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1099:, meaning that they had large debts. The pressure from the debts and the large infrastructure costs associated with operating a disparate passenger and freight network amongst declining traffic forced the B&M to cut costs. The most noticeable effect to the general public was the reductions in passenger operation. In the late 1950s, the B&M began to eliminate routes and substituted Multi-Unit diesel-powered passenger cars on many of its routes. The effort did not succeed, as the B&M was
479:, was started in 1844 and was in use by 1848. While the B&M was building it, they were still running their trains to Boston on the B&L. This made for a lot of conflict, with the B&L trying to squeeze every last penny out of the B&M before it lost the opportunity. The B&M tried to deal with this in court, and got the judge to forbid the B&L from raising rates until the case was done, but by the time they were close to an agreement, the bypass was complete.
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25:
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re-laying the old track on the more forgiving wood as well. Boston and Lowell traffic continued to increase, and even with double tracks the schedule became tight enough that the Boston and Maine trains, as renters, began to be pushed around to annoying hours, often having to wait over an hour in
Wilmington before being allowed to proceed on to Boston.
470:
This extra traffic on the Boston and Lowell
Railroad, especially with the line still over granite, provided the extra impetus to double track and upgrade. In 1838, the B&L began two years of extensive track improvements, first laying a second track on wood, and with that one built, going back and
326:
The proposed route was accepted by the Board of
Directors of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, and work began on the building phase. The road was begun from both ends at once, and some sources say that they both started on the right hand side of the right-of-way, missing in the middle and having to put
400:
The Boston and Lowell was faced with a new problem; it had a reputation for speed which made it very popular and highly competitive with stagecoaches. Many people wanted to go not only from Lowell to Boston but to places in between. The Boston and Lowell ordered another locomotive and cars for local
273:
The investors were successful because they convinced the legislature that the canal was inherently incapable of providing what they needed: reliable, year-round freight transport. Investors in the Boston and Lowell
Railroad received a charter on June 5, 1830, with no provision for reparations to the
474:
The B&M soon tired of what they perceived as selfishness and decided to build its own track to Boston from
Haverhill so that it would not have to rely on the B&L. The B&L tried to fight the B&M in court but failed because the monopoly granted in its charter was only good for traffic
269:
railroads, all had to be chartered by special acts of legislature. This made it slow and inefficient to charter a railroad because the politicians had to agree; the issue would become partisan. This also meant that the legislature would not let the investors build the line unless they could show it
1094:
tipped the economic balance by increasing mobility as factories and offices were now able to be located further away from the fixed routes of the railroads. The decline in both passenger and freight traffic occurred at a point when the B&M, like most other railroads, had just switched over to
1066:
Over the next 70 years or so, things were reasonably stable and constant for the Lowell Line as a part of the B&M's
Southern Division. Passenger train round trips per day hovered in the low 20s, and while freight from Lowell itself did not last too long, the Lowell line got some traffic from
482:
With B&M business gone, the B&L realized how much they had been relying upon their renters. Additionally, the Lowell mills began to decline somewhat and there was less freight traffic for the line to move. Over the next four decades, the B&L declined until the more successful B&M
306:
that
Baldwin surveyed did well in each of these characteristics. The path sloped up at a gentle ten feet per mile at the maximum, and there were only three grade crossings over the entire 26-mile (42 km) distance. The path was close to the older Middlesex Canal path, but was straighter - as
1141:
per train, and who took responsibility when trains are late. Because of these bad relations and Amtrak's repeated announcements that the contract was unreasonable, few people were surprised at Amtrak's decision not to bid again for the commuter rail contract when it came up for renewal in 2003.
274:
Middlesex Canal's investors. It was a favorable charter because in addition to the right to build and operate a railroad between Lowell and Boston, it gave a thirty-year monopoly on the right to have a railroad there. The people along the road and in terminal-end cities bought large amounts of
491:
The B&L built or leased many branches to serve areas not on its original line. Immediately before its lease by the B&M in 1887, it had five divisions—the
Southern Division (including the original line), the Northern Division, the White Mountains Division, the Vermont Division, and the
358:, and James Baldwin aboard. The solid granite roadbed proved to be much too rigid, jolting the engine and cars nearly to pieces. Repairs on the locomotives (there were two at the time) would sometimes take most of the night, trying to get them ready for the next day's service. The much poorer
1129:
When GTI bought the B&M, commuter rail service was in jeopardy. The MBTA had owned the trains and the tracks since 1973, but it had outsourced the operation to the B&M. When GTI bought the B&M in 1983, it had to honor the B&M contract, but GTI management was very much against
1171:
During the years since B&M's bankruptcy, highway congestion has increased significantly, resulting in growing demand for passenger and freight options. During this time frame, the MBTA has been slowly investing in some infrastructure changes in its rail operations. In 1995, a new
392:
The quantity of freight traffic on the Boston and Lowell
Railroad was large from the start (as was expected) with Lowell's textile companies bringing in raw materials and sending out finished goods. The high level of passenger traffic, however, was not anticipated. Trains traveled on
298:
and well away from town centers. This latter point ended up being quite inconvenient later on. No one had any idea of the future possibility of railroads acting as public transportation, or if they did they were not paid any attention by the builders or financiers of the road.
459:, and then used Boston and Lowell track to Boston. This route was conceptualized in 1834, but took a long time to be built, mostly because, unlike the Boston and Lowell, it did not have a secure base of funding like the Lowell textile companies. It took two years to get to
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on Horn Pond. The northern loop, built in 1885, continued the line back north to the main line at North Woburn Jct. in South
Wilmington. The Horn Pond branch line was abandoned in 1911, the northern loop in 1961, and the original line in 1982.
2162:
1090:, trains slowly began to lose their advantage as a transportation option. Automobiles and trucks began to increase in popularity as highways improved, siphoning ridership and freight traffic off railroads. The advent of the
335:
laborers were hired to construct the railroad, which was made especially difficult and because the Directors wanted to make the road using the best techniques then known. This, for them, meant laying imported
2459:
1019:
1137:
From 1986 until 2003, Amtrak managed the entirety of Boston's commuter rail. It did decently, though at times had strained relations with the MBTA. Quibbles centered on equipment failures, numbers of
1222:
to pass a commuter train on the Haverhill/Reading Line without schedule conflicts. The route is also historically significant because it is the same route that the original B&M used to Portland.
926:
1599:
797:
1577:
1007:
922:
823:
369:
The original Boston terminal was at the north corner of Causeway Street and Andover Street (halfway between Portland and Friend streets), at the westernmost edge of the current
1114:
area. Along with the sale, the B&M contracted to run the passenger service on the Lowell line for the MBTA. After bankruptcy, the B&M continued to run and fulfill its
262:
to fund the project. This proved difficult, as the investors of the Middlesex Canal were against building a new form of transportation designed to replace their canal.
1588:
949:
582:
366:. This turned out to be far superior, so the owners of the Boston and Lowell decided they would upgrade their entire roadbed to wood when they added a second track.
1738:
812:
1192:). In southern Maine, frustration with bus service drove the state to explore restarting passenger service, resulting in contracting with Amtrak to operate the
2515:
1782:
834:. In 1880 the company went bankrupt, and it was operated by the Connecticut River Railroad until 1882, when it was bought half-and-half by the B&L and the
764:, and the road opened later that year. In 1857 the B&L and N&L agreed to operate as one company from 1860, and in 1880 the B&L leased the N&L.
2374:
705:
2414:
1799:
999:, which was taken over by the B&L as their Vermont Division. The line did not stay in the B&M system, and the easternmost part was leased to the
2535:
793:
307:
boats can turn more sharply than trains. To achieve this superior linearity, it needed small amounts of grade elevation in places. The route ignored
286:
The Board of Directors of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, armed with a charter, now had the task of surveying and building the line. They brought in
347:
under each rail. They did this because it was commonly believed that the train would sink into the ground if the rails did not have strong support.
2560:
1814:
637:. The line was opened in 1850 and operated by the Lowell and Lawrence until 1858, when the B&L leased it along with the Lowell and Lawrence.
294:, who had engineered the Middlesex Canal, to do the surveying, and charged him with finding a gently sloped path from Lowell to Boston, with few
2525:
2555:
254:. Converting the canal to a railroad would eliminate the issue of transportation being unavailable during the winter, when the canal froze.
1146:
89:
42:
1107:
439:
Another railroad was chartered in the early 1840s whose fortunes would be closely tied to those of the Boston and Lowell. This was the
350:
The first track was completed in 1835, and freight service began immediately. On May 27, 1835, it made its maiden trip to Boston, with
61:
968:
Division. In 1884 the B&L leased the BC&M and the old White Mountains Railroad became the B&L's White Mountains Division.
899:. That railroad, along with its branches, became part of the B&L Northern Division in 1884, when the B&L leased the BC&M.
996:
2545:
2520:
2443:
685:
in 1868, following the renaming of Arlington. The B&L bought the line in 1870 and built a new connection to their main line at
401:
passenger rail in 1842, and had them make six stops along the route. Passenger rail proved to be almost as profitable as freight.
68:
2407:
1653:
1177:
681:. It was operated by the Fitchburg from opening, and leased to the Fitchburg from 1847 to 1859. The line was reorganized as the
1122:, in the hopes that a reorganization could make it profitable again. It emerged from the court's protection when newly formed
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1392:
984:
961:
888:
666:
75:
988:
1716:
2001:
1973:
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to the main line towards Boston. The Horn Pond Branch Railroad was a short freight-only branch off the Woburn Branch to
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57:
394:
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1914:
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on the Boston & Lowell to centralize ridership and provide a superstation with convenient access to Interstates
1058:
among others. The B&L leased the line on January 1, 1887, three months before the B&M acquired the B&L.
397:
which were laid on a granite roadbed, which made for an extremely bumpy ride. The railroad switched to wooden ties.
2550:
1145:
When the MBTA asked for new bids on the commuter rail operation contract, Amtrak did not bid, but Guilford and the
992:
682:
227:
524:
was not itself taken over by the B&L, but as originally built in 1840 it was a short spur from the B&L to
1110:. The new state agency bought the Lowell line, along with the Haverhill and all other commuter operations in the
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46:
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The Lowell and Nashua Railroad was chartered in 1836 as an extension of the B&L from Lowell north to the
359:
303:
2423:
1810:
1553:
1396:
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was chartered in 1864 and opened in 1878, continuing the Peterborough Railroad west from Greenfield to the
756:
state line. The Nashua and Lowell Railroad, chartered in 1835, would continue the line in New Hampshire to
598:
440:
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1343:
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521:
259:
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As its fortunes declined, the B&M shed its passenger operation in 1973 by selling the assets to the
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in 1875 as their Vermont Division. The line was finished in 1877, and in 1880 it was reorganized as the
82:
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1847:
1617:
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to the Salem and Lowell at Wilmington Junction, providing a shorter route between Boston and Lawrence.
355:
2262:. These 1871 maps of the Counties and Cities are useful to see the extent and names of the rail lines.
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1818:
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614:
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432:
320:
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169:
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1300:
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957:
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674:
618:
452:
382:
319:. This would have to be corrected later with various spurs (the one to Medford being built off the
316:
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connector in Wilmington is shown in the 1872 maps but not the 1871 map. Also see detailed map of
1756:
1407:
1189:
1157:
602:
586:
35:
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did. The MBCR ended up getting the contract and began operating the commuter rail in July 2004.
1086:
In the early 20th century, the economics of railroading began to change. With the advent of the
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in 1883. The B&L leased the line in 1886, a year before the B&M leased the B&L.
855:
was chartered in 1869 to build a line east–west across the middle of the state, between the
384:
The original Lowell terminal was at the south corner of Merrimack Street and Dutton Street.
1475:
1305:
1161:
1039:
831:
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8:
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was chartered in 1844, and opened in stages from 1848 to 1853, eventually running from
860:
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533:
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and the old main line north of Lowell. At Lowell, it shifts to the B&M's original
1130:
passenger rail, and, in 1986, as soon as the contract expired, they let the job go to
237:
1910:
1514:
940:, taking it out of B&M control until 1895, when the B&M leased the C&M.
327:
in an embarrassing reverse curve to tide them over until they built the other side.
2435:
1635:
933:
835:
427:
2366:
1977:
1904:
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630:
444:
431:
Map of the Southern Division as it was in 1887, just before it was leased by the
378:
251:
677:, although the "West Cambridge" in the name referred to what is now the town of
2321:
1837:
1706:
1211:
1111:
741:
696:
was chartered in 1872 and opened in 1873, extending the line from Lexington to
646:
622:
337:
295:
291:
209:
776:
was chartered in 1845 and opened in 1848, connecting the Nashua and Lowell at
265:
Because, prior to 1872, there was no provision in Massachusetts state law for
2509:
2317:
2005:
1261:
1181:
1173:
753:
448:
374:
370:
230:
and the first major one in the state. The line later operated as part of the
223:
147:
545:
363:
332:
914:. The B&L leased it in 1884 as another part of its Northern Division.
744:
branch was built by the B&L in 1885, mostly on the same right-of-way.
311:
center entirely, going through West Medford instead, and totally bypassed
2272:. Click on the map for a very large image. This map and the 1871 map of
1354:
Originally Milk Row; closed when North Station approaches were realigned
971:
The Northern and White Mountains Divisions were connected at Woodsville.
700:. It was leased from completion to the B&L. An extension west to the
181:
241:
Late 19th century map of the Boston & Lowell Railroad (drawn in red)
2146:"Cities, Towns, Labor Officials Protest State O.K. of B&M Cutbacks"
1051:
917:
The only connection between the Southern and Northern divisions was at
323:), but were always sources of annoyance to both riders and operators.
1826:
1289:
1038:, in 1867, junctioning the Northern and White Mountains Divisions at
455:
in northeastern Massachusetts, connected to the Boston and Lowell in
960:, in 1853. Along with extensions and branches, it was leased to the
24:
1100:
815:
was chartered in 1866 to continue the Wilton Railroad northwest to
409:
The first locomotives on the B&L were copies of the successful
362:
could not afford a granite bed and so was built with modern wooden
617:
was chartered in 1848 as a branch from the Lowell and Lawrence at
863:. The first section opened in 1881, splitting from the B&L's
732:. It was sold and abandoned in 1878, and the rails were taken to
525:
344:
266:
151:
504:
The main part of the Southern Division was the mainline between
1949:
1256:
1131:
1035:
1031:
505:
328:
139:
2389:
at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School.
733:
605:, which opened in 1848. In 1858 the B&L leased the line.
415:
275:
2276:
shows the original Boston and Lowell Railroad route through
1006:
The White Mountains and Vermont Divisions were connected at
906:
was also chartered in 1844, opening in 1847 from Concord to
796:
was chartered in 1844. It opened a line from Nashua west to
2069:. February 13, 1937. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
1524:
Previously called Mystic, Bacons Bridge, and Symmes Bridge
340:
2422:
2296:. It also show the slightly later competing track of the
819:. In 1873 the N&L leased it; the road opened in 1874.
808:
in 1851. Since completion it was operated by the N&L.
2335:
2096:"Boston & Maine asks right to abandon three stations"
669:
was chartered in 1845 and opened in 1846, connecting the
601:
was chartered in 1846 to build a line between Lowell and
475:
between Boston and Lowell. The shortcut, part of today's
463:, another year to get to Haverhill, three more to get to
2051:. January 3, 1863. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
1448:
Formerly Stearns Steps, College Hill, and Tufts College
2121:"B. & M. is granted right to abandon four stations"
2102:. April 21, 1932. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
1198:, which runs from North Station to Haverhill and up to
964:
in 1859 and consolidated into it in 1872, becoming its
2127:. June 25, 1932. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
1892:
https://www.masshist.org/collection-guides/view/fa0163
1391:
Formerly Somerville and Taylor's Ledge. Junction with
2152:. May 13, 1959. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
1974:"Boston & Lowell 2-2-0 "Planet" Type Locomotives"
2356:
2031:"The Evolution of Winchester's Four Railroad Depots"
1330:
Closed when North Station approaches were realigned
661:
Lexington and Arlington (Middlesex Central Railroad)
536:
leased it and incorporated it into their main line.
250:The Boston and Lowell Railroad was preceded by the
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
16:
Railroad in Massachusetts, United States, 1835–1887
1996:
1994:
435:, including the original Boston to Lowell mainline
1202:. Due to scheduling conflicts with the MBTA, the
760:. The two companies merged in 1838 to form a new
492:Passumpsic Division. Additionally, it leased the
2507:
422:
2332:Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district
1991:
1168:to get to the B&M main line towards Maine.
784:. The N&L leased the Stony Brook in 1848.
343:rails with a 4-foot-deep (1.2 m) wall of
2516:Predecessors of the Boston and Maine Railroad
2408:
1271:Replaced original terminal on Nashua Street.
1022:was organized in 1846 and opened a line from
952:was chartered in 1848 and opened a line from
548:waterfront on the north side of Charlestown.
1079:Winchester Center, a Lowell Line station in
991:(chartered 1867) were consolidated into the
2063:"B. & M. Would End Winter Hill Service"
2002:"Railroad History - Bedford, Massachusetts"
1928:
1926:
1902:
1147:Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company
2415:
2401:
1020:Connecticut and Passumpsic Rivers Railroad
467:, and did not get to Portland until 1852.
1501:Early flag stop for Woburn Branch trains
1316:Original location at Prison Point Bridge
1061:
997:St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad
875:, and the company was reorganized as the
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
2536:Railway companies disestablished in 1919
2024:
2022:
1923:
1074:
1067:railroads that connected from the west.
645:The Wilmington Branch, now known as the
426:
236:
226:in the United States. It was one of the
2561:Transportation in Lowell, Massachusetts
2380:
2073:
1178:Anderson Regional Transportation Center
2508:
2079:
2028:
1932:
927:Peterborough and Hillsborough Railroad
724:line between the Middlesex Central at
653:alignment to connect the main line at
649:, was built just west of the original
2526:Railway companies established in 1830
2396:
2019:
1748:Originally Billerica & Tewksbury
1118:contract under the protection of the
985:Montpelier and St. Johnsbury Railroad
962:Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad
932:In 1889 the BC&M merged with the
889:Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad
667:Lexington and West Cambridge Railroad
2556:1830 establishments in Massachusetts
2387:Nashua & Lowell Railroad records
1896:
1663:Former station was South Wilmington
499:
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
2347:1886 Boston and Lowell Railroad Map
1850:; formerly called Middlesex Street
1176:was opened. In 2001, it opened the
544:The Mystic River Branch served the
13:
1947:
1609:Originally Woburn and Water Place
1225:
1124:Guilford Transportation Industries
1054:, Quebec, where it junctioned the
841:
387:
14:
2572:
2352:
702:Nashua, Acton and Boston Railroad
2359:
2130:
2105:
993:Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad
683:Lexington and Arlington Railroad
585:was built in 1862 to connect to
228:first railroads in North America
222:was a railroad that operated in
23:
2546:Defunct New Hampshire railroads
2521:Defunct Massachusetts railroads
2216:Barnstable and Dukes (Cape Cod)
2138:
2113:
2088:
1070:
1050:, leased in 1870, continued to
281:
258:led the task of convincing the
34:needs additional citations for
2444:Worcester, Nashua and Portland
2055:
2037:
1966:
1941:
1909:. Peter E. Randall Publisher.
1885:
1836:
1823:Framingham and Lowell Railroad
1769:. Originally Billerica Mills.
1755:
1694:
1652:
1634:
1564:Originally Winchester Heights
1531:
1513:
1474:
1260:
877:Central Massachusetts Railroad
853:Massachusetts Central Railroad
847:Central Massachusetts Railroad
718:Billerica and Bedford Railroad
494:Central Massachusetts Railroad
443:. This railroad ran down from
404:
278:, financing half the company.
1:
1906:Builders of the Hoosac Tunnel
1878:
1210:and then out the old B&M
1152:Guilford's main line between
938:Concord and Montreal Railroad
923:Manchester and Keene Railroad
912:White River Junction, Vermont
824:Manchester and Keene Railroad
564:) opened in 1844, connecting
423:The Boston and Maine Railroad
360:Boston and Worcester Railroad
2531:Railway lines opened in 1835
2270:Map of Massachusetts Plate 5
1811:Lowell and Lawrence Railroad
1767:Billerica and Bedford Branch
1397:Central Massachusetts Branch
1292:for railroad employees only
1042:and the Vermont Division at
1008:Scott's Mills, New Hampshire
599:Lowell and Lawrence Railroad
483:leased it on April 1, 1887.
447:, through a bit of southern
245:
58:"Boston and Lowell Railroad"
7:
2080:Draper, Martin Jr. (1852).
1903:Schexnayder, Cliff (2015).
1545:. Originally South Woburn.
1206:runs up the Lowell Line to
641:Wilmington (Wildcat) Branch
522:Charlestown Branch Railroad
486:
377:to access it was the first
10:
2577:
1933:Harlow, Alvin Fay (1946).
1848:Nashua and Lowell Railroad
1591:; originally East Woburn.
1088:internal combustion engine
857:Boston and Albany Railroad
828:Connecticut River Railroad
762:Nashua and Lowell Railroad
694:Middlesex Central Railroad
356:George Washington Whistler
270:was completely necessary.
220:Boston and Lowell Railroad
122:Boston and Lowell Railroad
2541:Defunct Vermont railroads
2431:
2424:Boston and Maine Railroad
2342:Railroad History Database
2326:1872 Essex County Plate 7
2298:Boston and Maine Railroad
2082:"Map of Somerville, Mass"
2049:Boston Evening Transcript
2045:"New Depot in Somerville"
1776:
1732:
1670:
1571:
1508:
1485:Originally Medford Gates
1425:
1337:
1304:
1299:
1255:
1126:(GTI) bought it in 1983.
1092:Interstate Highway System
1081:Winchester, Massachusetts
1048:Massawippi Valley Railway
910:, and later extending to
897:Woodsville, New Hampshire
817:Greenfield, New Hampshire
651:Boston and Maine Railroad
615:Salem and Lowell Railroad
441:Boston and Maine Railroad
433:Boston and Maine Railroad
419:built locally in Lowell.
321:Boston and Maine Railroad
232:Boston and Maine Railroad
180:
175:
170:Boston and Maine Railroad
165:
157:
135:
130:
126:
1935:Steelways of New England
1873:
1645:Originally North Woburn
1418:Formerly Willows Bridge
1218:. This route allows the
1120:Federal Bankruptcy Court
989:Lamoille Valley Railroad
958:Littleton, New Hampshire
950:White Mountains Railroad
944:White Mountains Division
873:North Cambridge Junction
583:Stoneham Branch Railroad
2551:Defunct Quebec railways
2084:. J.T. Powers & Co.
1467:Formerly Medford Steps
1158:Mechanicville, New York
720:was built in 1877 as a
379:movable railroad bridge
2375:MBTA - The Lowell Line
2164:Atlas of Massachusetts
2161:Wall & Gray. 1871
2029:Knight, Ellen (2021).
1676:North Woburn Junction
1280:Boston Engine Terminal
1216:Haverhill/Reading Line
1083:
1062:Life as a B&M line
1001:Maine Central Railroad
908:Lebanon, New Hampshire
629:, along which it used
558:Woburn Branch Railroad
477:Haverhill/Reading Line
436:
381:in the United States.
373:. The bridge over the
242:
2267:Atlas of Essex County
2188:Hampshire and Hampden
2169:Map of Massachusetts.
2033:. Town of Winchester.
1937:. Creative Age Press.
1078:
987:(chartered 1866) and
981:Essex County Railroad
813:Peterborough Railroad
712:Billerica and Bedford
673:at West Cambridge to
465:Exeter, New Hampshire
430:
352:Patrick Tracy Jackson
256:Patrick Tracy Jackson
240:
234:'s Southern Division.
144:Lowell, Massachusetts
2484:Concord and Montreal
2381:Archives and records
1554:Winchester Highlands
1024:White River Junction
774:Stony Brook Railroad
738:Sandy River Railroad
43:improve this article
1640:September 24, 1984
1438:September 15, 1977
1381:Somerville Junction
1154:Mattawamkeag, Maine
1056:Grand Trunk Railway
1030:to the border with
1014:Passumpsic Division
728:and the B&L at
708:was built in 1879.
687:Somerville Junction
593:Lowell and Lawrence
288:James Fowle Baldwin
123:
2125:Boston Daily Globe
2100:Boston Daily Globe
1687:(never a station)
1618:Lechmere Warehouse
1370:February 19, 1937
1162:Stony Brook Branch
1097:diesel locomotives
1084:
983:(chartered 1864),
861:Fitchburg Railroad
706:Middlesex Junction
671:Fitchburg Railroad
619:Tewksbury Junction
534:Fitchburg Railroad
437:
243:
158:Dates of operation
146:, and beyond into
121:
2503:
2502:
2476:Connecticut River
2452:Boston and Lowell
2265:Beers, D.G. 1872
2200:Essex and Norfolk
1948:Stacey, Barbara.
1871:
1870:
1606:January 17, 1965
1533:Winchester Center
1028:Northern Railroad
904:Northern Railroad
883:Northern Division
798:Danforth's Corner
748:Lowell and Nashua
500:Southern Division
260:state legislature
216:
215:
119:
118:
111:
93:
2568:
2496:
2488:
2480:
2472:
2464:
2456:
2448:
2440:
2417:
2410:
2403:
2394:
2393:
2369:
2364:
2363:
2362:
2274:Middlesex County
2204:Boston - Suffolk
2154:
2153:
2142:
2136:
2135:
2134:
2128:
2117:
2111:
2110:
2109:
2103:
2092:
2086:
2085:
2077:
2071:
2070:
2059:
2053:
2052:
2041:
2035:
2034:
2026:
2017:
2016:
2014:
2013:
2004:. Archived from
1998:
1989:
1988:
1986:
1985:
1976:. Archived from
1970:
1964:
1963:
1961:
1960:
1945:
1939:
1938:
1930:
1921:
1920:
1900:
1894:
1889:
1859:Merrimack Street
1654:Anderson/​Woburn
1584:January 1, 1942
1457:Medford Hillside
1432:Tufts University
1408:North Somerville
1393:Lexington Branch
1367:January 1, 1863
1230:
1229:
975:Vermont Division
934:Concord Railroad
929:(Northern) met.
919:Hancock Junction
836:Concord Railroad
778:North Chelmsford
609:Salem and Lowell
418:
212:
206:
202:
200:
199:
195:
192:
124:
120:
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
2576:
2575:
2571:
2570:
2569:
2567:
2566:
2565:
2506:
2505:
2504:
2499:
2494:
2486:
2478:
2470:
2462:
2454:
2446:
2438:
2427:
2421:
2383:
2367:Railways portal
2365:
2360:
2358:
2355:
2158:
2157:
2144:
2143:
2139:
2129:
2119:
2118:
2114:
2104:
2094:
2093:
2089:
2078:
2074:
2061:
2060:
2056:
2043:
2042:
2038:
2027:
2020:
2011:
2009:
2000:
1999:
1992:
1983:
1981:
1972:
1971:
1967:
1958:
1956:
1946:
1942:
1931:
1924:
1917:
1901:
1897:
1890:
1886:
1881:
1876:
1757:North Billerica
1658:April 28, 2001
1589:Stoneham Branch
1493:Gorham Brooks'
1228:
1226:Station listing
1160:, now uses the
1073:
1064:
966:White Mountains
925:(Southern) and
844:
842:Other divisions
804:in 1850 and to
794:Wilton Railroad
788:Nashua to Keene
730:North Billerica
631:trackage rights
502:
489:
445:Portland, Maine
425:
414:
407:
390:
388:Early operation
296:grade crossings
284:
252:Middlesex Canal
248:
208:
204:
197:
193:
190:
188:
187:4 ft
186:
161:1835–1887
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
2574:
2564:
2563:
2558:
2553:
2548:
2543:
2538:
2533:
2528:
2523:
2518:
2501:
2500:
2498:
2497:
2489:
2481:
2473:
2465:
2457:
2449:
2441:
2432:
2429:
2428:
2420:
2419:
2412:
2405:
2397:
2391:
2390:
2382:
2379:
2378:
2377:
2371:
2370:
2354:
2353:External links
2351:
2350:
2349:
2344:
2339:
2329:
2322:Wildcat Branch
2263:
2156:
2155:
2137:
2112:
2087:
2072:
2054:
2036:
2018:
1990:
1965:
1940:
1922:
1915:
1895:
1883:
1882:
1880:
1877:
1875:
1872:
1869:
1868:
1866:
1863:
1861:
1856:
1852:
1851:
1846:Junction with
1844:
1842:
1840:
1835:
1831:
1830:
1809:Junction with
1807:
1806:June 14, 1959
1804:
1802:
1797:
1793:
1792:
1790:
1787:
1785:
1780:
1775:
1771:
1770:
1765:Junction with
1763:
1761:
1759:
1754:
1750:
1749:
1746:
1745:June 27, 1965
1743:
1741:
1739:East Billerica
1736:
1731:
1727:
1726:
1724:
1723:June 27, 1965
1721:
1719:
1714:
1710:
1709:
1707:Wildcat Branch
1705:Junction with
1703:
1701:
1698:
1693:
1689:
1688:
1683:Junction with
1681:
1679:
1677:
1674:
1669:
1665:
1664:
1661:
1659:
1656:
1651:
1647:
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1643:
1641:
1638:
1633:
1629:
1628:
1626:
1623:
1620:
1615:
1611:
1610:
1607:
1604:
1602:
1597:
1593:
1592:
1587:Junction with
1585:
1582:
1580:
1575:
1570:
1566:
1565:
1562:
1559:
1556:
1551:
1547:
1546:
1541:Junction with
1539:
1537:
1535:
1530:
1526:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1512:
1507:
1503:
1502:
1499:
1497:
1494:
1491:
1487:
1486:
1483:
1481:
1478:
1473:
1469:
1468:
1465:
1462:
1459:
1454:
1450:
1449:
1446:
1440:
1434:
1429:
1424:
1420:
1419:
1416:
1413:
1410:
1405:
1401:
1400:
1389:
1386:
1383:
1378:
1374:
1373:
1371:
1368:
1365:
1360:
1356:
1355:
1352:
1349:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1332:
1331:
1328:
1325:
1322:
1318:
1317:
1314:
1311:
1308:
1306:East Cambridge
1303:
1298:
1294:
1293:
1286:
1284:
1282:
1277:
1273:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1259:
1254:
1250:
1249:
1246:
1243:
1240:
1237:
1234:
1227:
1224:
1212:Wildcat Branch
1112:Greater Boston
1072:
1069:
1063:
1060:
1016:
1015:
977:
976:
946:
945:
885:
884:
849:
848:
843:
840:
790:
789:
770:
769:
750:
749:
742:standard gauge
714:
713:
663:
662:
647:Wildcat Branch
643:
642:
623:Essex Railroad
611:
610:
595:
594:
579:
578:
554:
553:
542:
541:
532:. In 1845 the
518:
517:
501:
498:
488:
485:
424:
421:
406:
403:
395:unwelded rails
389:
386:
292:Loammi Baldwin
290:, son of Col.
283:
280:
247:
244:
214:
213:
210:standard gauge
184:
178:
177:
173:
172:
167:
163:
162:
159:
155:
154:
137:
133:
132:
128:
127:
117:
116:
99:September 2014
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2573:
2562:
2559:
2557:
2554:
2552:
2549:
2547:
2544:
2542:
2539:
2537:
2534:
2532:
2529:
2527:
2524:
2522:
2519:
2517:
2514:
2513:
2511:
2493:
2490:
2485:
2482:
2477:
2474:
2469:
2466:
2461:
2458:
2453:
2450:
2445:
2442:
2437:
2434:
2433:
2430:
2425:
2418:
2413:
2411:
2406:
2404:
2399:
2398:
2395:
2388:
2385:
2384:
2376:
2373:
2372:
2368:
2357:
2348:
2345:
2343:
2340:
2337:
2333:
2330:
2327:
2323:
2319:
2315:
2311:
2307:
2303:
2299:
2295:
2291:
2287:
2283:
2279:
2275:
2271:
2268:
2264:
2261:
2257:
2253:
2249:
2245:
2241:
2237:
2233:
2229:
2225:
2221:
2217:
2213:
2209:
2205:
2201:
2197:
2193:
2189:
2185:
2181:
2178:. Counties -
2177:
2173:
2170:
2167:
2165:
2160:
2159:
2151:
2147:
2141:
2133:
2126:
2122:
2116:
2108:
2101:
2097:
2091:
2083:
2076:
2068:
2064:
2058:
2050:
2046:
2040:
2032:
2025:
2023:
2008:on 2005-11-06
2007:
2003:
1997:
1995:
1980:on 2012-05-11
1979:
1975:
1969:
1955:
1951:
1944:
1936:
1929:
1927:
1918:
1916:9781942155089
1912:
1908:
1907:
1899:
1893:
1888:
1884:
1867:
1864:
1862:
1860:
1857:
1854:
1853:
1849:
1845:
1843:
1841:
1839:
1833:
1832:
1828:
1824:
1820:
1816:
1815:Lowell Branch
1812:
1808:
1805:
1803:
1801:
1798:
1795:
1794:
1791:
1788:
1786:
1784:
1781:
1779:
1773:
1772:
1768:
1764:
1762:
1760:
1758:
1752:
1751:
1747:
1744:
1742:
1740:
1737:
1735:
1729:
1728:
1725:
1722:
1720:
1718:
1715:
1712:
1711:
1708:
1704:
1702:
1699:
1697:
1691:
1690:
1686:
1682:
1680:
1678:
1675:
1673:
1667:
1666:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1649:
1648:
1644:
1642:
1639:
1637:
1631:
1630:
1627:
1624:
1621:
1619:
1616:
1613:
1612:
1608:
1605:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1595:
1594:
1590:
1586:
1583:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1568:
1567:
1563:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1549:
1548:
1544:
1543:Woburn Branch
1540:
1538:
1536:
1534:
1528:
1527:
1523:
1521:
1518:
1516:
1511:
1505:
1504:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1492:
1489:
1488:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1471:
1470:
1466:
1464:May 18, 1958
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1452:
1451:
1447:
1445:
1444:October 1979
1442:May 18, 1958
1441:
1439:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1428:
1422:
1421:
1417:
1415:May 18, 1958
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1403:
1402:
1398:
1394:
1390:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1376:
1375:
1372:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1358:
1357:
1353:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1344:Prospect Hill
1342:
1340:
1334:
1333:
1329:
1326:
1323:
1320:
1319:
1315:
1312:
1309:
1307:
1302:
1296:
1295:
1291:
1287:
1285:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1275:
1274:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1262:North Station
1258:
1252:
1251:
1247:
1244:
1241:
1238:
1235:
1232:
1231:
1223:
1221:
1217:
1213:
1209:
1205:
1201:
1197:
1196:
1191:
1187:
1183:
1179:
1175:
1174:North Station
1169:
1167:
1166:Lowell Branch
1163:
1159:
1155:
1150:
1148:
1143:
1140:
1135:
1133:
1127:
1125:
1121:
1117:
1116:commuter rail
1113:
1109:
1104:
1102:
1098:
1093:
1089:
1082:
1077:
1068:
1059:
1057:
1053:
1049:
1045:
1044:St. Johnsbury
1041:
1037:
1033:
1029:
1025:
1021:
1013:
1012:
1011:
1009:
1004:
1002:
998:
994:
990:
986:
982:
974:
973:
972:
969:
967:
963:
959:
955:
951:
943:
942:
941:
939:
935:
930:
928:
924:
920:
915:
913:
909:
905:
900:
898:
894:
890:
882:
881:
880:
878:
874:
870:
866:
862:
858:
854:
846:
845:
839:
837:
833:
829:
825:
820:
818:
814:
809:
807:
803:
799:
795:
787:
786:
785:
783:
779:
775:
767:
766:
765:
763:
759:
755:
754:New Hampshire
747:
746:
745:
743:
739:
735:
731:
727:
723:
719:
711:
710:
709:
707:
703:
699:
695:
690:
688:
684:
680:
676:
672:
668:
660:
659:
658:
656:
652:
648:
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638:
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632:
628:
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616:
608:
607:
606:
604:
600:
592:
591:
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588:
584:
576:
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574:
571:
567:
563:
559:
551:
550:
549:
547:
539:
538:
537:
535:
531:
527:
523:
515:
514:
513:
511:
507:
497:
495:
484:
480:
478:
472:
468:
466:
462:
458:
454:
450:
449:New Hampshire
446:
442:
434:
429:
420:
417:
412:
402:
398:
396:
385:
383:
380:
376:
375:Charles River
372:
371:North Station
367:
365:
361:
357:
353:
348:
346:
342:
339:
334:
330:
324:
322:
318:
314:
310:
305:
300:
297:
293:
289:
279:
277:
271:
268:
263:
261:
257:
253:
239:
235:
233:
229:
225:
224:Massachusetts
221:
211:
205:1,435 mm
185:
183:
179:
174:
171:
168:
164:
160:
156:
153:
149:
148:New Hampshire
145:
141:
138:
134:
129:
125:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
2451:
2426:subsidiaries
2266:
2163:
2150:Boston Globe
2149:
2140:
2124:
2115:
2099:
2090:
2075:
2067:Boston Globe
2066:
2057:
2048:
2039:
2010:. Retrieved
2006:the original
1982:. Retrieved
1978:the original
1968:
1957:. Retrieved
1953:
1943:
1934:
1905:
1898:
1887:
1783:South Lowell
1476:West Medford
1443:
1437:
1219:
1203:
1193:
1170:
1151:
1144:
1136:
1128:
1105:
1085:
1071:Modern times
1065:
1017:
1005:
978:
970:
947:
936:to form the
931:
921:, where the
916:
901:
886:
850:
821:
810:
800:in 1848, to
791:
771:
751:
722:narrow gauge
715:
691:
664:
644:
612:
596:
580:
561:
555:
546:Mystic River
543:
540:Mystic River
519:
503:
490:
481:
473:
469:
438:
408:
399:
391:
368:
349:
325:
304:right-of-way
301:
285:
282:Construction
272:
264:
249:
219:
217:
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
2260:New Bedford
2240:Newburyport
2220:Springfield
2218:. Cities -
2176:New England
1954:www.rta.org
1717:Silver Lake
1685:Woburn Loop
1600:Walnut Hill
1363:Winter Hill
1040:Wells River
806:East Wilton
768:Stony Brook
562:Woburn Loop
552:Woburn Loop
530:Charlestown
516:Charlestown
405:Locomotives
182:Track gauge
2510:Categories
2460:Passumpsic
2290:Winchester
2282:Wilmington
2256:Fall River
2012:2005-06-01
1984:2012-04-06
1959:2017-05-19
1879:References
1827:NYNH&H
1696:Wilmington
1672:Wilmington
1561:June 1978
1510:Winchester
1339:Somerville
1220:Downeaster
1208:Wilmington
1204:Downeaster
1195:Downeaster
1139:conductors
1052:Sherbrooke
954:Woodsville
871:Branch at
655:Wilmington
570:ice houses
457:Wilmington
267:chartering
69:newspapers
2492:Fitchburg
2310:Wakefield
2278:Billerica
2236:Haverhill
2224:Worcester
2196:Middlesex
2192:Worcester
2180:Berkshire
1800:Bleachery
1734:Billerica
1515:Wedgemere
1301:Cambridge
1290:flag stop
1233:Milepost
1190:Route 128
1103:by 1976.
1003:in 1912.
869:Arlington
865:Lexington
679:Arlington
675:Lexington
560:(aka the
496:in 1886.
453:Haverhill
317:Billerica
246:Formation
176:Technical
166:Successor
2468:Northern
2300:through
2232:Lawrence
2208:Plymouth
2184:Franklin
1700:c. 1836
1636:Mishawum
1578:Montvale
1519:By 1850
1496:By 1846
1480:By 1838
1461:By 1850
1436:By 1850
1412:By 1850
1388:c. 1946
1385:By 1850
1324:By 1865
1313:By 1865
1310:By 1846
1239:Station
1200:Portland
1101:bankrupt
859:and the
740:. A new
736:for the
603:Lawrence
587:Stoneham
577:Stoneham
487:Branches
201: in
131:Overview
2436:Eastern
2320:. The
2314:Melrose
2306:Reading
2302:Andover
2294:Medford
2252:Taunton
2212:Bristol
1821:), and
1819:B&M
1427:Medford
1245:Closed
1242:Opened
1214:to the
1026:on the
893:Concord
802:Milford
726:Bedford
698:Concord
627:Peabody
621:to the
526:wharves
461:Andover
345:granite
338:British
309:Medford
196:⁄
152:Vermont
83:scholar
2495:(1900)
2487:(1895)
2479:(1893)
2471:(1890)
2463:(1887)
2455:(1887)
2447:(1886)
2439:(1883)
2318:Malden
2316:, and
2292:, and
2286:Woburn
2228:Lowell
1950:"FAQs"
1913:
1838:Lowell
1778:Lowell
1573:Woburn
1348:1840s
1257:Boston
1248:Notes
1156:, and
1132:Amtrak
1046:. The
1036:Canada
1032:Quebec
758:Nashua
566:Woburn
510:Lowell
506:Boston
413:class
411:Planet
329:Yankee
313:Woburn
140:Boston
136:Locale
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
2244:Salem
1874:Notes
1865:1905
1855:26.0
1834:25.3
1796:24.6
1789:1932
1774:23.3
1753:21.8
1730:19.2
1713:17.0
1692:15.2
1668:13.9
1650:12.7
1632:11.6
1625:1996
1622:1979
1614:10.9
1596:10.5
1558:1877
1351:1927
1327:1927
1266:1893
1236:City
832:Keene
780:with
734:Maine
635:Salem
451:, to
416:2-2-0
333:Irish
276:stock
90:JSTOR
76:books
2258:.
2248:Lynn
1911:ISBN
1569:9.8
1550:9.0
1529:7.8
1506:7.3
1490:5.9
1472:5.5
1453:4.6
1423:4.0
1404:3.6
1395:and
1377:2.8
1359:2.4
1335:1.8
1321:0.9
1297:0.5
1276:0.8
1253:0.0
1184:and
1108:MBTA
1018:The
979:The
948:The
902:The
887:The
867:and
851:The
822:The
811:The
792:The
782:Ayer
772:The
716:The
692:The
665:The
613:The
597:The
581:The
556:The
520:The
508:and
364:ties
341:iron
331:and
315:and
302:The
218:The
150:and
62:news
2336:PDF
2172:USA
956:to
895:to
830:in
704:at
633:to
625:at
528:in
142:to
45:by
2512::
2312:,
2308:,
2304:,
2288:,
2284:,
2280:,
2254:,
2250:,
2246:,
2242:,
2238:,
2234:,
2230:,
2226:,
2222:,
2214:,
2210:,
2202:,
2198:,
2194:,
2190:,
2186:,
2182:,
2174:.
2148:.
2123:.
2098:.
2065:.
2047:.
2021:^
1993:^
1952:.
1925:^
1829:)
1813:,
1399:.
1288:A
1186:95
1182:93
1134:.
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838:.
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354:,
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2328:.
2206:,
2166:.
2015:.
1987:.
1962:.
1919:.
1825:(
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198:2
194:1
191:+
189:8
112:)
106:(
101:)
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80:·
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66:·
39:.
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