Agricultural Branch Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Agricultural Branch Railroad was a railroad in Massachusetts
. It was incorporated in 1847 to provide a rail connection between the towns of Framingham
and Northborough
through Southborough
.
Service began on December 1, 1855 with 13.2 miles of track. A short branch off the main line from Marlborough Junction to Marlborough
had also opened in June 1855.
In July 1866 a 14-mile extension opened from Northborough
to the Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad
at Pratts Junction in Sterling
, through the towns of Berlin
and Clinton
.
On May 20, 1867, the name of the railroad was changed to the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad, which operated until 1876 when it merged with the New Bedford Railroad
to become the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad
. The line later became part of the Old Colony Railroad
network.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. It was incorporated in 1847 to provide a rail connection between the towns of Framingham
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
and Northborough
Northborough, Massachusetts
Northborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The official spelling of the town's name is "Northborough", but the shorter spelling "Northboro" is also used...
through Southborough
Southborough, Massachusetts
Southborough is an affluent town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It incorporates the smaller villages of Cordaville, Fayville, and Southville. Its name is often informally shortened to Southboro, a usage seen on many area signs and maps. Its population was 9,767 at the 2010...
.
Service began on December 1, 1855 with 13.2 miles of track. A short branch off the main line from Marlborough Junction to Marlborough
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 38,499 at the 2010 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the late 20th century after the construction of the...
had also opened in June 1855.
In July 1866 a 14-mile extension opened from Northborough
Northborough, Massachusetts
Northborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The official spelling of the town's name is "Northborough", but the shorter spelling "Northboro" is also used...
to the Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad
Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad
The Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad was a railroad in Massachusetts.It was incorporated in 1840 to provide a rail connection between Fitchburg, Massachusetts and Worcester....
at Pratts Junction in Sterling
Sterling, Massachusetts
Sterling is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 7,808 at the 2010 census.- History :Sterling was first settled by Europeans in 1720 and was officially incorporated in 1781....
, through the towns of Berlin
Berlin, Massachusetts
Berlin is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,866 at the 2010 census.- History :Berlin was first settled in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1812....
and Clinton
Clinton, Massachusetts
Clinton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,606 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Clinton, please see the article Clinton , Massachusetts....
.
On May 20, 1867, the name of the railroad was changed to the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad, which operated until 1876 when it merged with the New Bedford Railroad
New Bedford Railroad
The New Bedford Railroad was a railroad in Massachusetts. It was incorporated in 1873 as a merger between New Bedford and Taunton Railroad, the Taunton Branch Railroad and the Middleborough and Taunton Railroad....
to become the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad
Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad
The Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad was a railroad in Massachusetts. It was formed in 1876 as a consolidation of the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad with the New Bedford Railroad....
. The line later became part of the Old Colony Railroad
Old Colony Railroad
The Old Colony Railroad was a major railroad system, mainly covering southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. It operated from 1845 to 1893. Old Colony trains ran from Boston to points such as Plymouth, Fall River, New Bedford, Newport, Providence, Fitchburg, Lowell and Cape Cod...
network.