until approximately 1920. While the collection is of great interest in regard to railroad history, it also holds. Guild, william, map detailing miles 94100 west of boston on the boston and worcester railroad and the western railroad, in a chart and description of the boston and worcester and western railroads boston. Providence and worcester railroad pw was incorporated in massachusetts on march 12, 1844 st. There are many books on railroad history available to you, but none can give. The current trip between worcester and boston takes about and hour and a half, stopping as many as 16 times before reaching south station. Boston and albany railroad engineering department map. Includes many beforeandafter photos comparing scenes along the westchester yesterday and today. The state, the investor, and the railroad the boston. Ames in researching his 1969 book pioneering the union pacific.
Guidebook to the boston and worcester and western railroads. Running the boston worcester, 18341842 chapter vii. The boston and worcester railroad was chartered june 23, 1831 and construction began in august 1832. William guild took up the idea in america a decade later, publishing a more elaborate handbook with strip maps for passengers travelling between boston and albany on the boston and worcester and western railroads. Buy annual report of the directors of the boston and worcester railroad corporation, for the year ending. Beginning date 1832 ending date 1867 former title report of the directors of the boston and worcester rail road corporation to the stockholders together with the report of john m. A chart and description of the boston and worcester and. Robert richardson new england central railroad, inc. Coit and those run by the boston and providence owned by cornelius vanderbilt is engagingly told. The boston and albany railroad was a railroad connecting boston, massachusetts to albany, new york, later becoming part of the new york central railroad system, conrail, and csx transportation. A fearful catastrophe occurred on the boston railroad this forenoon, two miles east of this city, caused by the breaking of an axle. New york, providence and boston railroad wikipedia.
Massachusetts railroads date all of the way back to 1826 when the granite railway was chartered on march 4th of that year. Compiled from locations filed in 18378 at the office of the county clerk, worcester, mass. The main line, built by the boston and worcester street railway, was an interurban streetcar line partly on the old boston and worcester turnpike now route 9 and partly on private rightofway. The providence and worcester railroad reporting mark pw nasdaq. The line later operated as part of the boston and maine railroad s southern division. Introduction this study is an exploration, on a limited scale, of the part played by businessmen in early railroad construction and operation. The eastern railroad, from its commencement, ran more trains to salem than for any further distance. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. See more ideas about train, locomotive and old trains. Western railroad, another one of the earliest railway lines running through worcester that would eventually connect boston to the west via worcester, started construction in 1838 and finished for official transportation to be conducted on the line between worcester and springfield at first by october 1, 1839. Plans have also been made to add two additional express trains to the worcester framingham line in both directions daily. Norwich and worcester branch operations discusses the history of new haven freight and passenger operations.
Passenger service is still provided on the line by amtrak, as part of their lake shore limited service, and by the mbta commuter rail system, which owns the section east of worcester and operates it as their framinghamworcester line. It is now part of amtraks highspeed northeast corridor. Boston and worcester street railway page 2 railroad. The early business history of four massachusetts railroads i. Railroad extra history of the railways of massachusetts. During this period, also, the railroads terminating in boston learned the value of short travel, and began to provide specially for its accomodation.
The line approached boston through brookline, and cut across the back bay on a trestle bridge, intersecting the boston and providence line at one point the present site of the back bay train station. In the early 1800s, there was nothing fundamentally different. Here, in 1859, on this railroad line, travelers could head out from boston to albany to niagara falls. Is the proper name of the trolley line from boston to worcester the boston and worcester street railway.
The corporation was a primary eastwest transit through the commonwealth. After 1900, the old colony railroad lines came under the control of the new york, new haven and hartford system. The boston and albany railroad was formed between 1867 and 1870 from the merger of three existing lines, the boston and worcester chartered 1831, the western 1833, and the castleton and west stockbridge 1834. The railroad system in and around framingham ca 1910. The boston chapter of the national railway historical society is a group of dedicated railroad enthusiasts who gather regularly for companionship and fun to preserve and enjoy the boston areas significant contribution to railroad history, as well as all other aspects of railroading. A chart and description of the boston and worcester and western railroads.
Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 30% off your first box. Volume 6 issue 3 summer 1975 the railroad stations of worcester the history of the various stations which served worcester, ma, culminating in union station. Typically, short items from its pages are not listed below, though occasionally a story seems worthy of inclusion. Iron roads of the monadnock region historical society of. A railroad comes through wellesley news the wellesley. This is a list of all freight railroad not streetcar or rapid transit lines that have been built in massachusetts, and does not deal with ownership changes from one company to another. The third edition of a railroad history classic, lost railroads of new england comprises a concise history of the rise and fall of new englands railroads and a fully annotated directory to all abandoned segments of every common carrier railroad operated in new england, updated through january 2010. Prices in gbp apply to orders placed in great britain only. The railroad connects from gardner in central massachusetts, south through its namesake cities of worcester and providence, rhode island, and west from rhode island through connecticut and into new york city. It merged with the western railroad corporation in 1867 to form the boston and albany railroad co. The boston and albany railroad line started as the boston and worcester in 1932. Boston and albany railroad wikipedia republished wiki 2. Sign up for our newsletter for alerts on hot and rare items, news, and events. By 1835 there were three railroad systems opened in massachusetts.
The early business history of four massachusetts railroads. Boston two express trains began service along the worcester framingham line between worcester s union station and boston s south station beginning april 29. Sep 05, 2019 passenger rail service in the connecticut river valley region of western massachusetts started in 1845 when the connecticut river railroad completed a rail road between springfield and northampton. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, massachusetts. Rules and working conditions governing machinists, boilermakers, blacksmiths. The correct corporate name was boston, worcester and new york street railway which was adopted after a financial reorganization. Lines in east boston and of the building of stations in framingham, worcester. The railroad stations of worcester the history of the various stations which served worcester, ma, culminating in union station. Berliner, iiis courtesy page for the boston chapter. Read online annual report of the directors of the boston. Boston and maine railroad history sandown historical society. It was one of the first railroads in north america and the first major one in the state. Massachusetts narrow the results by county barnstable berkshire bristol dukes essex franklin hampden hampshire middlesex nantucket norfolk plymouth suffolk worcester. The boston and worcester railroad corporation was incorporated in massachusetts in 1831.
In trains april special on short lines and regionals, author scott a. Eastern railroad massachusetts project gutenberg self. Within a year, massachusetts interests had secured approval for the necessary rail link from worcester to boston. Timothy murray traveled on the inaugural express train from worcester to boston on and was joined by mayor petty of worcester and members of the legislative. This detail of an early map shows the norwich terminal. The norwich and worcester was chartered in 1833, and opened april 1st, 1840.
Online shopping for history railroads from a great selection at books store. Stan hits most of the towns between here and the hoosac tunnel complete with rare photos of the complete area including the electric engines that plied the rails helping steam engines through. Depot enthusiasts should routinely consult the bulletin of the railroad station historical society, currently in more than 40 volumes, for stories and updates. The bulk of the records date from 1831 until the 1867 merger. Annual report of the directors of the boston and worcester. There are 121 volumes and several boxes of unbound materials dating from 1831 to 1882. Railroad books, outdoor photography services, photography. The boston and albany railroad was formed by a series of mergers beginning in 1867 that subsumed both the first commercial line in new england, the boston and worcester railroad chartered 1831 and the western railroad 1833, the most important line in western massachusetts. Read annual report of the directors of the boston and worcester railroad.
Three months later, the track had been extended through wellesley with stops established at rices crossing wellesley farms, north needham grantvillewellesley hills, and west needham wellesley square. On the new york central railroad, michigan central railroad, boston and albany railroad effective july 16, 1946 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Mbta improving boston to worcester service trains magazine. Plans showing deed and old location lines of the western railroad in the county of worcester.
Worcester nashua and portland division main line stations. Baker library historical collections at harvard business school has vast. The construction of the boston worcester chapter vi. Guild, william, map detailing miles 94100 west of boston on the boston and worcester railroad and the western rail road, in a chart and description of the boston and worcester and western railroads boston. Its opening jumpstarted worcester s rapid transition from agriculture to industry, and introduced the irish to town, the first of many immigrant groups that were to come in search of work and new homes. The now 516mile system in rhode island, massachusetts, connecticut, and new york has a rich history, which hartley also wrote about it in the june 1994 issue. The new nonstop service should save riders about 30 minutes. Lost railroads of new england, 3rd edition new england rail. Transportation worcester historical museum worcester.
Shows beginning of survey north of worcester and the survey for part of the winchendon branch of the fitchburg railroad. Boston and worcester railroad corporation records, 1831. The economic revolution in massachusetts, 1830 chapter ii. Long after the line was converted to buses, boston and worcester lines took over operations, and sold the franchises to various other bus companies. A handbook of railroad history new england rail heritage series by lindsell, robert m karr, ronald dale and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Guild, william, a chart and description of the boston and worcester and western railroads, boston, 1847. Nov 16, 2019 the company also owned a succession of fine passenger steamers like the city of worcester and city of lowell. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Connecticuts early railroad history had at its core the goal of linking new york city and boston through a hybrid system of steamboats and trains.
Passenger service is still provided on the line by amtrak, as part of their lake shore limited service, and by the mbta commuter rail. Boston and worcester street railway post by luigia. Annual report providence and worcester railroad compan. The new york, providence and boston railroad, normally called the stonington line, was a major part of the new york, new haven and hartford railroad between new london, connecticut and providence, rhode island. Deed and location lines of the western railroad in worcester county, mass.
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