Fall River Railroad (1846)
Encyclopedia
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. The railroad ran from Fall River
through Middleborough
and Bridgewater
to South Braintree where it connected to the Old Colony Railroad
line.
The Fall River Railroad provided a direct rail link with access to the sea between the emerging textile town of Fall River
and Boston
. It operated until 1854 when it merged into the Old Colony Railroad
to become the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Company.
In 1847, under the leadership of Richard Borden
the Fall River Railroad 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 MBTA currently operates the Middleborough/Lakeville Line
commuter rail line service to Boston
along the 1846 alignment of the Fall River Railroad. 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
.
Fall River Branch Railroad
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...
, the Middleborough Railroad Corportation and the Randolph & Bridgewater Railroad Corportation. The railroad ran 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:...
through 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 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...
to South Braintree where it connected 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...
line.
The Fall River Railroad provided a direct rail link with access to the sea between the emerging textile town 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:...
and 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...
. It operated 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.
In 1847, 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...
the Fall River Railroad 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 MBTA currently operates the Middleborough/Lakeville Line
Middleborough/Lakeville Line
The Old Colony Lines are branches of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, connecting downtown Boston, Massachusetts with the South Shore and cranberry-farming country to the south and southeast...
commuter rail line service 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...
along the 1846 alignment of the Fall River Railroad. The original 1845 alignment of the Fall River Branch Railroad
Fall River Branch Railroad
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...
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...
.
Partial list of locomotives
- The Fall River (1845), Hinkley & DruryHinkley Locomotive WorksHinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F...
, (renamed the Wollaston after 1854 Old Colony merger) - The Randolph (1845), Hinkley & DruryHinkley Locomotive WorksHinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F...
, 44,000 lbs. - The Bridgewater (1846), Hinkley & DruryHinkley Locomotive WorksHinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F...
, 44,000 lbs. (renamed the Campello after 1854 Old Colony merger) - The Bay State (1847), Hinkley & DruryHinkley Locomotive WorksHinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F...
, 46,500 lbs. - The Braintree (1847), Hinkley & DruryHinkley Locomotive WorksHinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F...
, 50,500 lbs. - The Newport (1848), Hinkley & DruryHinkley Locomotive WorksHinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F...
, 52,000 lbs. - The Middleborough (1851), Taunton Locomotive Works, 52,000 lbs., used to hall the "boat train"
- The Richard Borden (1853), Hinkley & DruryHinkley Locomotive WorksHinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F...
, 51,500 lbs. - The Metropoils (1854), Hinkley & DruryHinkley Locomotive WorksHinkley Locomotive Works was one of a number of railroad steam locomotive manufacturers of the United States in the 19th century.-History:The company that was to become known as Hinkley Locomotive Works got its start in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831. Holmes Hinkley and his partner Daniel F...
, 50,000 lbs.