Framingham and Lowell Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Framingham and Lowell Railroad was a railroad in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
. It was incorporated in 1870 to provide a rail connection between Framingham
to Lowell
through the towns of Sudbury
, Concord
, Acton
, Carlisle
, Westford
and Chelmsford
. The 26.1 mile line opened on October 1, 1871.
On April 1, 1872 the line was leased to the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad for twenty years. The lease was later extended by the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad
to 998 years from October 1, 1879.
The Framingham and Lowell Railroad was deeded on execution sale to the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad
on September 10, 1881. One month later on October 5, 1881, it was conveyed to the Lowell and Framingham Railroad Company.
On February 27, 1886, the road was consolidated with the Old Colony Railroad
, who had previously acquired the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad
in 1883.
In 1893, it became part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
as part of the lease of the entire Old Colony Railroad
network.
Regular passenger traffic on the branch ceased in the mid 1930s although, the New Haven Railroad used it to route north bound ski trains through the 1950s. When the New Haven Railroad was absorbed into Conrail, this line was not, save a small portion in Framingham. The ownership of the line passed to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who contracted with Conrail to provide service. During the 1980s the Framingham to Concord Section was abandoned, and service was contracted to the Bay Colony Railroad
to supply North Acton based lumber yards from West Concord (aka Concord Junction). Service stopped in the early 1990s. By late 2005, all grade crossing had been removed by the Massachusetts Highway Department
. This line is in various stages of being converted into Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
. It was incorporated in 1870 to provide a rail connection between 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:...
to Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
through the towns of Sudbury
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, population 17,659. The town was incorporated in 1639, with the original boundaries including what is now Wayland. Wayland split from Sudbury in 1780. When first incorporated, it included and parts of Framingham, Marlborough, Stow...
, Concord
Concord, Massachusetts
Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
, Acton
Acton, Massachusetts
Acton is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States about twenty-one miles west-northwest of Boston along Route 2 west of Concord and about ten miles southwest of Lowell. The population was 21,924 at the 2010 census...
, Carlisle
Carlisle, Massachusetts
Carlisle is an affluent, rural town northwest of Boston located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the town is 4,852.-History:...
, Westford
Westford, Massachusetts
Westford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,951 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally a part of neighboring Chelmsford, West Chelmsford soon grew large enough to sustain its own governance, and was officially incorporated as Westford on September 23,...
and Chelmsford
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Chelmsford is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in the Greater Boston area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 33,802. The Census Bureau's 2008 population estimate for the town was 34,409, ranking it 14th in population among the 54 municipalities in...
. The 26.1 mile line opened on October 1, 1871.
On April 1, 1872 the line was leased to the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg Railroad for twenty years. The lease was later extended by 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....
to 998 years from October 1, 1879.
The Framingham and Lowell Railroad was deeded on execution sale to 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....
on September 10, 1881. One month later on October 5, 1881, it was conveyed to the Lowell and Framingham Railroad Company.
On February 27, 1886, the road was consolidated with 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...
, who had previously acquired 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 1883.
In 1893, it became part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
as part of the lease of the entire 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.
Regular passenger traffic on the branch ceased in the mid 1930s although, the New Haven Railroad used it to route north bound ski trains through the 1950s. When the New Haven Railroad was absorbed into Conrail, this line was not, save a small portion in Framingham. The ownership of the line passed to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who contracted with Conrail to provide service. During the 1980s the Framingham to Concord Section was abandoned, and service was contracted to the Bay Colony Railroad
Bay Colony Railroad
The Bay Colony Railroad is a shortline railroad operating in Massachusetts.The BCLR operates in the Millis - Milford - Needham Corridor. In addition to moving freight for its customers, Bay Colony also performs AAR-certified repairs on rolling stock and contract track construction projects for...
to supply North Acton based lumber yards from West Concord (aka Concord Junction). Service stopped in the early 1990s. By late 2005, all grade crossing had been removed by the Massachusetts Highway Department
Massachusetts Highway Department
The Massachusetts Highway Department was the former name of the highway department in the United States Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1991 until it became the highway division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on November 1, 2009...
. This line is in various stages of being converted into Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
External links
- Video of a fan trip on a portion of the line in Concord and Acton can be seen [here: http://www.vimeo.com/4662274].