Fall River Branch Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Fall River Branch Railroad was incorporated in 1844 providing a rail link from the emerging textile town of Fall River
to the New Bedford and Taunton Railroad
at Myricks Junction
. It began operating in 1845 with 12 miles of track. A year later, in 1846 it merged with the Middleborough Railroad Corportation and the Randolph & Bridgewater Railroad Corportation to become the Fall River Railroad Company
, with a new connection to Bridgewater
. It operated as the Fall River Railroad
until 1854 when it merged into the Old Colony Railroad
to become the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Company.
The Fall River Railroad
, under the leadership of Richard Borden
began regular steamship service to New York City
. The service became known as the Fall River Line
, which for many years was the preferred means of travel between Boston
and New York City
.
The original 1845 alignment of the Fall River Branch Railroad is currently part of the planned South Coast Rail commuter rail link from Fall River
to Boston
. The state purchased the track from CSX in 2010 for $21 million, along with sections of track in nearby New Bedford
and Dartmouth
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:...
to 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...
at Myricks Junction
Myricks, Massachusetts
Myricks, Massachusetts, is an association community or populated place located in Bristol County, Massachusetts at latitude 41.831 and longitude -71.027. The elevation is 62 feet. Myricks appears on the Assonet U.S. Geological Survey Map....
. It began operating in 1845 with 12 miles of track. A year later, in 1846 it merged with the Middleborough Railroad Corportation and the Randolph & Bridgewater Railroad Corportation to become the Fall River Railroad Company
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...
, with a new connection to Bridgewater
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Bridgewater, please see the article Bridgewater , Massachusetts.The Town of Bridgewater is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, 28 miles south of Boston. At the 2000 Census, the population was 25,185...
. It operated as the 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...
until 1854 when it merged into 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...
to become the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Company.
The 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...
, under the leadership of 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...
began regular steamship service to 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...
. The service became known as the Fall River Line
Fall River Line
The Fall River Line was a combination steamboat and railroad connection between New York City and Boston that operated between 1847 and 1937. It consisted of a railroad journey between Boston and Fall River, Massachusetts, where passengers would then board steamboats for the journey through...
, which for many years was the preferred means of travel between Boston
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...
and 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...
.
The original 1845 alignment of the Fall River Branch Railroad is currently part of the planned South Coast Rail commuter rail link from 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:...
to Boston
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...
. The state purchased the track from CSX in 2010 for $21 million, along with sections of track in nearby New Bedford
New Bedford
-Places:*New Bedford, Illinois*New Bedford, Massachusetts, the most populous New Bedford**New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park*New Bedford, New Jersey *New Bedford, Ohio*New Bedford, Pennsylvania...
and Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Dartmouth is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States established in 1664. The population was 30,665 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth....