Eastern Railroad (Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Railroad was a railroad connecting Boston
, Massachusetts, to Portland, Maine
. Throughout its history, it competed with the Boston and Maine Railroad
for service between those two cities, until the Boston & Maine finally put an end to the competition by leasing the Eastern in December 1884. Much of the railroad's main line in Massachusetts
still serves as the MBTA
Newburyport/Rockport Line
.
The Eastern Railroad was first built in 1836. The line hugged the Massachusetts North Shore
, as opposed to Boston & Maine's more inland route, and served such cities as Lynn
, Salem
, Beverly
, and Newburyport
. Coming along the shore, the Eastern Railroad chose to place its Boston terminus in East Boston, a short ferry
ride from the city itself, rather than complete the long, circuitous route around the Inner Harbor
and Mystic River
into Boston proper. By 1843, the Eastern and the B&M entered into an agreement to share already-existing tracks in Maine
controlled by the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroad, which would allow them to begin providing full Boston-to-Portland service.
On November 3, 1848, an accident occurred at Castle Rock in Salem, Massachusetts. A southbound train heading for Marblehead
missed an unattended switch and was routed into the path of a northbound train. The two engines collided head-on, with six people being killed on the Marblehead train. About 40 people were injured in the wreck. An employee was supposed to be stationed at the switch to stop the northbound train if necessary, but had failed to change the switch or stop the train.
By the 1850s, the Eastern was experiencing difficulties because of the out-of-the-way location of its Boston terminal. Already in 1845, the Boston & Maine had completed their own tracks into Boston (to avoid having to use the Boston and Lowell Railroad
's tracks), including a terminal right in the heart of the city, just north of Haymarket
. Several independent companies sought to take advantage of the situation by building branch lines that would connect the Eastern Railroad's North Shore tracks with the B&M line going into the city. In 1850, the South Reading Branch Railroad
opened, connecting Eastern tracks at Salem
to the B&M at Wakefield
, and in 1853, the Saugus Branch Railroad opened, connecting the Eastern at Lynn
to the B&M at Medford
. The Eastern Railroad was quick to buy up these branch lines in an effort to keep down the competition and divert the lines to its own use. But the real boon for the Eastern was the Grand Junction Railroad
, chartered in 1847, which would connect the East Boston waterfront to the Boston and Maine
, Boston and Lowell
, and Fitchburg
railroads in Somerville
. The Eastern leased the Grand Junction in 1852 and quickly incorporated it into its main line, building a cut-off from Grand Junction tracks in Chelsea
straight to its own northbound tracks and constructing its own terminal in downtown Boston, approximately on the site of the present North Station, directly connected to Grand Junction's tracks in Somerville. Moreover, this allowed the Eastern Railroad to cut off the Saugus Branch from the Boston & Maine at Medford, instead re-directing its course south to meet up with the Grand Junction in Everett
. When the Boston and Worcester Railroad bought the Grand Junction Railroad
in 1866, it allowed the Eastern to keep its track rights for the sections it used as part of its main line
.
On August 26, 1871, a series of dispatching errors allowed the Portland Express to collide with the rear of a stalled local train at Revere, Massachusetts
, telescoping the rear cars of the stopped consist. Coal-oil lamps ignited the wreckage, and 29 died while 57 were injured. Several prominent Boston citizens were killed, bringing much national publicity to the accident. It remains the deadliest railroad accident
in Massachusetts history.
Near the end of 1884, the Eastern Railroad was leased by the growing B&M, and the competition between the two railroads ended. Instead, the B&M incorporated the Eastern tracks into its Portland Division as an alternative route to Maine and an access to North Shore
cities. In 1893, the North Station
union station
opened, essentially consolidating under one roof the Boston terminals of four different railroads—the Eastern and the Boston and Lowell
(which were by now both controlled by the Boston & Maine), the Boston & Maine itself, and the Fitchburg Railroad
(which the Boston & Maine would buy in 1900). In 1905, the Grand Junction and Eastern Railroads combined their East Boston terminals.
In the 1970s, the MBTA
acquired the Eastern Railroad tracks along with the rest of the B&M, and it currently runs Commuter Rail
service to Newburyport
on the Eastern's old main line, with additional service to Rockport
via the Gloucester & Rockport branch line (Newburyport/Rockport Line
).
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts, to Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. Throughout its history, it competed with the Boston and Maine Railroad
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
for service between those two cities, until the Boston & Maine finally put an end to the competition by leasing the Eastern in December 1884. Much of the railroad's main line 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...
still serves as the MBTA
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
Newburyport/Rockport Line
Newburyport/Rockport Line
The Newburyport/Rockport Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running northeast from downtown Boston, Massachusetts towards Cape Ann and the Merrimack Valley, serving the North Shore. The first leg serves Chelsea, Lynn, Swampscott, Salem, and Beverly. From there, a northern branch of...
.
The Eastern Railroad was first built in 1836. The line hugged the Massachusetts North Shore
North Shore (Massachusetts)
The North Shore is a region in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, loosely defined as the coastal area between Boston and New Hampshire. The region is made up both of a rocky coastline, dotted with marshes and wetlands, as well as several beaches and natural harbors. The North Shore is an important...
, as opposed to Boston & Maine's more inland route, and served such cities as Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, Beverly
Beverly, Massachusetts
Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
, and Newburyport
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
. Coming along the shore, the Eastern Railroad chose to place its Boston terminus in East Boston, a short ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
ride from the city itself, rather than complete the long, circuitous route around the Inner Harbor
Port of Boston
The Port of Boston, , is a major seaport located in Boston Harbor and adjacent to the City of Boston...
and Mystic River
Mystic River
The Mystic River is a river in Massachusetts, in the United States. Its name derives from the Wampanoag word "muhs-uhtuq", which translates to "big river." In an Algonquian language, "Missi-Tuk" means "a great river whose waters are driven by waves", alluding to the natural tidal nature of the...
into Boston proper. By 1843, the Eastern and the B&M entered into an agreement to share already-existing tracks in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
controlled by the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth Railroad, which would allow them to begin providing full Boston-to-Portland service.
On November 3, 1848, an accident occurred at Castle Rock in Salem, Massachusetts. A southbound train heading for Marblehead
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
missed an unattended switch and was routed into the path of a northbound train. The two engines collided head-on, with six people being killed on the Marblehead train. About 40 people were injured in the wreck. An employee was supposed to be stationed at the switch to stop the northbound train if necessary, but had failed to change the switch or stop the train.
By the 1850s, the Eastern was experiencing difficulties because of the out-of-the-way location of its Boston terminal. Already in 1845, the Boston & Maine had completed their own tracks into Boston (to avoid having to use the Boston and Lowell Railroad
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...
's tracks), including a terminal right in the heart of the city, just north of Haymarket
Haymarket Square (Boston)
Haymarket Square in Boston is an open-air fruit and vegetable market near the North End, Government Center, West End and Faneuil Hall Marketplace...
. Several independent companies sought to take advantage of the situation by building branch lines that would connect the Eastern Railroad's North Shore tracks with the B&M line going into the city. In 1850, the South Reading Branch Railroad
South Reading Branch Railroad
The South Reading Branch Railroad or just South Reading Railroad, was a short line railroad that ran from Wakefield, Massachusetts to Peabody, Massachusetts and was named for town of South Reading, which changed its name to Wakefield in 1868....
opened, connecting Eastern tracks at Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
to the B&M at Wakefield
Wakefield, Massachusetts
-History:-Geography:The diagram above shows what is to the east, west, north, south, and other directions of the center of Wakefield. Towns with population above 25,000 are in bold italics.-Demographics:-Notable residents:...
, and in 1853, the Saugus Branch Railroad opened, connecting the Eastern at Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
to the B&M at Medford
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
. The Eastern Railroad was quick to buy up these branch lines in an effort to keep down the competition and divert the lines to its own use. But the real boon for the Eastern was the Grand Junction Railroad
Grand Junction Railroad
The Grand Junction Railroad is an 8.55-mile long railroad in the Boston, Massachusetts area, connecting the railroads heading west and north from Boston...
, chartered in 1847, which would connect the East Boston waterfront to the Boston and Maine
Boston and Maine Railroad
The Boston and Maine Corporation , known as the Boston and Maine Railroad until 1964, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century...
, Boston and Lowell
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...
, and Fitchburg
Fitchburg Railroad
The Fitchburg Railroad is a former railroad company, which built a railroad line across northern Massachusetts, USA, leading to and through the Hoosac Tunnel. The Fitchburg was leased to the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1900...
railroads in Somerville
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
. The Eastern leased the Grand Junction in 1852 and quickly incorporated it into its main line, building a cut-off from Grand Junction tracks in Chelsea
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
straight to its own northbound tracks and constructing its own terminal in downtown Boston, approximately on the site of the present North Station, directly connected to Grand Junction's tracks in Somerville. Moreover, this allowed the Eastern Railroad to cut off the Saugus Branch from the Boston & Maine at Medford, instead re-directing its course south to meet up with the Grand Junction in Everett
Everett, Massachusetts
Everett is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, near Boston. The population was 41,667 at the 2010 census.Everett is the last city in the United States with a bicameral legislature, which is composed of a seven-member Board of Aldermen and an 18-member Common Council...
. When the Boston and Worcester Railroad bought the Grand Junction Railroad
Grand Junction Railroad
The Grand Junction Railroad is an 8.55-mile long railroad in the Boston, Massachusetts area, connecting the railroads heading west and north from Boston...
in 1866, it allowed the Eastern to keep its track rights for the sections it used as part of its main line
Main line (railway)
The Mainline or Main line of a railway is a track that is used for through trains or is the principal artery of the system from which branch lines, yards, sidings and spurs are connected....
.
On August 26, 1871, a series of dispatching errors allowed the Portland Express to collide with the rear of a stalled local train at Revere, Massachusetts
Revere, Massachusetts
Revere is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, and located approximately from downtown Boston. It is named after the American patriot Paul Revere. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 51,755.- History :...
, telescoping the rear cars of the stopped consist. Coal-oil lamps ignited the wreckage, and 29 died while 57 were injured. Several prominent Boston citizens were killed, bringing much national publicity to the accident. It remains the deadliest railroad accident
Great Revere Train Wreck of 1871
The Great Revere Train Wreck of 1871 occurred on the evening of August 26, 1871 when the Eastern Railroad's Portland Express slammed into the rear of stopped local train at Revere, Massachusetts....
in Massachusetts history.
Near the end of 1884, the Eastern Railroad was leased by the growing B&M, and the competition between the two railroads ended. Instead, the B&M incorporated the Eastern tracks into its Portland Division as an alternative route to Maine and an access to North Shore
North Shore (Massachusetts)
The North Shore is a region in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, loosely defined as the coastal area between Boston and New Hampshire. The region is made up both of a rocky coastline, dotted with marshes and wetlands, as well as several beaches and natural harbors. The North Shore is an important...
cities. In 1893, the North Station
North Union Station (Boston, Massachusetts)
North Union Station or North Station in Boston, Massachusetts, was a train station consisting of three adjoined buildings. It was located on Causeway Street in the West End, and included Lowell Station , a central building designed by the architecture firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge , and a...
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, essentially consolidating under one roof the Boston terminals of four different railroads—the Eastern and the Boston and Lowell
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...
(which were by now both controlled by the Boston & Maine), the Boston & Maine itself, and the Fitchburg Railroad
Fitchburg Railroad
The Fitchburg Railroad is a former railroad company, which built a railroad line across northern Massachusetts, USA, leading to and through the Hoosac Tunnel. The Fitchburg was leased to the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1900...
(which the Boston & Maine would buy in 1900). In 1905, the Grand Junction and Eastern Railroads combined their East Boston terminals.
In the 1970s, the MBTA
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
acquired the Eastern Railroad tracks along with the rest of the B&M, and it currently runs 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...
service to Newburyport
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
on the Eastern's old main line, with additional service to Rockport
Rockport, Massachusetts
Rockport is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,952 at the 2010 census. Rockport is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Boston at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula...
via the Gloucester & Rockport branch line (Newburyport/Rockport Line
Newburyport/Rockport Line
The Newburyport/Rockport Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running northeast from downtown Boston, Massachusetts towards Cape Ann and the Merrimack Valley, serving the North Shore. The first leg serves Chelsea, Lynn, Swampscott, Salem, and Beverly. From there, a northern branch of...
).