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{{Infobox SG rail|railroad_name=New York and New England Railroad|logo_filename=no image.png|logo_size=|old_gauge=|marks=|locale=
Boston, MA to
Hopewell Junction, NY|end_year=[1898 system connecting [New York state with
Providence, Rhode Island, Boston, Massachusetts and other parts of New England before its 1898 lease by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Earlier names included the
New York and New England Railroad and
Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad.
History
West from Providence: 1846-1863
The corridor from Providence, Rhode Island west into New York was originally chartered as three companies. The
Providence and Plainfield Railroad, chartered in June 1846, would run from Providence to the
Rhode Island/Connecticut state line. The
Hartford and Providence Railroad, incorporated in May 1847, would continue west to
Hartford, Connecticut, and the
New York and Hartford Railroad, chartered and incorporated in May 1845, would continue to the
New York and Harlem Railroad at Brewster, New York. In
1849, the two Connecticut companies merged to form the
Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad, with a modified charter to continue past Brewster to
Fishkill, New York on the Hudson River, and in 1851 the Rhode Island company was merged into it. Later that year the first section opened, from Hartford east to Willimantic (CT). Extensions opened east to Providence in 1854 and west to Waterbury (CT) in
1855. The HP&F went bankrupt on
January 1, 1858, and was run by the
trustees until
1863, when it was leased by the newly-formed Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad.
Southwest from Boston: 1847-1867
At the Boston (MA) end, the earliest predecessor was the
Norfolk County Railroad, chartered
April 24,
1847. The line from the Boston and Providence Railroad's branch at
Dedham, Massachusetts southwest to
Walpole (MA) opened on
April 23,
1849, and an extension to the
Providence and Worcester Railroad in
Blackstone (MA) opened
May 16. The company went
bankrupt soon after. The short Medway Branch Railroad was leased in
1851, opening December 29,
1852.
On
May 1,
1849 the
Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad was incorporated to extend the line west from Blackstone to Southbridge (MA). The
Midland Railroad was incorporated May 2, 1850 to build a new entrance to Boston, merging with the existing one south of Dedham. The two companies were consolidated with the Norfolk County Railroad on
December 12,
1853 to form the
Boston and New York Central Railroad, which had the intent of continuing southwest through Connecticut all the way to
New York City. The first section of this extension was incorporated in May 1853 as the
East Thompson Railroad, forming the Connecticut portion of the Southbridge and Blackstone.
The extension from Blackstone southwest to
Mechanicsville, Connecticut on the Norwich and Worcester Railroad was completed in
1853. In January 1855 the new main line to Boston was opened, but was closed six months later until December 1856 because of an
injunction due to the danger of the numerous
grade crossings. The new line ran to a terminal at the foot of
Summer Street (Boston) in downtown
Boston via South Boston. The full line was first operated as one on June 1,
1855, but again failed quickly. On August 6 operations were restarted on only the original Dedham-Blackstone line, operated by the Boston and Providence Railroad as a branch. On March 2, 1857 the trustees took repossession, ending the operation by the B&P. The East Thompson Railroad leased the line, reopening it again in full for about a year before another failure. At that time, all but the original Dedham-Blackstone line and Medway Branch were closed until 1867. The closed lines were sold in November
1858 to the Midland Railroad, but were not operated due to bad condition. The
Midland Land Damage Company tried again in
1862, changing its name to the
Southern Midland Railroad in
1863 without success.
Combined routes from Providence and Boston: 1863-1898
In May 1863, the
Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad was chartered to take over operations of the failed lines and continue the line west to Fishkill, New York, with a
car float from there to the
Erie Railroad at
Newburgh, New York. It quickly leased the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad from its
trustees, giving it a line from Providence (RI) west to
Waterbury (CT). In September of that year it acquired the former Boston and New York Central Railroad, but did not operate it yet; the old Norfolk County Railroad continued operations by its
trustees.
In the meantime, the New York and Boston Railroad (Massachusetts) had built a line from Brookline, Massachusetts (outside Boston (MA)) southwest to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, crossing the Norfolk County Railroad in Blackstone (MA). On January 4, 1865 the BH&E absorbed that company, making its Woonsocket Division. On
December 13 of the same year, various Erie Railway men were elected to the BH&E board, placing it under partial control of the Erie.
On
February 11, 1867 the BH&E leased the Norfolk County Railroad, finally reopening the full line from
Mechanicsville, Connecticut to
Boston (MA). That same year, the branch to
Southbridge (MA) (part of the original Southbridge and Blackstone charter) opened. The Norwich and Worcester Railroad was leased in
1869, finally giving it a route to Boston, using the N&W from the Providence line at
Plainfield (CT) north to the old Norfolk County Railroad at Mechanicsville. In August 1872 a direct connection from Willimantic (CT) on the line to Providence northeast to Mechanicsville opened, completing the direct line to Boston.
By 1869 the BH&E leased the Dutchess and Columbia Railroad, which was building a line roughly southwest-northeast in
Dutchess County, New York. The BH&E planned to build west to the D&C at the future
Hopewell Junction (NY), but was not able to complete the line and lost the lease in
1870.
On
September 9,
1872 the Long Island Rail Road's
Boston Express began operations, using the BH&E from
Norwich (CT) (at the south end of the N&W) to Boston. This was later replaced around 1891 with the
Long Island and Eastern States Express, using the
Danbury and Norwalk Railroad from Wilson Point, Connecticut to the BH&E (then the NY&NE) at
Hawleyville, Connecticut (east of Danbury (CT)).
The
New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad was leased in
1873, giving a line to
New Haven (CT). Later that year, the BH&E went bankrupt and was reorganized
April 17 as the
New York and New England Railroad; the N&W lease was kept but the NHM&W lease was forfeited (prior to its opening August 12), becoming part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad system in
1879.
In
1881 the extension from Waterbury (CT) west to Hopewell Junction on the
Newburg, Dutchess and Connecticut Railroad opened. Along with trackage rights over the ND&C southwest to Beacon (NY), and a short line built by the NY&NE to the Hudson River at Beacon, this completed the main lines from Boston and Providence to the Hudson River, where a train ferry took cars to the
New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad's
Newburg Branch at Newburgh (NY). Part of the line in New York was built along the never-used grade from the failed Putnam and Dutchess Railroad.
Also in 1881 the
New York, Westchester and Putnam Railroad was completed, running north and east from
New York City to the NY&NE at
Brewster (NY). This company had been previously involved with the BH&E in building a through line between New York and Boston, even being called the New York and Boston Railroad (New York) at first, and with its opening such a through line was formed. For some time such a traffic arrangement was made, lasting through the NYW&P's absorption into the
New York Central Railroad in
1894.
The Poughkeepsie Bridge opened in
1888, providing a fixed crossing of the Hudson River at
Poughkeepsie (NY), north of the NY&NE car float at Beacon. The
Central New England and Western Railroad, which owned the bridge, chartered the
Dutchess County Railroad in
1890 and completed it in
1892, providing a branch from the bridge to the NY&NE at Hopewell Junction (NY).
The final bankruptcy of the NY&NE happened on
January 1,
1884, and the company was reorganized on August 26,
1895 as the
New England Railroad. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad leased the company for 99 years from
July 1, 1898.
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad: 1898-1969
As time passed and sections were abandoned, the former NY&NE main lines became minor branches.
Branches
In addition to the two main lines to Boston (MA) and
Providence (RI), splitting at
Willimantic (CT), numerous branches and auxiliary lines existed.
Dedham
The original Boston line ended at Dedham (MA) with a connection to the Boston and Providence Railroad. In 1883 what had become a branch to Dedham was abandoned. Prior to that, a new branch just to the east had been built in 1881, and was supplemented in
1890 by a connection to the south.
Medway
The Medway Branch Railroad from the main line at Norfolk (MA) west to Medway (MA) was incorporated in
1849 and opened in 1852, being immediately leased to the Norfolk County Railroad. It closed in 1864, two years after the
New York and Boston Railroad (Massachusetts) reached Medway.
Valley Falls
The
Rhode Island and Massachusetts Railroad was chartered in
1875 and opened in
1877, connecting the main Boston line at Franklin (MA) to the
Providence and Worcester Railroad at Valley Falls (RI). The New York and New England Railroad leased it in 1887.
Milford/Hopkinton/Ashland
The Milford and Woonsocket Railroad was incorporated in
1855 and opened a line from
Milford (MA) to Bellingham (MA) in
1868. It was leased by the Providence and Worcester Railroad until 1883.
The Hopkinton Railway was organized in
1870 and opened in
1872, running from Milford north via
Hopkinton (MA) to the Boston and Worcester Railroad at Ashland (MA). The Providence and Worcester leased it until 1885. In
1884 the Milford and Woonsocket bought the Hopkinton, and the two ran as one.
The
Milford, Franklin and Providence Railroad was organized in
1868 and opened in
1883, extending the line southeast from Milford to
Franklin (MA).
On April 1,
1897 the New England Railroad leased all three companies.
Woonsocket/Pascoag
The line eventually running from Brookline, Massachusetts to Harrisville, Rhode Island was originally built as a competitor to the NY&NE's Boston line. The first section opened in 1852 as part of the
Charles River Railroad. It reached Woonsocket, Rhode Island in
1863, and in 1891 the
Woonsocket and Pascoag Railroad opened, continuing the line to the
Providence and Springfield Railroad at Harrisville (RI). In 1873 the NY&NE obtained the line to Woonsocket via a merger; on
April 1,
1896 the New England Railroad leased the continuation past Woonsocket.
Providence and Springfield
The
Providence and Springfield Railroad was chartered in 1853 and opened in 1873 from
Providence, Rhode Island northwest to Pascoag, Rhode Island. An extension to Douglas Junction on the NY&NE main line in
Massachusetts opened in 1893, and the New England Railroad leased the line on
July 1,
1896.
Southbridge
The Southbridge Branch (New England) from East Thomspon, Connecticut to Southbridge, Massachusetts was part of the original charter for the
Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad, and opened in
1867, after it had been consolidated.
Pawtuxet Valley
The Pawtuxet Valley Railroad was organized in
1872 and opened and leased to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad in 1874, running from the main line at River Point, Rhode Island to
Hope, Rhode Island. The New York, Providence and Boston Railroad leased it in
1884 as a continuation of their
Pontiac Branch Railroad.
Norwich and Worcester
The Norwich and Worcester Railroad was an
1837 consolidation of several other companies, running from
Norwich, Connecticut (later New London (CT)) north to
Worcester, Massachusetts. The Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad leased it in 1869, and the lease continued through the reorganizations. Connections were provided with the Providence line at
Plainfield (CT) and the Boston line between
Putnam (CT) and
Mechanicsville (CT).
New Haven
The
New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad opened and was leased to the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad in 1873. The BH&E went bankrupt later that year, as did the NHM&W in
1875. The NHM&W became part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1879.
Rockville
The Rockville Railroad was incorporated in 1857 and opened and leased to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad in 1863. It was a short branch from the main line at
Vernon (CT) north and east to Rockville (CT).
South Manchester
The South Manchester Railroad was chartered in 1866 and opened and leased to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad in 1869. It was a short branch from the main line at Manchester (CT) south to South Manchester, Connecticut.
Springfield
The
Connecticut Central Railroad was chartered in 1871, and its continuation in Massachusetts, the
Springfield and New London Railroad, in
1874, to build a line from
East Hartford (CT) to
Springfield (MA), with a branch to the
Rockville Railroad at
Westway, Connecticut. It opened in 1876 and was immediately leased by the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which gave up the lease to the New York and New England Railroad in
1880.
Connecticut River
The Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad was formed in
1888 as a consolidation of two smaller companies, opening in
1885 and 1888. The New York and New England Railroad leased it in
1892, as a branch from the main line in
Waterbury (CT) east to
Cromwell (CT) on the
Connecticut River. The company went bankrupt and was reorganized in 1898 as the
Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad, and was immediately leased by the
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.
Station listing
{| border=1!State!Milepost!City!Station!Opening date!Connections and notes|-|rowspan=14|
Rhode Island||rowspan=3|
Providence (RI)|Providence (MBTA station)||
union station serving all railroads in Providence]||originally Westminster Street?
junction with
Providence and Springfield Railroad (NY&NE)] (NYNH&H)]|
West Providence (NY&NE station)|-||
Cranston (NY&NE station)|-||
Warwick (RI)|Natick (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
West Warwick (RI)|
River Point (NY&NE station)||junction with Pawtuxet Valley Railroad (
NYNH&H) and Pontiac Branch Railroad (NYNH&H)]|-||rowspan=6|
Coventry (RI)|
Quidnick (NY&NE station)|-||Anthony (NY&NE station)|-||Washington (NY&NE station)|-||Coventry (NY&NE station)|-||
Summit (NY&NE station)|-||
Greene (NY&NE station)|-|rowspan=37|Connecticut||rowspan=2|Sterling (CT)|
Oneco (NY&NE station)|-||
Sterling (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
Plainfield (CT)|Moosup (NY&NE station)|-||
Plainfield (NY&NE station)||junction with
Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NY&NE)]|
Canterbury (NY&NE station)|-||Lisbon (CT)|
Lisbon (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
Sprague (CT)|
Versailles (NY&NE station)|-||
Baltic (NY&NE station)|-||Scotland (CT)|
Scotland (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
Windham (CT)|South Windham (NY&NE station)|-||
Willimantic (NY&NE station)||junction with New London Northern Railroad (Grand Trunk Railway), #Boston line and
Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad (
NYNH&H)]|
Andover (NY&NE station)|-||
Bolton (CT)|
Bolton (NY&NE station)|-||Vernon (CT)|
Vernon (NY&NE station)||junction with
Rockville Railroad (NY&NE)]|
Manchester (NY&NE station)||junction with South Manchester Railroad (NY&NE)]|-||rowspan=2|
East Hartford (CT)|
Burnside (NY&NE station)|-||East Hartford (NY&NE station)||junction with
Connecticut Central Railroad (NY&NE)]|
Hartford (NY&NE station)||junction with
Hartford and New Haven Railroad (
NYNH&H),
Central New England Railway (NYNH&H) and Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad (NYNH&H)]|Elmwood (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|Newington (CT)|
Newington Junction ([NYNH&H)]|-||
New Britain (CT)|
New Britain (NY&NE station)||junction with
New Britain and Middletown Railroad (NYNH&H)]|Plainville (NY&NE station)||junction with New Haven and Northampton Railroad (
NYNH&H)]|
Forestville (NY&NE station)|-||
Bristol (NY&NE station)|-||
Plymouth (CT)|Terryville (NY&NE station)|-||
Waterbury, Connecticut|
Waterbury (NY&NE station)||junction with Naugatuck Railroad (NYNH&H) and
Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad (NYNH&H)]|Towantic (NY&NE station)|-||Oxford (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|Southbury, Connecticut|Southbury (NY&NE station)|-||South Britain (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|Newtown, Connecticut|
Sandy Hook (NY&NE station)|-||Hawleyville (NY&NE station)||junction with Shepaug, Litchfield and Northern Railroad (
NYNH&H) and Housatonic Railroad (NYNH&H)]|
Berkshire Junction ([NYNH&H)]|
Danbury (NY&NE station)||junction with New York, Housatonic and Northern Railroad (
NYNH&H) and
Danbury and Norwalk Railroad (
NYNH&H)]|-|rowspan=3|
New York|||||junction with New York and Putnam Railroad (New York Central Railroad) and
New York and Harlem Railroad (New York Central Railroad)|-|||||bridge over
New York and Harlem Railroad (New York Central Railroad)|-|||
Hopewell Junction (NY&NE station)||junction with
Newburg, Dutchess and Connecticut Railroad (NYNH&H) and Dutchess County Railroad (NYNH&H)|}
Boston line
For the line from Boston to
Readville (MBTA station), see Fairmount Line. For the line from Readville to Franklin (MBTA station), see
Franklin Line.{]||Franklin (MA)|
Franklin Junction (NY&NE, now [MBTA Commuter Rail Franklin Line) and
Rhode Island and Massachusetts Railroad (NY&NE)]|
Woonsocket Junction (NY&NE)|-||[Blackstone (NY&NE station)||junction with Providence and Worcester Railroad (
NYNH&H)]|East Douglas (NY&NE station)|-||
Douglas (NY&NE station)|-||
Douglas Junction (NY&NE)|-|rowspan=11|[Connecticut||rowspan=3|
Thompson (CT)|
East Thompson (NY&NE station)||junction with Southbridge Branch (New England)|-||
Thompson (NY&NE station)|-||Mechanicsville (N&W station)||not a station
original junction with Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NY&NE)]|Putnam (NY&NE station)||junction with
Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NY&NE)]|
Pomfret (NY&NE station)|-||Abington (NY&NE station)|-||Elliott (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|Hampton (CT)|Hampton (NY&NE station)|-||
Clarks Corner (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|Windham (CT)|North Windham (NY&NE station)|-||Willimantic (NY&NE station)||junction with
New London Northern Railroad (
Grand Trunk Railway), #Station listing and
Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad (NYNH&H)|}
Modern day Usage
Within the last 10 years, funds have been set aside for a rails to trails conversion. As of 12-03-05 most parts of the train right of way has been converted
Cranston (Washington Secondary/ Cranston Greenway)
Paved from Garfield ave (Northern Terminus of West Bay Greenway/Bikepath, as this right of way merges on amtrak right of way not far up the path)to Ponatic Ave (Warwick Town line)
Warwick (Warwick Greenway)
Paved from Ponatic Ave (Cranston City line) to West Warwick town line(RI 33-Tollgate Road/Providence Street)
West Warwick(west warwick greenway)
Paved from Warwick town line to Coventry Town line. Intersects with riverpoint park and walk, plus a real caboose
Coventry(Coventry Greenway)
Unpaved from WW town line to Station street (appox 2 miles)
Paved from Station to Coventry Center (Suburban Propane, Appox 5 miles, Southern Termuis of West Bay Greenway/ Bikepath)
Coventry (Tresle trail)
Unpaved trail from Coventry Center to CT. State line, currently being planned by RIDOT
The Best train of the New York & New England Railroad was the New England Limited of 1891. A crack Boston - New York passenger train. In 1891 the Pullman Palace Car Company refitted train with luxurious new cars decorated in white and gold, inspiring the advertising department to call it the White Train and folks along the line to call it the Ghost Train as it sped through their towns after dark. Famed author Rudyyard Kipling memorialized the train in a popular verse: Without a jar, or roll, or antic, Without a stop to Willmantic, The New England Limited takes its way At three o'clock each day, Maids and Matrons, daintily dimited, Ride everyday on the NEW ENGLAND LIMITED;Rain nor snow ne'er stops its flight, It makes New York at nine each night, One half the glories have not been told Of that wonderful train of white and gold Which leaves each day for New York at three Over the New York and New England.
References
- Railroad History Database
- Edward Appleton, Massachusetts Railway Commissioner, History of the Railways of Massachusetts (1871)
- Philip C. Blakeslee, A Brief History Lines West Of The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co. (1953)
- Edited by Richard M. Bayles, History of Providence County, Rhode Island (1891)
- Dorchester Atheneum: Midland Railroad
- PRR Chronology
{{Infobox SG rail|railroad_name=New York and New England Railroad|logo_filename=no image.png|logo_size=|old_gauge=|marks=|locale=Boston, MA to
Hopewell Junction, NY|end_year=[1898 system connecting [New York state with
Providence, Rhode Island,
Boston, Massachusetts and other parts of New England before its 1898 lease by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Earlier names included the
New York and New England Railroad and
Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad.
History
West from Providence: 1846-1863
The corridor from Providence, Rhode Island west into New York was originally chartered as three companies. The
Providence and Plainfield Railroad, chartered in June
1846, would run from Providence to the
Rhode Island/
Connecticut state line. The
Hartford and Providence Railroad, incorporated in May
1847, would continue west to
Hartford, Connecticut, and the
New York and Hartford Railroad, chartered and incorporated in May
1845, would continue to the
New York and Harlem Railroad at Brewster, New York. In 1849, the two Connecticut companies merged to form the
Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad, with a modified charter to continue past Brewster to Fishkill, New York on the
Hudson River, and in
1851 the Rhode Island company was merged into it. Later that year the first section opened, from Hartford east to Willimantic (CT). Extensions opened east to Providence in
1854 and west to
Waterbury (CT) in 1855. The HP&F went
bankrupt on
January 1,
1858, and was run by the trustees until 1863, when it was leased by the newly-formed Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad.
Southwest from Boston: 1847-1867
At the
Boston (MA) end, the earliest predecessor was the
Norfolk County Railroad, chartered
April 24, 1847. The line from the Boston and Providence Railroad's branch at Dedham, Massachusetts southwest to
Walpole (MA) opened on
April 23,
1849, and an extension to the Providence and Worcester Railroad in Blackstone (MA) opened May 16. The company went
bankrupt soon after. The short
Medway Branch Railroad was leased in 1851, opening
December 29,
1852.
On May 1, 1849 the
Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad was incorporated to extend the line west from Blackstone to Southbridge (MA). The
Midland Railroad was incorporated
May 2,
1850 to build a new entrance to Boston, merging with the existing one south of Dedham. The two companies were consolidated with the Norfolk County Railroad on December 12, 1853 to form the
Boston and New York Central Railroad, which had the intent of continuing southwest through Connecticut all the way to
New York City. The first section of this extension was incorporated in May
1853 as the
East Thompson Railroad, forming the Connecticut portion of the Southbridge and Blackstone.
The extension from Blackstone southwest to
Mechanicsville, Connecticut on the Norwich and Worcester Railroad was completed in 1853. In January 1855 the new main line to Boston was opened, but was closed six months later until December
1856 because of an
injunction due to the danger of the numerous
grade crossings. The new line ran to a terminal at the foot of Summer Street (Boston) in downtown Boston via South Boston. The full line was first operated as one on
June 1,
1855, but again failed quickly. On
August 6 operations were restarted on only the original Dedham-Blackstone line, operated by the Boston and Providence Railroad as a branch. On March 2, 1857 the
trustees took repossession, ending the operation by the B&P. The East Thompson Railroad leased the line, reopening it again in full for about a year before another failure. At that time, all but the original Dedham-Blackstone line and Medway Branch were closed until 1867. The closed lines were sold in November
1858 to the Midland Railroad, but were not operated due to bad condition. The
Midland Land Damage Company tried again in
1862, changing its name to the
Southern Midland Railroad in
1863 without success.
Combined routes from Providence and Boston: 1863-1898
In May
1863, the
Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad was chartered to take over operations of the failed lines and continue the line west to Fishkill, New York, with a
car float from there to the
Erie Railroad at Newburgh, New York. It quickly leased the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad from its
trustees, giving it a line from
Providence (RI) west to
Waterbury (CT). In September of that year it acquired the former Boston and New York Central Railroad, but did not operate it yet; the old Norfolk County Railroad continued operations by its trustees.
In the meantime, the
New York and Boston Railroad (Massachusetts) had built a line from Brookline, Massachusetts (outside Boston (MA)) southwest to
Woonsocket, Rhode Island, crossing the Norfolk County Railroad in Blackstone (MA). On January 4,
1865 the BH&E absorbed that company, making its Woonsocket Division. On
December 13 of the same year, various Erie Railway men were elected to the BH&E board, placing it under partial control of the Erie.
On
February 11,
1867 the BH&E leased the Norfolk County Railroad, finally reopening the full line from Mechanicsville, Connecticut to
Boston (MA). That same year, the branch to
Southbridge (MA) (part of the original Southbridge and Blackstone charter) opened. The Norwich and Worcester Railroad was leased in
1869, finally giving it a route to Boston, using the N&W from the Providence line at
Plainfield (CT) north to the old Norfolk County Railroad at Mechanicsville. In August 1872 a direct connection from Willimantic (CT) on the line to Providence northeast to Mechanicsville opened, completing the direct line to Boston.
By 1869 the BH&E leased the Dutchess and Columbia Railroad, which was building a line roughly southwest-northeast in
Dutchess County, New York. The BH&E planned to build west to the D&C at the future Hopewell Junction (NY), but was not able to complete the line and lost the lease in
1870.
On September 9,
1872 the
Long Island Rail Road's
Boston Express began operations, using the BH&E from
Norwich (CT) (at the south end of the N&W) to Boston. This was later replaced around
1891 with the
Long Island and Eastern States Express, using the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad from Wilson Point, Connecticut to the BH&E (then the NY&NE) at
Hawleyville, Connecticut (east of Danbury (CT)).
The New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad was leased in 1873, giving a line to New Haven (CT). Later that year, the BH&E went bankrupt and was reorganized April 17 as the
New York and New England Railroad; the N&W lease was kept but the NHM&W lease was forfeited (prior to its opening August 12), becoming part of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad system in
1879.
In
1881 the extension from Waterbury (CT) west to Hopewell Junction on the Newburg, Dutchess and Connecticut Railroad opened. Along with
trackage rights over the ND&C southwest to
Beacon (NY), and a short line built by the NY&NE to the
Hudson River at Beacon, this completed the main lines from Boston and Providence to the Hudson River, where a train ferry took cars to the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad's
Newburg Branch at
Newburgh (NY). Part of the line in New York was built along the never-used grade from the failed Putnam and Dutchess Railroad.
Also in
1881 the New York, Westchester and Putnam Railroad was completed, running north and east from
New York City to the NY&NE at Brewster (NY). This company had been previously involved with the BH&E in building a through line between New York and Boston, even being called the
New York and Boston Railroad (New York) at first, and with its opening such a through line was formed. For some time such a traffic arrangement was made, lasting through the NYW&P's absorption into the New York Central Railroad in
1894.
The Poughkeepsie Bridge opened in
1888, providing a fixed crossing of the
Hudson River at
Poughkeepsie (NY), north of the NY&NE car float at Beacon. The Central New England and Western Railroad, which owned the bridge, chartered the Dutchess County Railroad in
1890 and completed it in 1892, providing a branch from the bridge to the NY&NE at Hopewell Junction (NY).
The final bankruptcy of the NY&NE happened on January 1, 1884, and the company was reorganized on
August 26,
1895 as the
New England Railroad. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad leased the company for 99 years from July 1, 1898.
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad: 1898-1969
As time passed and sections were abandoned, the former NY&NE main lines became minor branches.
Branches
In addition to the two main lines to Boston (MA) and
Providence (RI), splitting at
Willimantic (CT), numerous branches and auxiliary lines existed.
Dedham
The original Boston line ended at
Dedham (MA) with a connection to the
Boston and Providence Railroad. In
1883 what had become a branch to Dedham was abandoned. Prior to that, a new branch just to the east had been built in
1881, and was supplemented in 1890 by a connection to the south.
Medway
The Medway Branch Railroad from the main line at
Norfolk (MA) west to Medway (MA) was incorporated in 1849 and opened in
1852, being immediately leased to the Norfolk County Railroad. It closed in 1864, two years after the New York and Boston Railroad (Massachusetts) reached Medway.
Valley Falls
The
Rhode Island and Massachusetts Railroad was chartered in 1875 and opened in 1877, connecting the main Boston line at
Franklin (MA) to the Providence and Worcester Railroad at
Valley Falls (RI). The New York and New England Railroad leased it in
1887.
Milford/Hopkinton/Ashland
The
Milford and Woonsocket Railroad was incorporated in
1855 and opened a line from
Milford (MA) to
Bellingham (MA) in
1868. It was leased by the
Providence and Worcester Railroad until 1883.
The
Hopkinton Railway was organized in 1870 and opened in
1872, running from Milford north via
Hopkinton (MA) to the
Boston and Worcester Railroad at Ashland (MA). The Providence and Worcester leased it until
1885. In 1884 the Milford and Woonsocket bought the Hopkinton, and the two ran as one.
The
Milford, Franklin and Providence Railroad was organized in 1868 and opened in 1883, extending the line southeast from Milford to
Franklin (MA).
On April 1,
1897 the New England Railroad leased all three companies.
Woonsocket/Pascoag
The line eventually running from Brookline, Massachusetts to Harrisville, Rhode Island was originally built as a competitor to the NY&NE's Boston line. The first section opened in
1852 as part of the
Charles River Railroad. It reached
Woonsocket, Rhode Island in 1863, and in
1891 the Woonsocket and Pascoag Railroad opened, continuing the line to the
Providence and Springfield Railroad at Harrisville (RI). In
1873 the NY&NE obtained the line to Woonsocket via a merger; on April 1, 1896 the New England Railroad leased the continuation past Woonsocket.
Providence and Springfield
The Providence and Springfield Railroad was chartered in 1853 and opened in 1873 from Providence, Rhode Island northwest to Pascoag, Rhode Island. An extension to Douglas Junction on the NY&NE main line in
Massachusetts opened in 1893, and the New England Railroad leased the line on
July 1,
1896.
Southbridge
The
Southbridge Branch (New England) from
East Thomspon, Connecticut to
Southbridge, Massachusetts was part of the original charter for the
Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad, and opened in 1867, after it had been consolidated.
Pawtuxet Valley
The Pawtuxet Valley Railroad was organized in
1872 and opened and leased to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad in
1874, running from the main line at River Point, Rhode Island to Hope, Rhode Island. The New York, Providence and Boston Railroad leased it in 1884 as a continuation of their Pontiac Branch Railroad.
Norwich and Worcester
The Norwich and Worcester Railroad was an
1837 consolidation of several other companies, running from Norwich, Connecticut (later
New London (CT)) north to
Worcester, Massachusetts. The Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad leased it in
1869, and the lease continued through the reorganizations. Connections were provided with the Providence line at Plainfield (CT) and the Boston line between Putnam (CT) and Mechanicsville (CT).
New Haven
The
New Haven, Middletown and Willimantic Railroad opened and was leased to the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad in 1873. The BH&E went bankrupt later that year, as did the NHM&W in 1875. The NHM&W became part of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1879.
Rockville
The Rockville Railroad was incorporated in
1857 and opened and leased to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad in 1863. It was a short branch from the main line at Vernon (CT) north and east to
Rockville (CT).
South Manchester
The South Manchester Railroad was chartered in
1866 and opened and leased to the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad in
1869. It was a short branch from the main line at Manchester (CT) south to
South Manchester, Connecticut.
Springfield
The
Connecticut Central Railroad was chartered in
1871, and its continuation in Massachusetts, the Springfield and New London Railroad, in 1874, to build a line from East Hartford (CT) to Springfield (MA), with a branch to the Rockville Railroad at Westway, Connecticut. It opened in
1876 and was immediately leased by the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which gave up the lease to the New York and New England Railroad in 1880.
Connecticut River
The Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad was formed in
1888 as a consolidation of two smaller companies, opening in 1885 and
1888. The New York and New England Railroad leased it in 1892, as a branch from the main line in Waterbury (CT) east to
Cromwell (CT) on the Connecticut River. The company went bankrupt and was reorganized in
1898 as the Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad, and was immediately leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.
Station listing
{| border=1!State!Milepost!City!Station!Opening date!Connections and notes|-|rowspan=14|Rhode Island||rowspan=3|
Providence (RI)|Providence (MBTA station)||union station serving all railroads in Providence]||originally Westminster Street?
junction with Providence and Springfield Railroad (NY&NE)] (
NYNH&H)]|West Providence (NY&NE station)|-||Cranston (NY&NE station)|-||
Warwick (RI)|Natick (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
West Warwick (RI)|
River Point (NY&NE station)||junction with Pawtuxet Valley Railroad (
NYNH&H) and Pontiac Branch Railroad (
NYNH&H)]|-||rowspan=6|Coventry (RI)|
Quidnick (NY&NE station)|-||Anthony (NY&NE station)|-||Washington (NY&NE station)|-||Coventry (NY&NE station)|-||Summit (NY&NE station)|-||Greene (NY&NE station)|-|rowspan=37|
Connecticut||rowspan=2|Sterling (CT)|
Oneco (NY&NE station)|-||
Sterling (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
Plainfield (CT)|
Moosup (NY&NE station)|-||
Plainfield (NY&NE station)||junction with Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NY&NE)]|
Canterbury (NY&NE station)|-||
Lisbon (CT)|Lisbon (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|Sprague (CT)|
Versailles (NY&NE station)|-||
Baltic (NY&NE station)|-||
Scotland (CT)|Scotland (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
Windham (CT)|
South Windham (NY&NE station)|-||
Willimantic (NY&NE station)||junction with New London Northern Railroad (Grand Trunk Railway),
#Boston line and Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad (NYNH&H)]|Andover (NY&NE station)|-||Bolton (CT)|Bolton (NY&NE station)|-||Vernon (CT)|Vernon (NY&NE station)||junction with Rockville Railroad (NY&NE)]|
Manchester (NY&NE station)||junction with South Manchester Railroad (NY&NE)]|-||rowspan=2|
East Hartford (CT)|
Burnside (NY&NE station)|-||
East Hartford (NY&NE station)||junction with
Connecticut Central Railroad (NY&NE)]|Hartford (NY&NE station)||junction with
Hartford and New Haven Railroad (
NYNH&H), Central New England Railway (NYNH&H) and
Hartford and Connecticut Valley Railroad (NYNH&H)]|Elmwood (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
Newington (CT)|
Newington Junction ([NYNH&H)]|-||New Britain (CT)|New Britain (NY&NE station)||junction with
New Britain and Middletown Railroad (NYNH&H)]|
Plainville (NY&NE station)||junction with New Haven and Northampton Railroad (NYNH&H)]|Forestville (NY&NE station)|-||Bristol (NY&NE station)|-||Plymouth (CT)|Terryville (NY&NE station)|-||
Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury (NY&NE station)||junction with
Naugatuck Railroad (
NYNH&H) and Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad (
NYNH&H)]|
Towantic (NY&NE station)|-||
Oxford (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
Southbury, Connecticut|Southbury (NY&NE station)|-||
South Britain (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|Newtown, Connecticut|
Sandy Hook (NY&NE station)|-||Hawleyville (NY&NE station)||junction with
Shepaug, Litchfield and Northern Railroad (NYNH&H) and Housatonic Railroad (
NYNH&H)]|Berkshire Junction ([NYNH&H)]|Danbury (NY&NE station)||junction with New York, Housatonic and Northern Railroad (NYNH&H) and Danbury and Norwalk Railroad (
NYNH&H)]|-|rowspan=3|
New York|||||junction with New York and Putnam Railroad (
New York Central Railroad) and
New York and Harlem Railroad (New York Central Railroad)|-|||||bridge over New York and Harlem Railroad (
New York Central Railroad)|-|||
Hopewell Junction (NY&NE station)||junction with
Newburg, Dutchess and Connecticut Railroad (
NYNH&H) and
Dutchess County Railroad (
NYNH&H)|}
Boston line
For the line from Boston to Readville (MBTA station), see Fairmount Line. For the line from Readville to Franklin (MBTA station), see
Franklin Line.{]||
Franklin (MA)|Franklin Junction (NY&NE, now [MBTA Commuter Rail Franklin Line) and Rhode Island and Massachusetts Railroad (NY&NE)]|Woonsocket Junction (NY&NE)|-||[Blackstone (NY&NE station)||junction with
Providence and Worcester Railroad (
NYNH&H)]|
East Douglas (NY&NE station)|-||
Douglas (NY&NE station)|-||
Douglas Junction (NY&NE)|-|rowspan=11|[Connecticut||rowspan=3|
Thompson (CT)|
East Thompson (NY&NE station)||junction with Southbridge Branch (New England)|-||Thompson (NY&NE station)|-||
Mechanicsville (N&W station)||not a station
original junction with
Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NY&NE)]|Putnam (NY&NE station)||junction with Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NY&NE)]|Pomfret (NY&NE station)|-||
Abington (NY&NE station)|-||
Elliott (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|Hampton (CT)|
Hampton (NY&NE station)|-||Clarks Corner (NY&NE station)|-||rowspan=2|
Windham (CT)|
North Windham (NY&NE station)|-||
Willimantic (NY&NE station)||junction with New London Northern Railroad (Grand Trunk Railway), #Station listing and Boston and New York Air-Line Railroad (
NYNH&H)|}
Modern day Usage
Within the last 10 years, funds have been set aside for a
rails to trails conversion. As of 12-03-05 most parts of the train right of way has been converted
Cranston (Washington Secondary/ Cranston Greenway)
Paved from Garfield ave (Northern Terminus of West Bay Greenway/Bikepath, as this right of way merges on amtrak right of way not far up the path)to Ponatic Ave (Warwick Town line)
Warwick (Warwick Greenway)
Paved from Ponatic Ave (Cranston City line) to West Warwick town line(RI 33-Tollgate Road/Providence Street)
West Warwick(west warwick greenway)
Paved from Warwick town line to Coventry Town line. Intersects with riverpoint park and walk, plus a real caboose
Coventry(Coventry Greenway)
Unpaved from WW town line to Station street (appox 2 miles)
Paved from Station to Coventry Center (Suburban Propane, Appox 5 miles, Southern Termuis of West Bay Greenway/ Bikepath)
Coventry (Tresle trail)
Unpaved trail from Coventry Center to CT. State line, currently being planned by
RIDOTThe Best train of the New York & New England Railroad was the New England Limited of 1891. A crack Boston - New York passenger train. In 1891 the Pullman Palace Car Company refitted train with luxurious new cars decorated in white and gold, inspiring the advertising department to call it the White Train and folks along the line to call it the Ghost Train as it sped through their towns after dark. Famed author Rudyyard Kipling memorialized the train in a popular verse: Without a jar, or roll, or antic, Without a stop to Willmantic, The New England Limited takes its way At three o'clock each day, Maids and Matrons, daintily dimited, Ride everyday on the NEW ENGLAND LIMITED;Rain nor snow ne'er stops its flight, It makes New York at nine each night, One half the glories have not been told Of that wonderful train of white and gold Which leaves each day for New York at three Over the New York and New England.
References
- Railroad History Database
- Edward Appleton, Massachusetts Railway Commissioner, History of the Railways of Massachusetts (1871)
- Philip C. Blakeslee, A Brief History Lines West Of The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co. (1953)
- Edited by Richard M. Bayles, History of Providence County, Rhode Island (1891)
- Dorchester Atheneum: Midland Railroad
- PRR Chronology
