Woburn Branch Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Woburn Branch Railroad (known as The Woburn Loop) was a branch line of the Boston and Lowell Railroad
("B&L") that connected the city square in Woburn, Massachusetts
to the main line.
When the B&L laid out its main line, it respected the wishes of the people of Woburn not to run the line through their town center. Instead, the B&L ran the line through the Montvale, Mishawum and North Woburn sections of the town, bypassing the center.
As Woburn grew in size from a town to a city, its citizens regretted pushing the railroad to the east end of town and request that the B&L put in a branch line to the center of town. The railroad agreed and in December 1844 opened the new line from its main line at Winchester
(then known as South Woburn) to Woburn Square.
The Horn Pond Branch Railroad was a short freight-only branch off the Woburn Branch to ice houses on Horn Pond. The line was built at the request of the Boston Ice Company and train ran only during ice cutting season. The line opened in 1854 and lasted until the line was abandoned in 1919. The old ice houses burned down several years later.
The northern loop, built in 1885, continued the line north to the main line at North Woburn Junction in South Wilmington
. This allowed the B&L to route some of its passenger trains down the Loop to serve the city. This service continued until 1959 when passenger service was cut back to Woburn Square. The branch was abandoned from Woburn Square north to the Wilmington/Woburn town line in 1961.
The B&L continued commuter rail service to Woburn on the original branch line from Winchester. The MBTA took over passenger service in 1971 and outsourced it to the Boston and Maine Railway ("B&M"). Trains ran on the Woburn Loop until 1981 when poor track conditions stopped service. The MBTA and the B&M formally abandoned the branch line in 1982. The MBTA still owns the right-of-way, but the bridge over Rte 38 and its embankments were removed and a grocery store was built there in the late 1990s.
The part of the northern loop within the town of Wilmington
(just about a mile in length) is still used as an industrial spur to service customers along the line in South Wilmington.
Video of the Woburn Loop today 2009 from Woburn to Wilmington: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y0wLubFDoY&feature=channel
Boston and Lowell Railroad
The Boston and Lowell Railroad is a historic railroad that operated in Massachusetts. It was one of the first railroads in North America and the first major one in the state...
("B&L") that connected the city square in Woburn, Massachusetts
Woburn, Massachusetts
Woburn is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 38,120 at the 2010 census. Woburn is located north of Boston, Massachusetts, and just south of the intersection of I-93 and I-95.- History :...
to the main line.
When the B&L laid out its main line, it respected the wishes of the people of Woburn not to run the line through their town center. Instead, the B&L ran the line through the Montvale, Mishawum and North Woburn sections of the town, bypassing the center.
As Woburn grew in size from a town to a city, its citizens regretted pushing the railroad to the east end of town and request that the B&L put in a branch line to the center of town. The railroad agreed and in December 1844 opened the new line from its main line at Winchester
Winchester, Massachusetts
Winchester is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, eight miles north of Boston. With its agricultural roots having mostly disappeared, it is now an affluent suburb...
(then known as South Woburn) to Woburn Square.
The Horn Pond Branch Railroad was a short freight-only branch off the Woburn Branch to ice houses on Horn Pond. The line was built at the request of the Boston Ice Company and train ran only during ice cutting season. The line opened in 1854 and lasted until the line was abandoned in 1919. The old ice houses burned down several years later.
The northern loop, built in 1885, continued the line north to the main line at North Woburn Junction in South Wilmington
Wilmington, Massachusetts
Wilmington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 22,325 at the 2010 census.-History:Wilmington was first settled in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1730, from parts of Woburn, Reading and Billerica. Minutemen from Wilmington responded to the alarm...
. This allowed the B&L to route some of its passenger trains down the Loop to serve the city. This service continued until 1959 when passenger service was cut back to Woburn Square. The branch was abandoned from Woburn Square north to the Wilmington/Woburn town line in 1961.
The B&L continued commuter rail service to Woburn on the original branch line from Winchester. The MBTA took over passenger service in 1971 and outsourced it to the Boston and Maine Railway ("B&M"). Trains ran on the Woburn Loop until 1981 when poor track conditions stopped service. The MBTA and the B&M formally abandoned the branch line in 1982. The MBTA still owns the right-of-way, but the bridge over Rte 38 and its embankments were removed and a grocery store was built there in the late 1990s.
The part of the northern loop within the town of Wilmington
Wilmington, Massachusetts
Wilmington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 22,325 at the 2010 census.-History:Wilmington was first settled in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1730, from parts of Woburn, Reading and Billerica. Minutemen from Wilmington responded to the alarm...
(just about a mile in length) is still used as an industrial spur to service customers along the line in South Wilmington.
External links
Video of the Woburn Loop today 2009 from Winchester to Woburn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlECoCK-RhAVideo of the Woburn Loop today 2009 from Woburn to Wilmington: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y0wLubFDoY&feature=channel