Boston and Albany Railroad
Encyclopedia
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. The line is used by CSX for freight. Passenger service is still operated on the line by Amtrak
(as part of their Lake Shore Limited
service), and the MBTA Commuter Rail
system, which owns and uses the section east of Worcester as their Framingham/Worcester Line
.
The Western Railroad was chartered February 15, 1833 and incorporated March 15, 1833 to connect the B&W to the Hudson and Berkshire Railroad at the New York
state line. Construction began in 1837, and the Eastern Division to the Connecticut River
in Springfield opened on October 1, 1839. The Western Division, through the Berkshire Hills, opened in sections from both ends - from the state line to Pittsfield May 4, 1841, West Springfield to Chester May 24, 1841, Springfield to West Springfield (across the Connecticut River) July 4, 1841, Pittsfield to "Summit" August 9, 1841, and Chester to Summit September 13, 1841. On October 4, 1841 the first train ran along the full route.
The Castleton and West Stockbridge Railroad was incorporated in New York
in 1834 as the New York part of the Western Railroad, and changed its name to the Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad (chartered May 5, 1836, organized May 20). Construction began in December 1840 and the line opened from Greenbush
(east of Albany) to Chatham on December 21, 1841 and to the Massachusetts
state line on September 12, 1842. It was leased to the Western Railroad for 50 years from November 11, 1841. This railroad replaced the Hudson and Berkshire Railroad east of Chatham, which was abandoned around 1860.
Two mergers, on September 4, 1867 and December 28, 1870 brought the three companies together, along with the Hudson and Boston Railroad (a branch to Hudson, New York
— see below) into one company, known as the Boston and Albany Railroad. The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad leased the B&A for 99 years from July 1, 1900. This lease passed to the New York Central Railroad
in 1914; throughout this, the B&A kept its own branding in the public eye. The NYC merged into Penn Central on February 1, 1968.
In 1883, the B&A acquired track then owned by the New York and New England Railroad
as far as Newton Highlands, and in 1884, began the construction of a line northwest to the B&A mainline creating a commuter loop. "The Circuit," as this route was called, officially opened in May 1886 providing double-track operation from downtown Boston through Brookline to Newton Highlands, then north into Riverside and four tracks on the mainline from Riverside back to downtown so that commuter and mainline operations did not conflict. By 1889 as many as 35 trains traveled the Circuit daily, providing superior commuter service.
In 1899, the new South Station
union station
opened in Boston, a few blocks northeast of the old terminal. That terminal had been located on the west side of Utica Street, from Kneeland Street south to a bit past Harvard Street, now part of the South Bay Interchange
. Even earlier, the terminal was in the block bounded by Kneeland Street, Beach Street, Albany Street (now Surface Artery
) and Lincoln Street (which later became a freight house).
By the early part of the 20th century, commuter rail service was provided east of Worcester, with intercity rail continuing on west. The intercity trips were taken over by Amtrak
on May 1, 1971, and on January 27, 1973 the MBTA acquired the line east of Framingham. Service beyond Framingham was discontinued October 27, 1975, as the state did not subsidize it. Conrail took over Penn Central on April 1, 1976. On September 26, 1994, some rush hour
trains started to serve Worcester on Conrail trackage (which became CSX trackage on June 1, 1999), extending to other times beginning on December 14, 1996. The MBTA acquired the rest of the line from Framingham to Worcester as part of an agreement announced in 2009. As part of the deal, clearances on the line west of Interstate 495
will be improved, permitting full double stack
service from Selkirk Yard
in New York to an expanded CSX intermodal freight facility in Worcester and a transload facility near I-495. The deal was closed on June 17, 2010. The Boston Subdivision
of CSX retains rights to use certain MBTA-owned track.
Since 1959, the former "Circuit" line, later called the Highland Branch, has been used as the grade-separated right-of-way of the light rail
Green Line "D" Branch operated by the MBTA.
Grand Junction
The Grand Junction Railroad
was chartered in 1847 as a reincorpration of the 1846 Chelsea Branch Railroad, meant to connect the lines north and west of Boston. The first section, from East Boston to Somerville, opened in 1849, and the extension to the B&W in Allston opened in 1856. The Eastern Railroad
leased the line from 1852 to 1866, using part of it as their new main line. In 1866 the B&W bought the line (keeping trackage rights
for the Eastern).
Brookline/Highland
The Brookline Branch split from the main line in the west part of Boston's Back Bay, running southwest for 1.55 mi (2.5 km) to Brookline (the current location of Brookline Village
station). It opened in 1847. In Summer 1852 the Charles River Branch Railroad extended the line to Newton Upper Falls
; this would eventually become part of the New England Railroad, an alternate route to New York
.
In 1882 the B&A bought part of the Charles River Branch, and in 1884 they built a line from Riverside
to the branch, forming the Highland Branch, Newton Highlands Branch or "Newton Circuit". Service ended in 1958, and the MBTA Green Line "D" Branch light rail
line started using the tracks in 1959.
Newton Lower Falls
The short 1.25 mile (2.0 km) Newton Lower Falls Branch
opened in 1847, splitting from the main line just west of Riverside
to Newton Lower Falls
. At some point it was realigned to split at Riverside.
Saxonville
The Saxonville Branch opened in 1846, running 3.87 miles (6.2 km) from Natick to Saxonville
.
Framingham
The Framingham Branch opened in 1849, running 2.06 miles (3.3 km) from Framingham to Framingham Centre. The Agricultural Branch Railroad
was incorporated in 1847 and opened in 1855, continuing the branch to Northborough, and to Pratts Junction in 1866. It was leased by the B&W in 1853, but consolidated into the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad
in 1876 and leased to the Old Colony Railroad
in 1879 after changing its name to the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad in 1867. This company also used the Framingham Branch as part of its main line.
Milford
In 1847, the 11.97 mile (19.3 km) Milford Branch, splitting at Framingham, opened. A connection was later made at Milford to the Milford and Woonsocket Railroad and Hopkinton Railway.
Millbury
The 3.07 mile (4.9 km) Millbury Branch opened in 1846 from a split at Millbury Junction on the Grafton/Millbury line to Millbury
.
Webster
The Providence, Webster and Springfield Railroad was chartered in 1882, opened in 1884, and always leased to and operated by the B&A. The line formed a branch of the B&A from Webster Junction in Auburn to the Worcester and Norwich Railroad in Webster, with a short branch (East Village Branch) in Webster to East Village.
Spencer
The Spencer Railroad railroad opened and was leased to the B&A in 1879, as a short branch from South Spencer to Spencer. The B&A outright bought it in 1889.
North Brookfield
The North Brookfield Railroad was chartered in 1874, inbcorporated in 1875 and opened in 1876, branching from the B&A in East Brookfield and running to North Brookfield. It was leased to the B&A from opening.
Ware River
The Ware River Railroad was chartered in 1868, running from Palmer to the Cheshire Railroad in Winchendon. The first section, from Palmer to Gilbertville
, opened in 1870, and the rest in 1873. Until 1873 it was leased to and operated by the New London Northern Railroad
; at that time the lease was transferred to the B&A, as a reorganization of the earlier company.
Athol
The Athol and Enfield Railroad and Springfield and North-Eastern Railroad were chartered in 1869, and succeeded by the Springfield, Athol and North-eastern Railroad in 1872, opening in 1873 as a branch from Athol Junction
in Springfield to the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad in Athol. The B&A bought the line in 1880. The majority of the line was closed in the 1930s due to the formation of the Quabbin Reservoir
.
Chester and Becket
The Chester and Becket Railroad was chartered in 1896 and opened in 1897 from Chester west to quarries
in Becket. It was always operated by the B&A.
North Adams
The Pittsfield and North Adams Railroad was incorporated in 1842 and opened in 1846, having been already leased to the Western Railroad. It ran from North Adams Junction in Pittsfield to North Adams, where it connected to the Troy and Greenfield Railroad
. Surviving structures along this branch include the Pittsfield & North Adams Passenger Station and Baggage & Express House
in Adams, Massachusetts
.
Hudson
The Hudson and Berkshire Railroad was chartered in 1828 to build a line from Hudson, New York
to the Massachusetts
state line. Construction began in 1835 and was completed in 1838. The company was leased to the Berkshire Railroad, along with the connecting West Stockbridge Railroad, in 1844, but was bought by the Western Railroad in 1854. The name was changed to the Hudson and Boston Railroad in 1855, and the part east of Chatham was abandoned around 1860, as it was redundant with the newer Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad (part of the B&A main line). The rest of the line formed a cutoff between the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad towards New York City
and the B&A.
Post Road/Selkirk
The Post Road Branch or Selkirk Branch was originally built as part of the Hudson River Connecting Railroad, a southern bypass of the Albany area. It opened in 1924, and the part of it from the B&A at Post Road Crossing (the crossing of the Albany Post Road
) to Schodack Junction on the east side of the Hudson River
became the B&A Post Road Branch. The rest became the New York Central Railroad
's Castleton Cut-Off.
to design a series of passenger stations. Over the next five years, Richardson was responsible for nine B&A stations (Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Elliot, Waban, and Woodland (Newton, MA), Wellesley Hills, Brighton, South Framingham, and Palmer), as well as a dairy building; he also provided designs for passenger cars. At the same time, the B&A hired landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted
to design the grounds of several stations and to work with the railroad to establish a landscape beautification program for other stations. After Richardson's death, the B&A commissioned his successors, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge
, to design twenty-three additional stations between 1886 and 1894. The B&A's innovative program of well-designed stations and landscape served as a model for several other railroads around the turn of the 19th century.
.
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, later becoming part of the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
system, Conrail and CSX. The line is used by CSX for freight. Passenger service is still operated on the line by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
(as part of their Lake Shore Limited
Lake Shore Limited
The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston...
service), and the MBTA Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
system, which owns and uses the section east of Worcester as their Framingham/Worcester Line
Framingham/Worcester Line
The Framingham/Worcester Line is a railroad line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running west from Boston, Massachusetts to Worcester, Massachusetts, though some trains terminate at Framingham, Massachusetts...
.
History
The Boston and Worcester Railroad was chartered June 23, 1831 and construction began in August 1832. The line opened in sections — to Newton April 16, 1833; Wellesley July 3, 1833; Ashland September 20, 1833; Westborough November, 1834; and the full length to Worcester July 6, 1835.The Western Railroad was chartered February 15, 1833 and incorporated March 15, 1833 to connect the B&W to the Hudson and Berkshire Railroad at the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state line. Construction began in 1837, and the Eastern Division to the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
in Springfield opened on October 1, 1839. The Western Division, through the Berkshire Hills, opened in sections from both ends - from the state line to Pittsfield May 4, 1841, West Springfield to Chester May 24, 1841, Springfield to West Springfield (across the Connecticut River) July 4, 1841, Pittsfield to "Summit" August 9, 1841, and Chester to Summit September 13, 1841. On October 4, 1841 the first train ran along the full route.
The Castleton and West Stockbridge Railroad was incorporated in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1834 as the New York part of the Western Railroad, and changed its name to the Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad (chartered May 5, 1836, organized May 20). Construction began in December 1840 and the line opened from Greenbush
Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, United States, and is located on the Hudson River directly opposite Albany. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,392; in 1920, it was 10,832. The name is from Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original landowner of the region in New...
(east of Albany) to Chatham on December 21, 1841 and to the Massachusetts
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...
state line on September 12, 1842. It was leased to the Western Railroad for 50 years from November 11, 1841. This railroad replaced the Hudson and Berkshire Railroad east of Chatham, which was abandoned around 1860.
Two mergers, on September 4, 1867 and December 28, 1870 brought the three companies together, along with the Hudson and Boston Railroad (a branch to Hudson, New York
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
— see below) into one company, known as the Boston and Albany Railroad. The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad leased the B&A for 99 years from July 1, 1900. This lease passed to the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
in 1914; throughout this, the B&A kept its own branding in the public eye. The NYC merged into Penn Central on February 1, 1968.
In 1883, the B&A acquired track then owned by the New York and New England Railroad
New York and New England Railroad
The New York and New England Railroad was a major railroad connecting southern New York state with Hartford, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts. It operated from 1873 to 1893. Prior to 1873 it was known as the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad, which had been formed by...
as far as Newton Highlands, and in 1884, began the construction of a line northwest to the B&A mainline creating a commuter loop. "The Circuit," as this route was called, officially opened in May 1886 providing double-track operation from downtown Boston through Brookline to Newton Highlands, then north into Riverside and four tracks on the mainline from Riverside back to downtown so that commuter and mainline operations did not conflict. By 1889 as many as 35 trains traveled the Circuit daily, providing superior commuter service.
In 1899, the new South Station
South Station (Boston)
South Station, New England's second-largest transportation center , located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street in Dewey Square, Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest train station and intercity bus terminal in Greater Boston, a prominent train station in the northeastern...
union station
Union station
A union station is the term used for a train station where tracks and facilities are shared by two or more railway companies, allowing passengers to connect conveniently between them...
opened in Boston, a few blocks northeast of the old terminal. That terminal had been located on the west side of Utica Street, from Kneeland Street south to a bit past Harvard Street, now part of the South Bay Interchange
South Bay Interchange
The South Bay Interchange is a massive interchange in the South Bay region of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The interchange consists of Interstate 90, the Mass Pike Extension, and the Interstate 93 concurrency with US 1 and MA 3 south of the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Tunnel.The interchange was...
. Even earlier, the terminal was in the block bounded by Kneeland Street, Beach Street, Albany Street (now Surface Artery
Central Artery
The John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, known locally as the Central Artery, is a section of freeway in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, designated as Interstate 93, U.S. Route 1 and Route 3. It was initially constructed in the 1950s as a partly elevated and partly tunneled divided highway...
) and Lincoln Street (which later became a freight house).
By the early part of the 20th century, commuter rail service was provided east of Worcester, with intercity rail continuing on west. The intercity trips were taken over by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
on May 1, 1971, and on January 27, 1973 the MBTA acquired the line east of Framingham. Service beyond Framingham was discontinued October 27, 1975, as the state did not subsidize it. Conrail took over Penn Central on April 1, 1976. On September 26, 1994, some rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
trains started to serve Worcester on Conrail trackage (which became CSX trackage on June 1, 1999), extending to other times beginning on December 14, 1996. The MBTA acquired the rest of the line from Framingham to Worcester as part of an agreement announced in 2009. As part of the deal, clearances on the line west of Interstate 495
Interstate 495 (Massachusetts)
Interstate 495 is the designation of an Interstate Highway half-beltway in Massachusetts. It was the longest auxiliary Interstate Highway of its kind—measuring 120.74 miles —until 1996, when the PA Route 9 section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was redesignated as Interstate 476, making it about ...
will be improved, permitting full double stack
Double stack
Double stack may refer to:* Double-stack rail transport — trains with two layers of containers.* A guitar amplifier configuration...
service from Selkirk Yard
Selkirk Yard
Selkirk Yard is a large freight railroad yard located in Selkirk, New York, about 8 miles south of Albany. The yard is owned by CSX Transportation, and is its major classification yard for the northeast United States and the gateway to points east of the Hudson River, including New York City. It is...
in New York to an expanded CSX intermodal freight facility in Worcester and a transload facility near I-495. The deal was closed on June 17, 2010. The Boston Subdivision
Boston Subdivision
The Boston Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. The line runs from Boston west to near Springfield along a former New York Central Railroad line. Its east end is at Amtrak's Northeast Corridor at Back Bay Station, over which CSX has...
of CSX retains rights to use certain MBTA-owned track.
Since 1959, the former "Circuit" line, later called the Highland Branch, has been used as the grade-separated right-of-way of the light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
Green Line "D" Branch operated by the MBTA.
Branches
The Grand Junction Railroad
Grand Junction Railroad
The Grand Junction Railroad is an 8.55-mile long railroad in the Boston, Massachusetts area, connecting the railroads heading west and north from Boston...
was chartered in 1847 as a reincorpration of the 1846 Chelsea Branch Railroad, meant to connect the lines north and west of Boston. The first section, from East Boston to Somerville, opened in 1849, and the extension to the B&W in Allston opened in 1856. The Eastern Railroad
Eastern Railroad (Massachusetts)
The Eastern Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston, Massachusetts, to Portland, Maine. Throughout its history, it competed with the Boston and Maine Railroad for service between those two cities, until the Boston & Maine finally put an end to the competition by leasing the Eastern in December...
leased the line from 1852 to 1866, using part of it as their new main line. In 1866 the B&W bought the line (keeping trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
for the Eastern).
Brookline/Highland
The Brookline Branch split from the main line in the west part of Boston's Back Bay, running southwest for 1.55 mi (2.5 km) to Brookline (the current location of Brookline Village
Brookline Village (MBTA station)
Brookline Village is a stop on the D branch of the MBTA Green Line. The station is located in Brookline, Massachusetts. The station is 20 minutes away from Park Street. There is no MBTA parking at the station, but there are 15 bicycle spaces...
station). It opened in 1847. In Summer 1852 the Charles River Branch Railroad extended the line to Newton Upper Falls
Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts
Newton Upper Falls is a village situated on the east bank of the Charles River in the city of Newton, Massachusetts, in the United States.The area borders Needham, Massachusetts to the south/southwest, Wellesley, Massachusetts to the west, the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston to the extreme...
; this would eventually become part of the New England Railroad, an alternate route to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
In 1882 the B&A bought part of the Charles River Branch, and in 1884 they built a line from Riverside
Riverside (MBTA station)
Riverside is the western terminus of the MBTA Green Line "D" Branch light rail line. It is located at 333 Grove Street, off Exit 22 on Interstate 95 , in Auburndale, a village of Newton, Massachusetts. Scheduled travel time to Park Street is 46 minutes. Riverside includes a parking...
to the branch, forming the Highland Branch, Newton Highlands Branch or "Newton Circuit". Service ended in 1958, and the MBTA Green Line "D" Branch light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line started using the tracks in 1959.
Newton Lower Falls
The short 1.25 mile (2.0 km) Newton Lower Falls Branch
Newton Lower Falls Branch
The Newton Lower Falls Branch was a branch of the Boston and Albany Railroad running a distance of approximately one mile from the Riverside Station in Newton to Lower Falls in Wellesley and...
opened in 1847, splitting from the main line just west of Riverside
Riverside (MBTA station)
Riverside is the western terminus of the MBTA Green Line "D" Branch light rail line. It is located at 333 Grove Street, off Exit 22 on Interstate 95 , in Auburndale, a village of Newton, Massachusetts. Scheduled travel time to Park Street is 46 minutes. Riverside includes a parking...
to Newton Lower Falls
Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts
Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts is a village of Newton, Massachusetts, on the Charles River. The commercial area extends across the river into Wellesley, Massachusetts, where it is known as Wellesley Lower Falls, where a majority of the retail businesses are.The Charles River drops 18 feet over...
. At some point it was realigned to split at Riverside.
Saxonville
The Saxonville Branch opened in 1846, running 3.87 miles (6.2 km) from Natick to Saxonville
Saxonville, Massachusetts
Saxonville is a historic mill village located in the north end of the town of Framingham, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts 01701.- Geography :Saxonville is located at 42.3203 degrees latitude, 71.4404 longitude....
.
Framingham
The Framingham Branch opened in 1849, running 2.06 miles (3.3 km) from Framingham to Framingham Centre. The Agricultural Branch Railroad
Agricultural Branch Railroad
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...
was incorporated in 1847 and opened in 1855, continuing the branch to Northborough, and to Pratts Junction in 1866. It was leased by the B&W in 1853, but consolidated into 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....
in 1876 and leased to 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...
in 1879 after changing its name to the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad in 1867. This company also used the Framingham Branch as part of its main line.
Milford
In 1847, the 11.97 mile (19.3 km) Milford Branch, splitting at Framingham, opened. A connection was later made at Milford to the Milford and Woonsocket Railroad and Hopkinton Railway.
Millbury
The 3.07 mile (4.9 km) Millbury Branch opened in 1846 from a split at Millbury Junction on the Grafton/Millbury line to Millbury
Millbury, Massachusetts
Millbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,261 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.-History:...
.
Webster
The Providence, Webster and Springfield Railroad was chartered in 1882, opened in 1884, and always leased to and operated by the B&A. The line formed a branch of the B&A from Webster Junction in Auburn to the Worcester and Norwich Railroad in Webster, with a short branch (East Village Branch) in Webster to East Village.
Spencer
The Spencer Railroad railroad opened and was leased to the B&A in 1879, as a short branch from South Spencer to Spencer. The B&A outright bought it in 1889.
North Brookfield
The North Brookfield Railroad was chartered in 1874, inbcorporated in 1875 and opened in 1876, branching from the B&A in East Brookfield and running to North Brookfield. It was leased to the B&A from opening.
Ware River
The Ware River Railroad was chartered in 1868, running from Palmer to the Cheshire Railroad in Winchendon. The first section, from Palmer to Gilbertville
Gilbertville, Massachusetts
Gilbertville is an unincorporated village in the town of Hardwick, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, about 20 miles west of the city of Worcester.-External links:*...
, opened in 1870, and the rest in 1873. Until 1873 it was leased to and operated by the New London Northern Railroad
New London Northern Railroad
The New London Northern Railroad was a part of the Central Vermont Railway from New London, Connecticut, north to Brattleboro, Vermont. After a long period with the Canadian National Railway, it is now operated by the New England Central Railroad...
; at that time the lease was transferred to the B&A, as a reorganization of the earlier company.
Athol
The Athol and Enfield Railroad and Springfield and North-Eastern Railroad were chartered in 1869, and succeeded by the Springfield, Athol and North-eastern Railroad in 1872, opening in 1873 as a branch from Athol Junction
Athol Junction
Athol Junction is a place in Springfield, Massachusetts named after the rail line that split off to Athol, Massachusetts before The Quabbin Reservoir was flooded....
in Springfield to the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad in Athol. The B&A bought the line in 1880. The majority of the line was closed in the 1930s due to the formation of the Quabbin Reservoir
Quabbin Reservoir
The Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was built between 1930 and 1939. Today along with the Wachusett Reservoir, it is the primary water supply for Boston, some to the east, as well as 40 other communities in Greater Boston...
.
Chester and Becket
The Chester and Becket Railroad was chartered in 1896 and opened in 1897 from Chester west to quarries
Quarries
Quarries - The "Royal Quarries" — not found in Scripture — is the namegiven to the vast caverns stretching far underneath the northern hill, Bezetha, on which Jerusalem is built. Out of these mammoth caverns stones, a hard limestone, have been quarried in ancient times for the buildings in the...
in Becket. It was always operated by the B&A.
North Adams
The Pittsfield and North Adams Railroad was incorporated in 1842 and opened in 1846, having been already leased to the Western Railroad. It ran from North Adams Junction in Pittsfield to North Adams, where it connected to the Troy and Greenfield Railroad
Troy and Greenfield Railroad
The Troy and Greenfield Railroad, chartered in 1848, ran from Greenfield, Massachusetts, United States, to the Vermont state line. It was leased to the Troy and Boston Railroad in 1856, then consolidated into Fitchburg Railroad 1887 which in turn was acquired by Boston and Maine Railroad by lease...
. Surviving structures along this branch include the Pittsfield & North Adams Passenger Station and Baggage & Express House
Pittsfield & North Adams Passenger Station and Baggage & Express House
Pittsfield & North Adams Passenger Station and Baggage & Express House is a historic building at 10 Pleasant Street in Adams, Massachusetts.It was built in 1889 along the North Adams Branch of the Boston and Albany Railroad, and added to the National Historic Register in 1982.-References:...
in Adams, Massachusetts
Adams, Massachusetts
Adams is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,485 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.
Hudson
The Hudson and Berkshire Railroad was chartered in 1828 to build a line from Hudson, New York
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
to the Massachusetts
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...
state line. Construction began in 1835 and was completed in 1838. The company was leased to the Berkshire Railroad, along with the connecting West Stockbridge Railroad, in 1844, but was bought by the Western Railroad in 1854. The name was changed to the Hudson and Boston Railroad in 1855, and the part east of Chatham was abandoned around 1860, as it was redundant with the newer Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad (part of the B&A main line). The rest of the line formed a cutoff between the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad towards New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the B&A.
Post Road/Selkirk
The Post Road Branch or Selkirk Branch was originally built as part of the Hudson River Connecting Railroad, a southern bypass of the Albany area. It opened in 1924, and the part of it from the B&A at Post Road Crossing (the crossing of the Albany Post Road
Albany Post Road
The Albany Post Road was a post road - a road used for mail delivery - in the U.S. state of New York. It connected the cities of New York and Albany along the east side of the Hudson River, a service now performed by US 9.The rough route was as follows:...
) to Schodack Junction on the east side of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
became the B&A Post Road Branch. The rest became the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
's Castleton Cut-Off.
Station and Landscape Design Program
The B&A undertook a significant program of improvement and beautification in the 1880s and 1890s. Beginning in 1881, the B&A hired architect Henry Hobson RichardsonHenry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
to design a series of passenger stations. Over the next five years, Richardson was responsible for nine B&A stations (Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Elliot, Waban, and Woodland (Newton, MA), Wellesley Hills, Brighton, South Framingham, and Palmer), as well as a dairy building; he also provided designs for passenger cars. At the same time, the B&A hired landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
to design the grounds of several stations and to work with the railroad to establish a landscape beautification program for other stations. After Richardson's death, the B&A commissioned his successors, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge
Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge
Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge was a successful architecture firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, operating between 1886 and 1915, with extensive commissions in monumental civic and collegiate architecture in the spirit and style of Henry Hobson Richardson....
, to design twenty-three additional stations between 1886 and 1894. The B&A's innovative program of well-designed stations and landscape served as a model for several other railroads around the turn of the 19th century.
Current Accessibility
All stations from Yawkey east and West Natick west are handicapped accessible; the ones in between are not. See also MBTA accessibilityMBTA accessibility
Physical accessibility on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority system is incomplete but improving, with accessibility on all buses , all Orange Line stations, all but 2 Red Line stations, and all but 2 Blue Line stations...
.
Main Line Station listing*
| State | Milepost | City | Station | Opening date | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA 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... |
0.00 | Boston | South Station South Station (Boston) South Station, New England's second-largest transportation center , located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street in Dewey Square, Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest train station and intercity bus terminal in Greater Boston, a prominent train station in the northeastern... |
1899 | All south side Commuter Rail MBTA Commuter Rail The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate... lines Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Acela Express Acela Express The Acela Express is Amtrak's high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor in the Northeast United States between Washington, D.C., and Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York... , Regional Regional (Amtrak) The Northeast Regional is an intercity rail service operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern United States. In the past, it has also been known as the NortheastDirect, Acela Regional, and Regional. It is by far the busiest Amtrak route, carrying 7.15 million passengers in fiscal year 2010... and Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... replaced older terminal. Passenger connections to Red Line Red Line (MBTA) The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2... , Silver Line Silver Line (MBTA) The Silver Line is the only bus rapid transit line currently operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority . It operates in two sections; the first runs from Dudley Square in Roxbury to downtown Boston, Massachusetts and South Station, mostly via Washington Street, with buses... , and intercity bus. |
| Columbus Avenue | closed 1899 | ||||
| 1.25 | Back Bay Back Bay (MBTA station) Back Bay station, located at 145 Dartmouth Street, between Stuart Street and Columbus Avenue, is a train station in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston... |
1899 | originally Trinity Place splits from Attleboro/Stoughton Line/Franklin Line Franklin Line The Franklin Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail runs from Boston's South Station in a southwesterly direction toward Franklin, Massachusetts. Most Franklin Line trains connect to the Providence/Stoughton Line at Readville though some weekday trains use the Fairmount Line to access South Station... /Needham Line Needham Line The Needham Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running west from downtown Boston, Massachusetts through the Boston neighborhoods ofRoxbury,Jamaica Plain,Roslindale,West Roxbury, and the town ofNeedham.... Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Acela Express Acela Express The Acela Express is Amtrak's high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor in the Northeast United States between Washington, D.C., and Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York... , Regional Regional (Amtrak) The Northeast Regional is an intercity rail service operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern United States. In the past, it has also been known as the NortheastDirect, Acela Regional, and Regional. It is by far the busiest Amtrak route, carrying 7.15 million passengers in fiscal year 2010... and Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... |
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| Yawkey Yawkey (MBTA station) Yawkey is a station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line. It is situated near Fenway Park, Boston University and the Longwood Medical and Academic Area in the Fenway-Kenmore section of Boston.... |
April 29, 1988 | only operated during games at Fenway Park Fenway Park Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"... until January 2, 2001 when it opened to daily commuter traffic. |
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| Brookline Junction | not a station split with Highland Branch (original Brookline Branch) |
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| 3.08 | University | closed originally Cottage Farms |
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| merge with Grand Junction Branch | |||||
| 4.30 | Allston | closed | |||
| 5.06 | Brighton | closed | |||
| 5.84 | Faneuil | closed | |||
| 7.10 | Newton Newton, Massachusetts Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:... |
Newton | closed | ||
| 8.14 | Newtonville Newtonville (MBTA station) Newtonville is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located at 770 Washington Street inNewton, Massachusetts near the Massachusetts Turnpike.-MBTA Bus connections:... |
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| 9.19 | West Newton West Newton (MBTA station) West Newton is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located at 1395 Washington Street in Newton, Massachusetts near the Massachusetts Turnpike.-External links:* * * *... |
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| 10.29 | Auburndale Auburndale (MBTA station) Auburndale is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located on 477 Lexington Street in Auburndale, Massachusetts near the Massachusetts Turnpike and Lasell College.-MBTA Bus connections:... |
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| 10.90 | Riverside Riverside (MBTA station) Riverside is the western terminus of the MBTA Green Line "D" Branch light rail line. It is located at 333 Grove Street, off Exit 22 on Interstate 95 , in Auburndale, a village of Newton, Massachusetts. Scheduled travel time to Park Street is 46 minutes. Riverside includes a parking... |
closed October 27, 1977 split with Highland Branch and Newton Lower Falls Branch Newton Lower Falls Branch The Newton Lower Falls Branch was a branch of the Boston and Albany Railroad running a distance of approximately one mile from the Riverside Station in Newton to Lower Falls in Wellesley and... |
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| 12.58 | Wellesley Wellesley, Massachusetts Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College... |
Wellesley Farms | |||
| 13.50 | Wellesley Hills Wellesley Hills (MBTA station) Wellesley Hills is a historic passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located at 339 Washington Street in Wellesley, Massachusetts... |
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| 14.73 | Wellesley Square Wellesley Square (MBTA station) Wellesley Square is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. It is officially located at 1 Grove Street in Wellesley, Massachusetts, which is north of the west end of the MA 16-135 multiplex and west of the historic Wellesley Town Hall. The station house was... |
originally Wellesley | |||
| Lake Crossing | closed | ||||
| 17.64 | Natick Natick, Massachusetts Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area... |
Natick Natick (MBTA station) Natick is a below-grade MBTA Commuter Rail station serving Downtown Natick/Natick Center, Massachusetts, as well as Wayland and Dover. The station is located on the MBTA's Framingham/Worcester Line... |
split with Saxonville Branch | ||
| West Natick West Natick (MBTA station) West Natick is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. It is located on 249 West Central Street off the corner of Boden Avenue in Natick, Massachusetts. Though the parking lot is only accessible to West Central Street, the station platforms are closer to the... |
August 23, 1982 | ||||
| 21.36 | 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:... |
Framingham Framingham (MBTA station) Framingham is an MBTA commuter rail and Amtrak station serving the town of Framingham, Massachusetts. The station is a well-patronized stop and former terminus on the Framingham/Worcester Line, served by 21 weekday round trips to South Station, Boston... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... junction with Milford Branch and 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.... (NYNH&H, includes original Framingham Branch) |
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| 24.21 | Ashland Ashland, Massachusetts Ashland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the MetroWest region. The population was 16,593 at the 2010 census.-History:... |
Ashland Ashland (MBTA station) Ashland is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. The station is located on Pleasant Street in Ashland, Massachusetts on the opposite side of the Sudbury River, and has 678 parking spaces on both sides of the tracks... |
August 24, 2002 | split with Hopkinton Railway (NYNH&H) | |
| 27.45 | 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... |
Southborough Southborough (MBTA station) Southborough is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. It is officially located at 87 Southville Road in Southborough, Massachusetts,, however the parking lot is on the opposite side of the tracks off of River Street south of the 11 foot high railroad bridge... |
June 22, 2002 | originally Cordaville | |
| 28.08 | Southville | closed | |||
| 31.92 | Westborough Westborough, Massachusetts Westborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,272 at the 2010 census. The town is governed under the New England open town meeting system, headed by a five member elected Board of Selectmen whose duties include licensing, appointing various... |
Westborough Westborough (MBTA station) Westborough is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. Though it is officially located at Smith Parkway & Fisher Street in Westborough, Massachusetts, however no access to the station is available from Fisher Street, which crosses over the Framingham/Worcester... |
June 22, 2002 | ||
| 37.85 | Grafton Grafton, Massachusetts Grafton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,765 at the 2010 census. Grafton is the home of a Nipmuc village known as Hassanamisco Reservation, the Willard House and Clock Museum, and the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine... |
Grafton Grafton (MBTA station) Grafton is the penultimate passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line. Though it is officially located at 1 Pine Street in North... |
February 23, 2000 | originally North Grafton junction with Grafton and Upton Railroad Grafton and Upton Railroad The Grafton and Upton Railroad is a Class III short line railroad in east-central Massachusetts. This 16.5 mile line connects runs from Grafton to Milford and connects to CSX Transportation lines at both ends... |
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| 39.17 | Millbury Millbury, Massachusetts Millbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,261 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.-History:... |
Millbury | closed split with Millbury Branch |
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| 44.33 | Worcester Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston.... |
Worcester | Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... replaced older terminal temporarily closed October 26, 1975, reopened September 26, 1994 junction with Providence and Worcester Railroad Providence and Worcester Railroad The Providence and Worcester Railroad is a Class II railroad in the United States. 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... (NYNH&H), Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NYNH&H), Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad The Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad was a railroad line that was to link the city of Worcester, Massachusetts to the city of Portland, Maine via the New Hampshire cities of Nashua and Rochester, by merging several small railroads together.... (B&M) and Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad (B&M) |
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| 45.30 | Hammond Street | closed junction with Norwich and Worcester Railroad (NYNH&H) |
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| 47.86 | Jamesville | closed | |||
| 53.06 | Auburn Auburn, Massachusetts Auburn is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,188 at the 2010 census.- History :Auburn was first settled in 1789 and was officially incorporated in 1808 as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward... |
Webster Junction | not a station split with Webster Branch |
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| 53.06 | Leicester Leicester, Massachusetts Leicester is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,970 at the 2010 census.-History:Leicester was first settled in 1713 and was officially incorporated in 1714.... |
Rochdale | closed | ||
| 57.53 | Charlton Charlton, Massachusetts Charlton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,981 at the 2010 census.- History :Charlton was first settled in 1735. It was established as a District separated off from Oxford on January 10, 1755, and became a Town in 1775 by a law that made all... |
Charlton | closed | ||
| 61.90 | Spencer Spencer, Massachusetts Spencer is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,688 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Spencer, please see the article Spencer , Massachusetts.... |
South Spencer | closed merge with Spencer Branch |
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| 63.78 | East Brookfield East Brookfield, Massachusetts East Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,183 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place East Brookfield, please see the article East Brookfield , Massachusetts.- History :East Brookfield was... |
East Brookfield | closed merge with North Brookfield Branch |
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| 66.99 | Brookfield Brookfield, Massachusetts Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,390 at the 2010 census.-History:Brookfield was first settled in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1718... |
Brookfield | closed | ||
| 69.60 | West Brookfield West Brookfield, Massachusetts West Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,701 at the 2010 census. Lucy Stone was born in West Brookfield, and Noah Webster published his dictionary there.... |
West Brookfield | closed | ||
| 72.62 | Warren Warren, Massachusetts Warren is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,135 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Warren, please see the article Warren , Massachusetts.- History :... |
Warren | closed | ||
| 74.94 | West Warren | closed | |||
| 78.38 | Brimfield Brimfield, Massachusetts Brimfield is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,609 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
West Brimfield | closed | ||
| 83.61 | Palmer Palmer, Massachusetts The Town of Palmer is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,140 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
Palmer | closed junction with Ware River Branch and New London Northern Railroad New London Northern Railroad The New London Northern Railroad was a part of the Central Vermont Railway from New London, Connecticut, north to Brattleboro, Vermont. After a long period with the Canadian National Railway, it is now operated by the New England Central Railroad... (CN Canadian National Railway The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad".... ) |
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| 88.68 | Wilbraham Wilbraham, Massachusetts Wilbraham is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is also a suburb of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts and part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census... |
North Wilbraham North Wilbraham (B&A station) North Wilbraham B&A station was a train station in north Wilbraham, Massachusetts.-External links:* *... |
closed | ||
| 92.55 | Springfield Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern... |
Oak Street | closed merge with connection to Athol Branch |
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| Athol Junction Athol Junction Athol Junction is a place in Springfield, Massachusetts named after the rail line that split off to Athol, Massachusetts before The Quabbin Reservoir was flooded.... |
not a station merge with Athol Branch |
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| 98.33 | Springfield Springfield, Massachusetts (Amtrak station) Springfield Union Station is an Amtrak train station in Springfield, Massachusetts. Constructed in 1926, as of 2010, Springfield Union Station was the fifth busiest Amtrak station in Massachusetts, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 360 passengers daily... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... junction with Hartford and Springfield Railroad Hartford and Springfield Railroad The Hartford and Springfield Railroad is the continuation of the Hartford and New Haven Railroad from the Connecticut state line to Springfield, Massachusetts. It was in length and was owned and run by the Connecticut company under the usual arrangements in such cases. It was opened to traffic and... (NYNH&H), Springfield and New London Railroad Springfield and New London Railroad The Springfield and New London Railroad is a historic railroad in Massachusetts. It was incorporated in Massachusetts as the Springfield and Longmeadow Railroad on May 2, 1849. In 1866 the act of incorporation was amended so as to permit a location terminating at the state line in either... (NYNH&H) and Connecticut River Railroad Connecticut River Railroad The Connecticut River Railroad was formed in 1845 by the merger of the Northampton and Springfield Railroad with the unbuilt Greenfield and Northampton Railroad.... (B&M) |
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| 100.83 | West Springfield West Springfield, Massachusetts The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census... |
West Springfield (Mittineague) | closed | ||
| Agawam Junction | not a station split with Central New England Railway Central New England Railway The Central New England Railway was a railroad from Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts west across northern Connecticut and across the Hudson River on the Poughkeepsie Bridge to Maybrook, New York... (NYNH&H) |
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| 107.90 | Westfield Westfield, Massachusetts Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State... |
Westfield | closed junction with New Haven and Northampton Company (NYNH&H) |
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| 112.87 | Russell Russell, Massachusetts Russell is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,775 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
Woronoco | closed | ||
| 115.39 | Russell | closed | |||
| 119.25 | Huntington Huntington, Massachusetts Huntington is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,174 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :... |
Huntington | closed | ||
| 125.84 | Chester Chester, Massachusetts Chester is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, situated in the western part of the state. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area. The town includes the Chester Factory Village Historic District. The total population was 1,337 in the 2010... |
Chester | closed split with Chester and Becket Branch |
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| 130.63 | Middlefield Middlefield, Massachusetts Middlefield is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 542 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
Middlefield | closed | ||
| 134.12 | Becket Becket, Massachusetts Becket is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,779 at the 2010 census.- History :... |
Becket | closed | ||
| 137.65 | Washington Washington, Massachusetts Washington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 538 at the 2010 census.- History :... |
Washington | closed | ||
| 141.91 | Hinsdale Hinsdale, Massachusetts Hinsdale is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
Hinsdale | closed | ||
| 145.25 | Dalton Dalton, Massachusetts Dalton is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Dalton is the transition town between the urban and rural pieces of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,892 at the 2000 census.- History... |
Dalton | closed | ||
| 148.16 | Pittsfield Pittsfield, Massachusetts Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201... |
North Adams Junction | closed merge with North Adams Branch |
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| 150.59 | Pittsfield Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center The Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center is a long-distance ground travel terminal serving the Pittsfield, Massachusetts area and surrounding areas. Named after Joseph Scelsi, a longtime State Representative who represented Pittsfield, the center opened in 2004 adjacent to the site of... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... Replaced older terminal. Junction with Stockbridge and Pittsfield Railroad (NYNH&H) |
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| 154.20 | West Pittsfield | closed | |||
| 156.74 | Richmond Richmond, Massachusetts Richmond is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,475 at the 2010 census.-History:... |
Richmond Summit | closed | ||
| 158.77 | Richmond | closed | |||
| 159.81 | Richmond Furnace | closed | |||
| 161.78 | West Stockbridge West Stockbridge, Massachusetts West Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,416 at the 2000 census.- History :... |
State Line | closed junction with West Stockbridge Railroad (NYNH&H) |
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| New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... |
163.59 | Canaan Canaan, New York Canaan is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,820 at the 2000 census.The Town of Canaan is in the northeast part of the county.- History :The first settlers arrived around 1759.... |
Edwards Park | closed | |
| 166.98 | Canaan | closed | |||
| 171.35 | Chatham | East Chatham | closed | ||
| 174.99 | Payn's | closed | |||
| 177.17 | Ghent Ghent, New York Ghent is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States, with a ZIP code of 12075. The population was 5,276 at the 2000 census. 2004 estimates put the population at 5,316.The Town of Ghent is centrally located in the county... |
Chatham | closed junction with Hudson Branch, New York and Harlem Railroad New York and Harlem Railroad The New York and Harlem Railroad was one of the first railroads in the United States, and possibly also the world's first street railway. Designed by John Stephenson, it was opened in stages between 1832 and 1852 between Lower Manhattan to and beyond Harlem... (NYC) and Chatham and Lebanon Valley Railroad (Rutland Rutland Railroad The Rutland Railway was a small railroad in the northeastern United States, primarily in the state of Vermont but extending into the state of New York. The earliest ancestor of the Rutland, the Rutland & Burlington Railroad, was chartered in 1843 by the state of Vermont to build between Rutland... ) |
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| 182.06 | Chatham | Chatham Center | closed | ||
| 184.72 | Kinderhook | Niverville Niverville (B&A station) Niverville is a former Boston and Albany Railroad station in the hamlet of Niverville, New York.A picture of the Van Hoesen House located in Niverville NY. This picture was taken in 2005. The 2nd picture is looking from the upstairs deck out to the tracks. To the right of the white car is where... |
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| 187.41 | Schodack Schodack, New York Schodack is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 12,536 at the 2000 census. The town name is derived from the native word, Escotak. The town is in the southwestern part of the county. Schodack is southeast of Albany, New York.- History :Prior to the advent of... |
Post Road | closed split with Post Road Branch |
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| 190.14 | Van Hoesen | closed | |||
| 192.40 | Brookview | closed | |||
| 195.41 | East Greenbush | East Greenbush | closed | ||
| 199.83 | Rensselaer Rensselaer, New York Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, United States, and is located on the Hudson River directly opposite Albany. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,392; in 1920, it was 10,832. The name is from Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original landowner of the region in New... |
Rensselaer Albany-Rensselaer (Amtrak station) The Albany – Rensselaer Rail Station is a long-distance rail terminal in Rensselaer, New York, located 1.5 miles from downtown Albany across the Hudson River. , the station was Amtrak's tenth-busiest station and by 2010 it had become the ninth-busiest... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... junction with Hudson River Railroad (NYC New York Central Railroad The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States... ), Hudson River Bridge (NYC New York Central Railroad The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States... ) and Troy and Greenbush Railroad (NYC New York Central Railroad The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States... ) |
- The route of the Boston and Albany line changed several times over its lifetime. These changes include rerouting for the creation of the Quabbin ReservoirQuabbin ReservoirThe Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was built between 1930 and 1939. Today along with the Wachusett Reservoir, it is the primary water supply for Boston, some to the east, as well as 40 other communities in Greater Boston...
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External links
Further reading
- Guild, William, "A Chart and Description of the Boston and Worcester and Western Railroads," Boston, 1847. (Available on Google Books).
- Ochsner, Jeffrey KarlJeffrey Karl OchsnerJeffrey Karl Ochsner is an architect, architectural historian, and professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is known for his research and writing on American architects Henry Hobson Richardson and Lionel H. Pries, and on Seattle architecture.Ochsner graduated from Rice University...
, "Architecture for the Boston & Albany Railroad," Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 47 (June 1988), pages 109-131. - O'Gorman, James F.James F. O'GormanDr. James F. O'Gorman is a leading American architectural historian, author, lecturer, editor, and consultant who taught for many years at Wellesley College. O'Gorman received a B.Arch. degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1956 and an M.Arch. from the University of Illinois,...
, H.H. Richardson: Architectural Forms for an American Society, University of Chicago PressUniversity of Chicago PressThe University of Chicago Press is the largest university press in the United States. It is operated by the University of Chicago and publishes a wide variety of academic titles, including The Chicago Manual of Style, dozens of academic journals, including Critical Inquiry, and a wide array of...
, Chicago and London 1987, pages 113-126. - Stilgoe, John R.John R. StilgoeJohn R. Stilgoe is an award-winning historian and photographer who is the Robert and Lois Orchard Professor in the History of Landscape at the Visual and Environmental Studies Department of Harvard University, where he has been teaching since 1977. He is also a fellow of the Society of American...
, Metropolitan Corridor: Railroads and the American Scene, Yale University PressYale University PressYale University Press is a book publisher founded in 1908 by George Parmly Day. It became an official department of Yale University in 1961, but remains financially and operationally autonomous....
, New Haven and London 1983, pages 223-243.