New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
Encyclopedia
The New York, Providence and Boston Railroad, normally called the Stonington Line, was a major part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
between New London, Connecticut
and Providence, Rhode Island
. It is now part of Amtrak
's high-speed
Northeast Corridor
.
and Boston had to pass around Point Judith, Rhode Island and its rough waters to reach the Boston and Providence Rail Road
in Providence. The New York and Stonington Railroad was chartered in Connecticut
in May 1832 and the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad in Rhode Island
in June of that year to fix the problem. On July 1, 1833 they consolidated to form a new New York, Providence and Boston Railroad.
Ground was broken at Stonington, Connecticut
on August 14, 1833. On November 17, 1837 the line opened between Stonington and a pier at South Providence, about 1 mile downriver from the city center. At Stonington dock
s connected to steamboat
s to New York City
through Long Island Sound
, and later to the Long Island Rail Road
at Greenport, New York
, opened July 29, 1844. At Providence, a short car float
across the Providence River
led to the docks of the Boston and Providence Rail Road
at India Point
in Providence where travelers could continue on to Boston.
On May 1, 1848 the NYP&B opened an alignment to the new Union Station in Providence, where it connected directly to both the newly opened Providence and Worcester Railroad
and the new main line for the Boston and Providence Rail Road
. This provided direct connections from Stonington to both Boston and Worcester and locations in between. The B&P's old alignment was kept as a branch to transport passengers and freight to and from the pier at India Point
in Providence for transfer to and from the steam boats to New York City
and other points as far south as Galveston, TX. Trade in raw cotton moving north to New England textile mills, and finished goods moving south from New England factories remained strong until the Great Depression.
On November 1, 1859 the NYP&B leased the New Haven, New London and Stonington Railroad, less than a year after its completion, giving it a line from Providence to New Haven, Connecticut
, though with two ferries - across the Thames River
at New London and across the Connecticut River
. The terminal for steamboats connecting to the Long Island Rail Road
was moved to Groton, on the east shore of the Thames River.
In 1864 the NYP&B bought the NHNL&S east of Groton. The rest was leased to the New York and New Haven Railroad
in 1870. In 1889 a bridge was built across the Thames River
, connecting the two lines and completing the all-rail Shore Line, and in 1892 the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
acquired the NYP&B, merging it on February 13, 1893.
In 1969 Penn Central absorbed the NYNH&H. In 1976 Penn Central was merged into Conrail, but the old NYP&B main line was sold to Amtrak
(in Connecticut
) and the State of Rhode Island. It now hosts Acela Express
high-speed trains and Regional
service. The MBTA Providence/Stoughton Line
has extended past Providence on the old NYP&B to a new station at T. F. Green Airport
and there are plans to extend it further to Warwick, Rhode Island
.
When the bridge over the Thames River
to New London, Connecticut
opened in 1889, the old line to the dock
s was kept as a branch.
Westerly Granite Quarry
The Westerly Granite Quarry Proprietor's Railroad, a short branch in Westerly, Rhode Island, was operated by the NYP&B.
Wood River
The Wood River Branch Railroad, a branch from Richmond Switch north to Hope Valley, opened in 1874 and was operated by the NYP&B.
Narragansett Pier
The Narragansett Pier Railroad
opened in 1876 as a branch from Kingston east to Narragansett Pier
, and was operated by the NYP&B.
Wickford
The Newport and Wickford Railroad and Steamboat Company was a branch from Wickford Junction east to Wickford, Rhode Island
, where a connecting steamship service crossed the Narragansett Bay
to Newport. It opened in 1874 and was operated by the NYP&B.
Pontiac/Hope
The Pontiac Branch Railroad opened in the late 1870s and was leased by the NYP&B in 1880 and bought in 1885. It provided a branch from Auburn, Rhode Island
southwest to Pontiac
. The Pawtuxet Valley Railroad opened in 1874 as a leased branch of the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad from River Point
northwest to Hope. In 1884 the lease was transferred to the NYP&B and a connection was built between the Pontiac Branch at Pontiac and River Point.
Warwick
The Warwick Railroad opened in 1875 as a branch from Auburn
southeast into Warwick. It became the Rhode Island Central Railroad in 1879, and later became part of a street railway.
South Providence
The old main line to the dock
s south of downtown Providence, Rhode Island
was kept when the new alignment to downtown opened in 1848.
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...
between New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
and Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. It is now part 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...
's high-speed
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
.
History
Prior to the building of the NYP&B, travelers between New York CityNew 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 Boston had to pass around Point Judith, Rhode Island and its rough waters to reach the Boston and Providence Rail Road
Boston and Providence Rail Road
The Boston and Providence Railroad was an early US Railroad in New England, connecting Boston and Providence and is part of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.-History:...
in Providence. The New York and Stonington Railroad was chartered in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in May 1832 and the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad 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...
in June of that year to fix the problem. On July 1, 1833 they consolidated to form a new New York, Providence and Boston Railroad.
Ground was broken at Stonington, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
on August 14, 1833. On November 17, 1837 the line opened between Stonington and a pier at South Providence, about 1 mile downriver from the city center. At Stonington dock
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
s connected to steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s to 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...
through Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
, and later to the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
at Greenport, New York
Greenport, Suffolk County, New York
Greenport is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located on the north fork of Long Island. The population was 2,048 at the 2000 census....
, opened July 29, 1844. At Providence, a short car float
Car float
A railroad car float or rail barge is an unpowered barge with rail tracks mounted on its deck. It is used to move railroad cars across water obstacles, or to locations they could not otherwise go, and is pushed by a towboat or towed by a tugboat...
across the Providence River
Providence River
thumb|The city of Providence as seen from the Providence River at its confluence with the Narragansett BayThe Providence River is a tidal river in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 8 miles...
led to the docks of the Boston and Providence Rail Road
Boston and Providence Rail Road
The Boston and Providence Railroad was an early US Railroad in New England, connecting Boston and Providence and is part of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.-History:...
at India Point
India Point
India Point may refer to:* Indira Point, formerly called India Point, the southernmost point of India* India Point Park, in Providence, Rhode Island...
in Providence where travelers could continue on to Boston.
On May 1, 1848 the NYP&B opened an alignment to the new Union Station in Providence, where it connected directly to both the newly opened 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...
and the new main line for the Boston and Providence Rail Road
Boston and Providence Rail Road
The Boston and Providence Railroad was an early US Railroad in New England, connecting Boston and Providence and is part of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.-History:...
. This provided direct connections from Stonington to both Boston and Worcester and locations in between. The B&P's old alignment was kept as a branch to transport passengers and freight to and from the pier at India Point
India Point
India Point may refer to:* Indira Point, formerly called India Point, the southernmost point of India* India Point Park, in Providence, Rhode Island...
in Providence for transfer to and from the steam boats to 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 other points as far south as Galveston, TX. Trade in raw cotton moving north to New England textile mills, and finished goods moving south from New England factories remained strong until the Great Depression.
On November 1, 1859 the NYP&B leased the New Haven, New London and Stonington Railroad, less than a year after its completion, giving it a line from Providence to New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, though with two ferries - across the Thames River
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
at New London and across 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...
. The terminal for steamboats connecting to the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
was moved to Groton, on the east shore of the Thames River.
In 1864 the NYP&B bought the NHNL&S east of Groton. The rest was leased to the New York and New Haven Railroad
New York and New Haven Railroad
The New York and New Haven Railroad was a railroad connecting New York City to New Haven, Connecticut along the shore of the Long Island Sound. It opened in 1849, and in 1872 it merged with the Hartford and New Haven Railroad to form the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad...
in 1870. In 1889 a bridge was built across the Thames River
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
, connecting the two lines and completing the all-rail Shore Line, and in 1892 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...
acquired the NYP&B, merging it on February 13, 1893.
In 1969 Penn Central absorbed the NYNH&H. In 1976 Penn Central was merged into Conrail, but the old NYP&B main line was sold to 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...
(in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
) and the State of Rhode Island. It now hosts 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...
high-speed trains and 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...
service. The MBTA Providence/Stoughton Line
Providence/Stoughton Line
The Providence/Stoughton Line is a line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system running southwest from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The main line was originally built by the Boston and Providence Rail Road, and now carries service between Boston and T. F. Green Airport, Rhode Island...
has extended past Providence on the old NYP&B to a new station at T. F. Green Airport
T. F. Green Airport
T. F. Green Airport , also known as Theodore Francis Green State Airport, is a public airport located in Warwick, six miles south of Providence, in Kent County, Rhode Island, USA. Dedicated in 1931, the airport was named for former Rhode Island governor and longtime senator Theodore F. Green...
and there are plans to extend it further to Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
.
Branches
GrotonWhen the bridge over the Thames River
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
to New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
opened in 1889, the old line to the dock
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
s was kept as a branch.
Westerly Granite Quarry
The Westerly Granite Quarry Proprietor's Railroad, a short branch in Westerly, Rhode Island, was operated by the NYP&B.
Wood River
The Wood River Branch Railroad, a branch from Richmond Switch north to Hope Valley, opened in 1874 and was operated by the NYP&B.
Narragansett Pier
The Narragansett Pier Railroad
Narragansett Pier Railroad
The Narragansett Pier Railroad was a Class III railroad operating in Rhode Island from 1876 until 1981.- History :The Narragansett Pier Railroad was chartered in January 1868 and opened on July 17, 1876, between Kingston, Rhode Island and Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island.Trolleys were operated over...
opened in 1876 as a branch from Kingston east to Narragansett Pier
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:...
, and was operated by the NYP&B.
Wickford
The Newport and Wickford Railroad and Steamboat Company was a branch from Wickford Junction east to Wickford, Rhode Island
Wickford, Rhode Island
Wickford is a small village in the town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States, which is named after Wickford in Essex, England. Wickford is located on the west side of Narragansett Bay, just about a 20 minute drive across two bridges from Newport, Rhode Island...
, where a connecting steamship service crossed the Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
to Newport. It opened in 1874 and was operated by the NYP&B.
Pontiac/Hope
The Pontiac Branch Railroad opened in the late 1870s and was leased by the NYP&B in 1880 and bought in 1885. It provided a branch from Auburn, Rhode Island
Auburn, Rhode Island
Auburn is an urban neighborhood in the east-central part of Cranston, Rhode Island....
southwest to Pontiac
Pontiac, Rhode Island
Pontiac is a historic village in Warwick, Rhode Island and Cranston, Rhode Island.-History:Native Americans referred to the area as "Papepieset" or "Toskiounke." After arriving in 1642, the early English settlers called the area "Great Weir" because fishing weirs were used to catch fish near the...
. The Pawtuxet Valley Railroad opened in 1874 as a leased branch of the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad from River Point
River Point, Rhode Island
River Point in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, is a community made up of mill houses and three mills. As of 2006 two are being rehabilitated as condominiums and office projects and the third is still manufacturing high quality hand soap....
northwest to Hope. In 1884 the lease was transferred to the NYP&B and a connection was built between the Pontiac Branch at Pontiac and River Point.
Warwick
The Warwick Railroad opened in 1875 as a branch from Auburn
Auburn, Rhode Island
Auburn is an urban neighborhood in the east-central part of Cranston, Rhode Island....
southeast into Warwick. It became the Rhode Island Central Railroad in 1879, and later became part of a street railway.
South Providence
The old main line to the dock
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
s south of downtown Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
was kept when the new alignment to downtown opened in 1848.