Narragansett Pier Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Narragansett Pier Railroad was a Class III railroad
operating in Rhode Island
from 1876 until 1981.
and Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
.
Trolleys were operated over the segment of the railroad between Peace Dale, Rhode Island
and Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
from 1904 until 1907.
The railroad ended regular passenger service on December 31, 1952, although limited excursion service continued into the 1970s.
The line's southern terminus was later cut back from Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
to Wakefield, Rhode Island
, shortening the line to 6.2 miles. By 1981, the line was pared back to being just a 2-mile line between Kingston and Peace Dale, Rhode Island
. Operations were suspended by 1981, and the line was never reopened.
Approximately 5.6 miles of the railroad's right of way was converted into the William C. O'Neill Bike Path (formerly known as the South County Bike Path), with first phase completed in 2000 and second phase in 2003. Phase three of the project is intended to reach the South County Museum in Narrangansett in summer of 2011.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
operating in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
from 1876 until 1981.
History
The Narragansett Pier Railroad was chartered in January 1868 and opened on July 17, 1876, between Kingston, Rhode IslandKingston, Rhode Island
Kingston is a village and a census-designated place in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States, and the site of the main campus of the University of Rhode Island. Much of the village center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Kingston Village Historic...
and Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
Narragansett Pier is an unincorporated village and a census-designated place in the town of Narragansett in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 3,671 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
Trolleys were operated over the segment of the railroad between Peace Dale, Rhode Island
Peace Dale, Rhode Island
Peace Dale is a village in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Together with the village of Wakefield, it is treated by the U.S...
and Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
Narragansett Pier is an unincorporated village and a census-designated place in the town of Narragansett in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 3,671 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
from 1904 until 1907.
The railroad ended regular passenger service on December 31, 1952, although limited excursion service continued into the 1970s.
The line's southern terminus was later cut back from Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island
Narragansett Pier is an unincorporated village and a census-designated place in the town of Narragansett in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 3,671 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
to Wakefield, Rhode Island
Wakefield, Rhode Island
Wakefield is a village in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, and the commercial center of the town. Together with the village of Peace Dale, it is treated by the U.S. Census as a component of the census designated place identified as Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island. South Kingston was...
, shortening the line to 6.2 miles. By 1981, the line was pared back to being just a 2-mile line between Kingston and Peace Dale, Rhode Island
Peace Dale, Rhode Island
Peace Dale is a village in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Together with the village of Wakefield, it is treated by the U.S...
. Operations were suspended by 1981, and the line was never reopened.
Approximately 5.6 miles of the railroad's right of way was converted into the William C. O'Neill Bike Path (formerly known as the South County Bike Path), with first phase completed in 2000 and second phase in 2003. Phase three of the project is intended to reach the South County Museum in Narrangansett in summer of 2011.