Boston and Providence Rail Road
Encyclopedia
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
.
.
Construction began in late 1832. The first section, from Boston to Canton
, with a branch to Dedham
opened in 1834, and the rest opened on July 28, 1835 with the completion of the Canton Viaduct
. The opening of stations in Jamaica Plain
allowed the development of one of the first commuter suburbs in America.
Until 1899, when South Station
opened, the Boston terminal was at Park Square
, with a crossing at-grade of the Boston and Worcester Railroad at the current merge at Back Bay
station (also opened in 1899, only serving the B&P). The original Providence terminal was at Fox Point, from which it ran east along the Seekonk River
shore and over the river into East Providence
(then part of Seekonk, Massachusetts
) before turning north towards Boston. A ferry across the Providence River
connected Fox Point to the South Providence terminal of the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
(opened 1837).
In 1847, the Providence and Worcester Railroad
opened its line between downtown Providence and Worcester, Massachusetts
. At the same time, the B&P built a connection west from its main line in southern Attleboro
to the P&W in Central Falls
. The B&P and P&W jointly owned the line south of Central Falls into downtown Providence. (In 1848, the NYP&B connected its line south of downtown Providence to downtown, removing the gap through Providence.)
On April 1, 1888, the Old Colony Railroad
leased the B&P for 99 years. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
leased the Old Colony on March 1, 1893, and assumed the lease. The New Haven used the B&P as part of its main Boston-New York Shore Line.
When Boston's new South Station
union station
opened in 1899, a new line was built along the south side of the Boston and Albany Railroad
to the new station, located near the B&A's old terminal. The old line to Park Square was abandoned.
The East Side Railroad Tunnel
opened in 1908 between East Providence
and downtown Providence
. This provided a second route into Providence, using the old alignment to East Providence and then running through the tunnel. The tunnel is no longer in use, having been disconnected on the downtown side, with its entrance located underneath the What Cheer Building which is owned by RISD.
. The Penn Central bankruptcy in the early 1970s coincided with the creation of Amtrak
. Penn Central merged the Boston and Providence Railroad into itself in 1972.
The New Haven's former B&P mainline from Boston-New York City was included with the former Pennsylvania Railroad
's New York City-Washington, D.C. mainline as a new high-speed passenger route for Amtrak
which is now known as the Northeast Corridor
and hosts the Acela Express
, the only high-speed rail service in North America.
In 1973, the MBTA purchased the portion of the B&P main line in Massachusetts, including the Stoughton Branch, forming what is now the Providence/Stoughton Line
. The portion in Rhode Island was sold to Amtrak in 1976.
The first branch was the Dedham Branch to Dedham
from Readville
, opened in 1834 with the first section of the railroad. The Norfolk County Railroad opened in 1849, continuing from Dedham to the southwest. In 1850, a second branch to Dedham opened from Forest Hills
, forming a loop through Dedham. Another outlet for the Dedham Branch opened in 1906, with a connection west to the New England Railroad at Needham Junction
. The Dedham Branch from Forest Hills to that connection is still in use as the Needham Branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail
, but the rest of the Dedham loop has been abandoned.
Stoughton
The Stoughton Branch Railroad was incorporated April 16, 1844 as a branch of the B&P from Canton Junction
to Stoughton
. It opened in early 1845, and is still in use for passenger service as a branch of the main line to Attleboro and Providence.
Easton
The Easton Branch Railroad was incorporated in 1854 and opened in 1855 as a continuation of the Stoughton Branch beyond Stoughton. In 1865, the Old Colony and Newport Railway bought the line and incorporated the majority of it into its main line.
Taunton
The Taunton Branch Railroad
was incorporated in 1835 to build a branch from the B&P in Mansfield
to Taunton
, opening in 1836. The branch was operated by the B&P until 1840, when the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad
opened, continuing the line past Taunton.
In 1870, the Mansfield and Framingham Railroad
opened, continuing the Taunton Branch northwest on the other side of the B&P. A connection between the Taunton Branch northwest of Taunton and the B&P in Attleboro
opened in 1871, having been built by the Taunton Branch.
Attleborough
The Attleborough Branch Railroad also opened in 1870, running from the B&P in Attleboro
northwest to North Attleborough
. It was leased to the B&P, and was later connected to a branch of the Old Colony Railroad
system in 1890.
Moshassuck Valley
The Moshassuck Valley Railroad was chartered in 1874 and opened in 1876 as a branch from the joint B&P/P&W at Woodlawn, Rhode Island north to Saylesville
. The company remained independent until 1981, when it was bought by the P&W.
Seekonk
The Seekonk Branch Railroad was a short spur on the east side of the Seekonk River
, running from the B&P south to a dock on the river. It was incorporated in 1836 and opened soon after, with the hope that the company would be able to run its own trains over the B&P as with a highway. As a result of this, the Massachusetts State Legislature passed a law that a railroad company could refuse any traffic on its road, and the company was a failure. The B&P bought it in 1839, and the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad
built a line beginning from it in 1855.
Warren, Bristol and Fall River
The Providence and Bristol Railroad was incorporated in 1850 and 1851, and reorganized in 1852 as the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad
. That line opened in 1855 from the old Seekonk Branch in East Providence
southeast to Warren
and south to Bristol
. It was owned by the B&P through a majority of stock, and directly leased the Old Colony Railroad
in 1891.
The Warren and Fall River Railroad was incorporated in Rhode Island
in 1856, and the Fall River and Warren Railroad in Massachusetts
in 1857. In 1860 the two were merged to form the Fall River, Warren and Providence Railroad
, opening later in 1860 from Warren
east to Somerset
, across the Taunton River
from Fall River
. In 1875, a new Boston and Providence Railroad Bridge
opened, connecting to the Old Colony Railroad
in Fall River. At that time, the company was leased by the Old Colony; before that it had been controlled by the B&P.
South of Providence, the T. F. Green Airport
station is planned on the old New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
in Warwick
.
Rail transport in the United States
Presently, most rail transport in the United States is based on freight train shipments. The U.S. rail industry has experienced repeated convulsions due to changing U.S. economic needs and the rise of automobile, bus, and air transport....
in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, connecting Boston and Providence and is 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 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
The Boston and Providence Railroad was incorporated June 21, 1831, and chartered the next day to build a railroad between Boston and Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, 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...
.
Canton, Massachusetts
Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.- History :...
, with a branch to Dedham
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
opened in 1834, and the rest opened on July 28, 1835 with the completion of the Canton Viaduct
Canton Viaduct
Canton Viaduct is the oldest blind arcade cavity wall bridge in the world and it was the longest and tallest railroad bridge ever built when it was completed in 1835. It is the last surviving bridge of its kind and has been in continuous service for years; it now carries high-speed passenger and...
. The opening of stations in Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Jamaica Plain is a historic neighborhood of in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded by Boston Puritans seeking farm land to the south, it was originally part of the city of Roxbury...
allowed the development of one of the first commuter suburbs in America.
Until 1899, when South Station
South Station
South Station, New England's second-largest transportation center , located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street in Dewey Square, Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest train station and intercity bus terminal in Greater Boston, a prominent train station in the northeastern...
opened, the Boston terminal was at Park Square
Park Square (Boston)
Park Square in downtown Boston, Massachusetts is bounded by Stuart, Charles, Boylston, and Arlington Streets. It is the home of the Boston Four Seasons Hotel and the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers. Across Boylston Street is the Boston Public Garden...
, with a crossing at-grade of the Boston and Worcester Railroad at the current merge at Back Bay
Back Bay (MBTA station)
Back Bay station, located at 145 Dartmouth Street, between Stuart Street and Columbus Avenue, is a train station in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston...
station (also opened in 1899, only serving the B&P). The original Providence terminal was at Fox Point, from which it ran east along the Seekonk River
Seekonk River
The Seekonk River is a tidal extension of the Providence River in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 8 km . Most historical scholars agree that the name is derived from two Native American words, sucki and honc...
shore and over the river into East Providence
East Providence, Rhode Island
East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 47,037 at the 2010 census, making it the fifth largest city in the state.-Geography:East Providence is located at ....
(then part of Seekonk, Massachusetts
Seekonk, Massachusetts
Seekonk is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Massachusetts border. It was incorporated in 1812 from the western half of Rehoboth. The population was 13,722 at the 2010 census. Until 1862, the town of Seekonk also included what is now the City of East Providence, Rhode...
) before turning north towards Boston. A ferry 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...
connected Fox Point to the South Providence terminal of the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
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...
(opened 1837).
In 1847, the 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...
opened its line between downtown Providence and Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. At the same time, the B&P built a connection west from its main line in southern Attleboro
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
to the P&W in Central Falls
Central Falls, Rhode Island
Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 19,376 at the 2010 census. With an area of only , it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the thirty-second most densely populated incorporated place in the United...
. The B&P and P&W jointly owned the line south of Central Falls into downtown Providence. (In 1848, the NYP&B connected its line south of downtown Providence to downtown, removing the gap through Providence.)
On April 1, 1888, 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...
leased the B&P for 99 years. 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...
leased the Old Colony on March 1, 1893, and assumed the lease. The New Haven used the B&P as part of its main Boston-New York Shore Line.
When Boston's new South Station
South Station
South Station, New England's second-largest transportation center , located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street in Dewey Square, Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest train station and intercity bus terminal in Greater Boston, a prominent train station in the northeastern...
union station
Union station
A union station is the term used for a train station where tracks and facilities are shared by two or more railway companies, allowing passengers to connect conveniently between them...
opened in 1899, a new line was built along the south side of the Boston and Albany Railroad
Boston and Albany Railroad
The Boston and Albany Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston, Massachusetts to Albany, New York, later becoming part of the New York Central Railroad system, Conrail and CSX. The line is used by CSX for freight...
to the new station, located near the B&A's old terminal. The old line to Park Square was abandoned.
The East Side Railroad Tunnel
East Side Railroad Tunnel
The East Side Railroad Tunnel is on the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island. It was opened on November 16, 1908 at a cost of $2 million. It runs , under College Hill, from Gano Street to Benefit Street and is currently abandoned and sealed, but a project has been suggested to reuse it for either...
opened in 1908 between East Providence
East Providence, Rhode Island
East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 47,037 at the 2010 census, making it the fifth largest city in the state.-Geography:East Providence is located at ....
and downtown Providence
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...
. This provided a second route into Providence, using the old alignment to East Providence and then running through the tunnel. The tunnel is no longer in use, having been disconnected on the downtown side, with its entrance located underneath the What Cheer Building which is owned by RISD.
Current status
The Penn Central Transportation Company was created in 1968 through a merger that included the New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadNew 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...
. The Penn Central bankruptcy in the early 1970s coincided with the creation 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...
. Penn Central merged the Boston and Providence Railroad into itself in 1972.
The New Haven's former B&P mainline from Boston-New York City was included with the former Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
's New York City-Washington, D.C. mainline as a new high-speed passenger route for 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...
which is now known as the 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...
and hosts the 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...
, the only high-speed rail service in North America.
In 1973, the MBTA purchased the portion of the B&P main line in Massachusetts, including the Stoughton Branch, forming what is now the 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...
. The portion in Rhode Island was sold to Amtrak in 1976.
Branches
DedhamThe first branch was the Dedham Branch to Dedham
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
from Readville
Readville (MBTA station)
Readville is a station on the MBTA commuter rail's Franklin Line from Franklin to Boston, Massachusetts and is also the terminus of the MBTA's Fairmount Line commuter rail line. A few Fairmount trains continue onto the Franklin Line...
, opened in 1834 with the first section of the railroad. The Norfolk County Railroad opened in 1849, continuing from Dedham to the southwest. In 1850, a second branch to Dedham opened from Forest Hills
Forest Hills (MBTA station)
Forest Hills Station is a station on the MBTA Orange Line, located in Forest Hills in the southern part of the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts at the intersections of Washington Street, Hyde Park Avenue, South Street, The Arborway and Morton Street.Forest Hills is the southern...
, forming a loop through Dedham. Another outlet for the Dedham Branch opened in 1906, with a connection west to the New England Railroad at Needham Junction
Needham Junction (MBTA station)
Needham Junction is a MBTA Commuter Rail station serving the Needham Line. It is officially located on 51 Junction Street in Needham, Massachusetts, although additional parking can be found south of the intersection of Junction and Chestnut Streets....
. The Dedham Branch from Forest Hills to that connection is still in use as the Needham Branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
, but the rest of the Dedham loop has been abandoned.
Stoughton
The Stoughton Branch Railroad was incorporated April 16, 1844 as a branch of the B&P from Canton Junction
Canton Junction (MBTA station)
Canton Junction is a railway station on the MBTA Commuter Rail's Providence/Stoughton line, located a few hundred yards north of the Canton Viaduct. At Canton Junction the two branches of the Providence/Stoughton Line split, one going to T. F...
to Stoughton
Stoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:...
. It opened in early 1845, and is still in use for passenger service as a branch of the main line to Attleboro and Providence.
Easton
The Easton Branch Railroad was incorporated in 1854 and opened in 1855 as a continuation of the Stoughton Branch beyond Stoughton. In 1865, the Old Colony and Newport Railway bought the line and incorporated the majority of it into its main line.
Taunton
The Taunton Branch Railroad
Taunton Branch Railroad
The Taunton Branch Railroad was one of the earliest railroads to be established in Massachusetts. It was chartered by the state in 1835 as a branch of the Boston and Providence Railroad running between Mansfield and Taunton, Massachusetts...
was incorporated in 1835 to build a branch from the B&P in Mansfield
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184. Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island....
to Taunton
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
, opening in 1836. The branch was operated by the B&P until 1840, when the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad
New Bedford and Taunton Railroad
The New Bedford and Taunton Railroad was originally incorporated at the Old Colony Railroad Corporation in 1838 as an extension of the Taunton Branch Railroad between Taunton, Massachusetts and New Bedford. The name was changed to New Bedford and Taunton Railroad in 1839 before service began in 1840...
opened, continuing the line past Taunton.
In 1870, the Mansfield and Framingham Railroad
Mansfield and Framingham Railroad
The Mansfield and Framingham Railroad was a railroad in Massachusetts. It was incorporated in 1862 as the Foxborough Branch Railroad to provide a rail connection from Mansfield through Foxborough to Walpole...
opened, continuing the Taunton Branch northwest on the other side of the B&P. A connection between the Taunton Branch northwest of Taunton and the B&P in Attleboro
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
opened in 1871, having been built by the Taunton Branch.
Attleborough
The Attleborough Branch Railroad also opened in 1870, running from the B&P in Attleboro
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
northwest to North Attleborough
North Attleborough, Massachusetts
North Attleborough, commonly written North Attleboro, is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,712 at the 2010 United States Census.The village of North Attleborough Center is located in the town.-History:...
. It was leased to the B&P, and was later connected to a branch of 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...
system in 1890.
Moshassuck Valley
The Moshassuck Valley Railroad was chartered in 1874 and opened in 1876 as a branch from the joint B&P/P&W at Woodlawn, Rhode Island north to Saylesville
Saylesville, Rhode island
-History:The area was settled as a farming community in the 17th century. The historic Eleazer Arnold House is located in the village. The Saylesville Meeting House is one of the oldest surviving Quaker meeting houses in New England and one of the oldest church buildings in Rhode Island. In the...
. The company remained independent until 1981, when it was bought by the P&W.
Seekonk
The Seekonk Branch Railroad was a short spur on the east side of the Seekonk River
Seekonk River
The Seekonk River is a tidal extension of the Providence River in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It flows approximately 8 km . Most historical scholars agree that the name is derived from two Native American words, sucki and honc...
, running from the B&P south to a dock on the river. It was incorporated in 1836 and opened soon after, with the hope that the company would be able to run its own trains over the B&P as with a highway. As a result of this, the Massachusetts State Legislature passed a law that a railroad company could refuse any traffic on its road, and the company was a failure. The B&P bought it in 1839, and the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad
Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad
The Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad was a railroad in Rhode Island connecting the city of Providence with Bristol, Rhode Island. It formed in 1854 by a consolidation of the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad Companies of Massachusetts and Rhode Island...
built a line beginning from it in 1855.
Warren, Bristol and Fall River
The Providence and Bristol Railroad was incorporated in 1850 and 1851, and reorganized in 1852 as the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad
Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad
The Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad was a railroad in Rhode Island connecting the city of Providence with Bristol, Rhode Island. It formed in 1854 by a consolidation of the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad Companies of Massachusetts and Rhode Island...
. That line opened in 1855 from the old Seekonk Branch in East Providence
East Providence, Rhode Island
East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 47,037 at the 2010 census, making it the fifth largest city in the state.-Geography:East Providence is located at ....
southeast to Warren
Warren, Rhode Island
Warren is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,611 at the 2010 census.-History:Warren was the site of the Indian village of Sowams on the peninsula called Pokanoket , and was first explored by Europeans in 1621, by Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins...
and south to Bristol
Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
. It was owned by the B&P through a majority of stock, and directly leased 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...
in 1891.
The Warren and Fall River Railroad was incorporated 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 1856, and the Fall River and Warren Railroad in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1857. In 1860 the two were merged to form the Fall River, Warren and Providence Railroad
Fall River, Warren and Providence Railroad
The Fall River, Warren and Providence Railroad was a railroad in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island connecting the city of Fall River, Massachusetts with Warren, Rhode Island. It incorporated in 1862 as a merger of the Warren and Fall River Railroad Company of Rhode Island and the Fall...
, opening later in 1860 from Warren
Warren, Rhode Island
Warren is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,611 at the 2010 census.-History:Warren was the site of the Indian village of Sowams on the peninsula called Pokanoket , and was first explored by Europeans in 1621, by Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins...
east to Somerset
Somerset, Massachusetts
Somerset is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,234 at the 2000 census. It is the birthplace and hometown of Clifford Milburn Holland , the chief engineer and namesake of the Holland Tunnel in New York City....
, across the Taunton River
Taunton River
The Taunton River , is a river in southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. It arises from the confluence of the Town River and Matfield River, in the town of Bridgewater...
from Fall River
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
. In 1875, a new Boston and Providence Railroad Bridge
Boston and Providence Railroad Bridge
The Boston and Providence Railroad Bridge in East Providence is a railroad bridge on the Boston and Providence Railroad spanning Ten Mile River. A portion of the bridge also spans Roger Williams Avenue. The bridge became part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.-References and...
opened, connecting to 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...
in Fall River. At that time, the company was leased by the Old Colony; before that it had been controlled by the B&P.
Station listing
| State | Milepost | City | Station | Opening date | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA Massachusetts The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010... |
Boston | South Station South Station South Station, New England's second-largest transportation center , located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street in Dewey Square, Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest train station and intercity bus terminal in Greater Boston, a prominent train station in the northeastern... |
1899 | Red Line Red Line (MBTA) The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2... and all south side Commuter Rail lines 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... 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... , 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... and Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... |
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| 227.8 | Back Bay Back Bay (MBTA station) Back Bay station, located at 145 Dartmouth Street, between Stuart Street and Columbus Avenue, is a train station in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston... |
1899 | splits from Framingham/Worcester Line Framingham/Worcester Line The Framingham/Worcester Line is a railroad line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running west from Boston, Massachusetts to Worcester, Massachusetts, though some trains terminate at Framingham, Massachusetts... 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... 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... , 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... and Lake Shore Limited Lake Shore Limited The Lake Shore Limited is a daily passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The train runs between Chicago and Albany, NY, where it divides into two sections that provide thru-service to New York and Boston... original line continued northeast from here to a terminal at Park Square Park Square (Boston) Park Square in downtown Boston, Massachusetts is bounded by Stuart, Charles, Boylston, and Arlington Streets. It is the home of the Boston Four Seasons Hotel and the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers. Across Boylston Street is the Boston Public Garden... |
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| 227.1 | Chickering | closed, was located at Gainsborough Street and Camden Street | |||
| 226.7 | Ruggles Ruggles (MBTA station) Ruggles Station is a MBTA subway station on the Orange Line; it is also a MBTA commuter rail station serving the Providence/Stoughton, Franklin, and Needham Lines. It is located at the intersection of Ruggles and Tremont Streets, where the Roxbury neighborhood begins and borders with the nearby... |
October 5, 1987 | Orange Line Orange Line (MBTA) The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green... |
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| 226.3 | Roxbury | closed | |||
| 225.6 | Heath | closed | |||
| 225.0 | Boylston | closed | |||
| 224.5 | Jamaica Plain | closed | |||
| 223.9 | Forest Hills Forest Hills (MBTA station) Forest Hills Station is a station on the MBTA Orange Line, located in Forest Hills in the southern part of the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts at the intersections of Washington Street, Hyde Park Avenue, South Street, The Arborway and Morton Street.Forest Hills is the southern... |
Orange Line Orange Line (MBTA) The Orange Line is one of the four subway lines of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. It extends from Forest Hills in Jamaica Plain, Boston in the south to Oak Grove in Malden, Massachusetts in the north. It meets the Red Line at Downtown Crossing, the Blue Line at State, and the Green... ; only served by Needham Line Needham Line The Needham Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running west from downtown Boston, Massachusetts through the Boston neighborhoods ofRoxbury,Jamaica Plain,Roslindale,West Roxbury, and the town ofNeedham.... trains Needham Line Needham Line The Needham Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running west from downtown Boston, Massachusetts through the Boston neighborhoods ofRoxbury,Jamaica Plain,Roslindale,West Roxbury, and the town ofNeedham.... (old Dedham Branch) splits |
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| 222.8 | Mount Hope | closed November 2, 1979 | |||
| 221.8 | Clarendon Hills | closed | |||
| 221.2 | Hazelwood | closed | |||
| 220.7 | Hyde Park Hyde Park (MBTA station) Hyde Park is a station along the MBTA Commuter Rail's Providence/Stoughton line from T. F. Green Airport, Rhode Island to Boston, Massachusetts and the Franklin Line... |
October 5, 1987 | temporarily closed November 2, 1979 | ||
| 219.4 | Readville Readville (MBTA station) Readville is a station on the MBTA commuter rail's Franklin Line from Franklin to Boston, Massachusetts and is also the terminus of the MBTA's Fairmount Line commuter rail line. A few Fairmount trains continue onto the Franklin Line... |
only served by trains using the Fairmount Line Fairmount Line The Fairmount Line or Dorchester Branch is a line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Except for a short portion in Milton, it lies entirely within Boston, progressing in a southwesterly trajectory, passing through the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park... Franklin Line Franklin Line The Franklin Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail runs from Boston's South Station in a southwesterly direction toward Franklin, Massachusetts. Most Franklin Line trains connect to the Providence/Stoughton Line at Readville though some weekday trains use the Fairmount Line to access South Station... splits and Fairmount Line Fairmount Line The Fairmount Line or Dorchester Branch is a line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Except for a short portion in Milton, it lies entirely within Boston, progressing in a southwesterly trajectory, passing through the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park... joins (both part of the Midland Railroad (NYNH&H)) split with Dedham Branch |
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| 217.4 | Dedham Dedham, Massachusetts Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by... |
Route 128 Route 128 (MBTA station) Route 128 is a station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Providence/Stoughton MBTA Commuter Rail line, with inbound service to Back Bay and South Station in Boston and outbound service towards either Stoughton or TF Green Airport. It is also known as "University Park" station... |
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... 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... 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... originally Green Lodge |
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| Westwood Westwood, Massachusetts Westwood is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,618 at the 2010 census. In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Westwood 13th on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States. Boston Magazine listed Gay Street in Westwood on its... |
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| Canton Canton, Massachusetts Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.- History :... |
Dedham Road | closed | |||
| 214.1 | Canton Junction Canton Junction (MBTA station) Canton Junction is a railway station on the MBTA Commuter Rail's Providence/Stoughton line, located a few hundred yards north of the Canton Viaduct. At Canton Junction the two branches of the Providence/Stoughton Line split, one going to T. F... |
split with Stoughton Branch | |||
| 211.0 | Sharon Sharon, Massachusetts Sharon is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,612 at the 2010 census. Sharon is part of Greater Boston, about 17 miles southwest of downtown Boston.... |
Sharon Sharon (MBTA station) Sharon is a commuter rail station on the MBTA's Providence/Stoughton Line located in Sharon, Massachusetts. It is the only station on the heavily used Providence/Stoughton line that is not handicapped-accessible. The station has two separate entrances for trains to Boston and to T. F. Green... |
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| 206.4 | Foxborough Foxborough, Massachusetts -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,246 people, 6,141 households, and 4,396 families residing in the town. The population density was 809.1 people per square mile . There were 6,299 housing units at an average density of 313.7 per square mile... |
East Foxboro | closed November 1977 | ||
| 204.2 | Mansfield Mansfield, Massachusetts Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184. Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island.... |
Mansfield Mansfield (MBTA station) Mansfield is a commuter rail station on the MBTA's Providence/Stoughton Line located in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The station was rebuilt in 2004, and is the second replacement station for Mansfield. It is also the south end of a former Old Colony Railroad line that runs north through Walpole and... |
junction with 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.... (NYNH&H), now the line to Foxboro Foxboro (MBTA station) Foxboro station on the MBTA Commuter Rail system is only used for special events, such as New England Patriots football games, at nearby Gillette Stadium. It lies on a freight line between Mansfield and Framingham, owned by CSX as their Framingham Subdivision... (special events) |
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| 197.1 | Attleboro Attleboro, Massachusetts Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of... |
Attleboro Attleboro (MBTA station) Attleboro is a commuter rail station on the MBTA's Providence/Stoughton Line located in Attleboro, Massachusetts.The two station buildings were originally built in 1906 and 1908 by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Later in the 20th Century, the station was both an MBTA and Amtrak... |
junction with Attleborough Branch and 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.... Attleborough Branch (NYNH&H) |
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| East Junction | not a station split with old main line to East Providence East Providence, Rhode Island East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 47,037 at the 2010 census, making it the fifth largest city in the state.-Geography:East Providence is located at .... |
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| 193.9 | Hebronville | closed | |||
| 191.9 | South Attleboro South Attleboro (MBTA station) South Attleboro is the southernmost station in Massachusetts on the Providence/Stoughton Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail, and was the southernmost station on weekends, until June 29, 2006, when Rhode Island began funding weekend service to Providence... |
June 20, 1990 | |||
| RI 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... |
190.9 | Central Falls Central Falls, Rhode Island Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 19,376 at the 2010 census. With an area of only , it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the thirty-second most densely populated incorporated place in the United... |
Boston Switch | not a station merge with 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... |
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| 188.5 | Pawtucket Pawtucket, Rhode Island Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:... |
Pawtucket-Central Falls | closed February 19, 1981 | ||
| 187.3 | Woodlawn | not a station junction with Moshassuck Valley Railroad |
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| 186.4 | Providence 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... |
Providence | February 1, 1988 | 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... 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... 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... temporarily closed February 19, 1981 (but still served by Amtrak) |
South of Providence, the T. F. Green Airport
T. F. Green Airport (MBTA station)
T. F. Green Airport is a train station and intermodal facility in Warwick, Rhode Island on the Northeast Corridor, adjacent to T. F. Green Airport...
station is planned on the old New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
New York, Providence and Boston Railroad
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...
in Warwick
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...
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Stoughton Branch
| State | Milepost | City | Station | Opening date | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA Massachusetts The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010... |
0.0 | Canton Canton, Massachusetts Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.- History :... |
Canton Junction Canton Junction (MBTA station) Canton Junction is a railway station on the MBTA Commuter Rail's Providence/Stoughton line, located a few hundred yards north of the Canton Viaduct. At Canton Junction the two branches of the Providence/Stoughton Line split, one going to T. F... |
splits from main line to Attleboro | |
| 0.6 | Canton Center Canton Center (MBTA station) Canton Center is a commuter rail station on the MBTA's Providence/Stoughton Line located in Canton, Massachusetts. It has 1 side platform on the south side of the track west of Washington Street.-External links:**... |
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| 18.3 (~4) | Stoughton Stoughton, Massachusetts Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:... |
Stoughton Stoughton (MBTA station) Stoughton is a railroad station on the MBTA Commuter Rail's Providence/Stoughton Line located in Stoughton, Massachusetts. It is the terminus of the Stoughton branch of the Providence/Stoughton Line.... |
continued as Easton Branch |