Cape Cod Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Cape Cod Railroad was a railroad in southeastern Massachusetts
. It was incorporated in 1846 as the Cape Cod Branch Railroad to provide a rail link from Fall River Railroad
line in Middleborough
to Cape Cod
. Among the proponents of the Cape Cod Branch Railroad were Richard Borden
of Fall River
, who saw the new line as an opportunity to bring more traffic and business through his hometown.
On January 26, 1848, the first 14.7 mile segment of the railroad was opened between Middleborough
and Wareham
. By May of 1848 an additional 12.9 miles was opened to Sandwich
.
In 1853, the extension of the line to Hyannis
was started, reaching reaching West Barnstable
on December 22, 1853. On February 22, 1854, the Cape Cod Branch Railroad was renamed the Cape Cod Railroad Company. In the spring of 1854, construction continued, with the railroad reaching Barnstable village
May 8, Yarmouth Port
May 19, and finally Hyannis
on July 8, 1854. Connecting steamboat
service to Nantucket
commenced from Hyannis in late September and would continue until 1872, when the railroad branch to Woods Hole was opened.
In 1868, the Cape Cod Railroad acquired the Cape Cod Central Railroad
, which had opened a line from Yarmouth
to Orleans
in 1865.
In 1871, the Cape Cod Railroad bought the Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad
, which had been incorporated in 1861 as the Vineyard Sound Railroad Company to build a line from Buzzards Bay
to Woods Hole. However, the line to Woods Hole was not completed until after the merger with the Cape Cod Railroad in July of 1872. By this time, the Cape Cod Railroad had merged with the Old Colony and Newport Railway to form a new company, renamed the Old Colony Railroad
. The Cape Cod routes became known as the "Cape Cod Division" of the Old Colony Railroad, with an office in Hyannis
.
The Old Colony Railroad
completed the line to Provincetown
in July of 1873.
The lines of the Cape Cod Railroad would become part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
in 1893 its lease of the entire Old Colony Railroad
network. The NY,NH&H ended daily passenger service to southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape in 1959. The railroad did, however, restore the popular seasonal rail service from New York, with connections from Boston, during the 1960 through 1964 summer seasons.
Between 1986 and 1996, Amtrak
operated the Cape Codder during summer weekends from New York City
to Hyannis
.
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...
. It was incorporated in 1846 as the Cape Cod Branch Railroad to provide a rail link from Fall River Railroad
Fall River Railroad (1846)
The Fall River Railroad was incorporated in 1846 as a merger between the Fall River Branch Railroad, the Middleborough Railroad Corportation and the Randolph & Bridgewater Railroad Corportation...
line in Middleborough
Middleborough, Massachusetts
Middleborough is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,117 as of 2008.For geographic and demographic information on the village of Middleborough Center, please see the article Middleborough Center, Massachusetts....
to Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
. Among the proponents of the Cape Cod Branch Railroad were Richard Borden
Richard Borden
Colonel Richard Borden was undoubtedly the most influential person in the early history of the city of Fall River, Massachusetts. He co-founded the Fall River Iron Works in 1821, and later built several early cotton mills, as well as the Fall River Line, Fall River Gas Company, the Fall River...
of Fall River
Fall River
-Cities and towns:In Canada:*Fall River, Nova ScotiaIn the United States:*Fall River, Kansas*Fall River, Massachusetts, the largest city with this name*Fall River, Tennessee*Fall River, Wisconsin*Fall River County, South Dakota-Rivers:In Canada:...
, who saw the new line as an opportunity to bring more traffic and business through his hometown.
On January 26, 1848, the first 14.7 mile segment of the railroad was opened between Middleborough
Middleborough, Massachusetts
Middleborough is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,117 as of 2008.For geographic and demographic information on the village of Middleborough Center, please see the article Middleborough Center, Massachusetts....
and Wareham
Wareham, Massachusetts
Wareham is a town located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 20,335, with an estimated 2008 population of 21,221....
. By May of 1848 an additional 12.9 miles was opened to Sandwich
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
.
In 1853, the extension of the line to Hyannis
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...
was started, reaching reaching West Barnstable
West Barnstable, Massachusetts
West Barnstable is a village or section in the northwest part of the City of Barnstable, Massachusetts. Once devoted to agricultural pursuits, West Barnstable now is largely residential.-Natural features:...
on December 22, 1853. On February 22, 1854, the Cape Cod Branch Railroad was renamed the Cape Cod Railroad Company. In the spring of 1854, construction continued, with the railroad reaching Barnstable village
Barnstable (village), Massachusetts
Barnstable is the name of one of the seven villages within the Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts. The Village of Barnstable is located on the north side of the town, centered along "Old King's Highway" , and houses the County Complex of Barnstable County, a small business district, a working...
May 8, Yarmouth Port
Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts
Yarmouth Port is a census-designated place in the town of Yarmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,395 at the 2000 census...
May 19, and finally Hyannis
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...
on July 8, 1854. Connecting 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...
service to Nantucket
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
commenced from Hyannis in late September and would continue until 1872, when the railroad branch to Woods Hole was opened.
In 1868, the Cape Cod Railroad acquired the Cape Cod Central Railroad
Cape Cod Central Railroad (1861–1868)
The Cape Cod Central Railroad was a railroad in southeastern Massachusetts. It was incorporated in 1861 as an extension of the Cape Cod Railroad from Yarmouth to Orleans through the towns of Dennis, Harwich and Brewster. The 18.7 mile line opened for service in December, 1865.The Cape Cod Central...
, which had opened a line from Yarmouth
Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Yarmouth is a New England town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 24,807 at the 2000 census....
to Orleans
Orleans, Massachusetts
Orleans is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,890 at the 2010 census....
in 1865.
In 1871, the Cape Cod Railroad bought the Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad
Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad
The Plymouth and Vineyard Sound Railroad was a railroad in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It was incorporated in 1861 as the Vineyard Sound Railroad Company to provide a rail link between Sandwich and Woods Hole on the western part of Cape Cod, but the name was changed in 1868 before the...
, which had been incorporated in 1861 as the Vineyard Sound Railroad Company to build a line from Buzzards Bay
Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Buzzards Bay is a census-designated place in the town of Bourne in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The population was 3,549 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Buzzards Bay is located at...
to Woods Hole. However, the line to Woods Hole was not completed until after the merger with the Cape Cod Railroad in July of 1872. By this time, the Cape Cod Railroad had merged with the Old Colony and Newport Railway to form a new company, renamed 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...
. The Cape Cod routes became known as the "Cape Cod Division" of the Old Colony Railroad, with an office in Hyannis
Hyannis
Hyannis may refer to a location in the United States:* Hyannis, Massachusetts* Hyannisport, Massachusetts* Hyannis, Nebraska...
.
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...
completed the line to Provincetown
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
in July of 1873.
The lines of the Cape Cod Railroad would become part of 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...
in 1893 its lease of the entire 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...
network. The NY,NH&H ended daily passenger service to southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape in 1959. The railroad did, however, restore the popular seasonal rail service from New York, with connections from Boston, during the 1960 through 1964 summer seasons.
Between 1986 and 1996, 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...
operated the Cape Codder during summer weekends from 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...
to Hyannis
Hyannis
Hyannis may refer to a location in the United States:* Hyannis, Massachusetts* Hyannisport, Massachusetts* Hyannis, Nebraska...
.