Rutland and Whitehall Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Rutland and Whitehall Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in the state of Vermont
. The railroad, also known as the Castleton Company, received its charter from Vermont in 1848 and opened in 1850.
Its main line ran 6.88 miles (11.1 km) from Castleton, Vermont
to Fair Haven, Vermont, which lay on the New York
border. It also operated a 1.51 miles (2.4 km) branch line from west of Castleton north along Lake Bomoseen which served local slate quarries
. At the eastern end of its line it connected to the Rutland and Washington Railroad
; on the western side the Saratoga and Whitehall Railroad, a New York company. The Saratoga and Whitehall leased the Rutland and Whitehall on its completion in 1850. From March 14, 1865 the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad
leased both companies and operated them together. The Delaware and Hudson Company, which already controlled the Rensselaer and Saratoga, took over operation of the Rutland and Whitehall on May 1, 1871 and the lease of the line on June 15, 1871.
The Rutland and Whitehall had depots in Fair Haven, Castleton, and Hydeville. The Castleton depot
re-opened in 2010 and serves Amtrak
's Ethan Allen Express
.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The railroad, also known as the Castleton Company, received its charter from Vermont in 1848 and opened in 1850.
Its main line ran 6.88 miles (11.1 km) from Castleton, Vermont
Castleton, Vermont
Castleton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. Castleton is about to the west of Rutland, and about east of the New York/Vermont state border. The town had a population of 4,717 at the 2010 census. Castleton State College is located there, with roots dating to 1787...
to Fair Haven, Vermont, which lay on 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...
border. It also operated a 1.51 miles (2.4 km) branch line from west of Castleton north along Lake Bomoseen which served local slate quarries
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
. At the eastern end of its line it connected to the Rutland and Washington Railroad
Rutland and Washington Railroad
The Rutland and Washington Railroad was a railroad company based in Rutland, Vermont which was chartered in Vermont on November 13, 1847 and built between Rutland and Eagle Bridge in Rensselaer County, New York in 1851 and 1852. One of the company's founders was Merritt Clark, a Vermont politician,...
; on the western side the Saratoga and Whitehall Railroad, a New York company. The Saratoga and Whitehall leased the Rutland and Whitehall on its completion in 1850. From March 14, 1865 the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad
Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad
The Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad was chartered on April 14, 1832. It completed between Troy and Ballston Spa on March 19, 1836. The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company leased the line on May 1, 1871, and it was consolidated into the Delaware and Hudson Railroad effective January 30, 1945....
leased both companies and operated them together. The Delaware and Hudson Company, which already controlled the Rensselaer and Saratoga, took over operation of the Rutland and Whitehall on May 1, 1871 and the lease of the line on June 15, 1871.
The Rutland and Whitehall had depots in Fair Haven, Castleton, and Hydeville. The Castleton depot
Castleton (Amtrak station)
Castleton is a train station in Castleton, Vermont served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. Originally built by the Rutland and Whitehall Railroad in 1850, the depot is now privately owned, and is located across from the northern terminus of the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail....
re-opened in 2010 and serves 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 Ethan Allen Express
Ethan Allen Express
The Ethan Allen Express is a 241-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and Rutland, Vermont, via Albany. The total trip is scheduled to be completed in 5.5 hours. Its operations are subsidized by the State of Vermont, and the train is popular among vacationers travelling...
.