Hampden Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Hampden Railroad built by the Boston and Maine Railroad
and New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
. The Hampden Railroad was chartered in 1910 and leased to the B&M in 1911, as a route from the Central Mass east of Bondsville west-southwest to Springfield, Massachusetts
to connect to the NYNH&H's Hartford and Springfield Railroad or known as New Haven-Springfield Line
.
is affectionately known as 'The Town of Seven Railroads', and is still one of the favorite spots of rail buffs to come see the trains on Depot Street (The old depot is now a restaurant called the Steaming Tender). However, there is one rail line in Palmer that never got a chance to make a name for itself.
The Hampden Railroad ran between Bondsville, Massachusetts
and Springfield, Massachusetts
at Athol Junction. It was built to be an inland connector between the New Haven line and the Boston & Maine (Central Mass. division), shaving 3 miles (4.8 km) off the usual trip from Springfield to Boston. The Hampden rail line was 14.8 miles (23.8 km) of high class rail that never felt the wheels of a single revenue train.
The Hampden Railroad was incorporated in July 1910 as a subsidiary of NYNH&H. By 1912, 90% of the grading had been finished and 5 miles (8 km) of heavy line rail had been laid. By June 23, 1913, the Hampden RR was practically completed (all that was left was to connect to the Central Mass), but the lease of the property was not approved by the Public Service Commission, and the rail was never opened for operation.
The rail line was unbelievably straight, with at most 4 degree curves and a steepest grade of 1.23% which was over Minnechoag Mountain in Ludlow. In addition, there was not a single grade crossing. To achieve these feats required 28 bridges over the 15 miles (24.1 km) route, in addition to several huge grade fills and cuts. The Minnechoag cut itself was 4800 feet (1,463 m) long and 70 feet (21.3 m) deep.
The longest bridge on the Hampden was at Bircham Bend over the Chicopee River which ran 85 feet (25.9 m) above the river, and was 1098 feet (334.7 m) long. The bridge over the Swift River in Palmer was 400 feet (121.9 m) long and ran 61 feet (18.6 m) above the river and continued over the Central Vermont tracks. Despite being built as a freight line, there were four passenger stations built along its route: East Springfield, Ludlow, Three Rivers
and Thorndike.
In 1921, with more than $2,000,000 in notes overdue, and no revenue to offset them, the Hampden Railroad went into receivership. It was sold for scrap to the Roxbury Iron & Metals Co. for $30,000. The total price tag for the construction totalled $4,000,000. However, prior to the sale to Roxbury, the government commandeered the surplus rail for use in the Watertown, Massachusetts
Arsenal during World War I
.
There is little evidence left today of the Hampden Railroad, and little to no information as to the history is available online. You can however see several remaining bridge abutments while tracing the route between East Street in Ludlow and the junction with the Central Mass. Branch of the B&M in Palmer near Forest Lake. Thousands of people drive over the Massachusetts Turnpike
just east of 291
which uses the Hampden RR alignment. Just south of the interchange one can see the concrete piers of the long Bircham Bend viaduct while riding the ramp onto the MassPike to head east.
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...
and 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...
. The Hampden Railroad was chartered in 1910 and leased to the B&M in 1911, as a route from the Central Mass east of Bondsville west-southwest to Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
to connect to the NYNH&H's Hartford and Springfield Railroad or known as New Haven-Springfield Line
New Haven-Springfield Line
The New Haven–Springfield Line or Hartford Line is a railroad line owned by Amtrak from New Haven, Connecticut north to Springfield, Massachusetts. As a branch of the Northeast Corridor at New Haven, it is served by approximately seven daily Regional round trips, some continuing from New Haven to...
.
History
Palmer, MassachusettsPalmer, Massachusetts
The Town of Palmer is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,140 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
is affectionately known as 'The Town of Seven Railroads', and is still one of the favorite spots of rail buffs to come see the trains on Depot Street (The old depot is now a restaurant called the Steaming Tender). However, there is one rail line in Palmer that never got a chance to make a name for itself.
The Hampden Railroad ran between Bondsville, Massachusetts
Bondsville, Massachusetts
Bondsville is a village and former census-designated place located primarily in the town of Palmer in Hampden County in the western part of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. The CDP boundaries extend slightly into the adjacent town of Belchertown in Hampshire County. The population of the CDP was...
and Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
at Athol Junction. It was built to be an inland connector between the New Haven line and the Boston & Maine (Central Mass. division), shaving 3 miles (4.8 km) off the usual trip from Springfield to Boston. The Hampden rail line was 14.8 miles (23.8 km) of high class rail that never felt the wheels of a single revenue train.
The Hampden Railroad was incorporated in July 1910 as a subsidiary of NYNH&H. By 1912, 90% of the grading had been finished and 5 miles (8 km) of heavy line rail had been laid. By June 23, 1913, the Hampden RR was practically completed (all that was left was to connect to the Central Mass), but the lease of the property was not approved by the Public Service Commission, and the rail was never opened for operation.
The rail line was unbelievably straight, with at most 4 degree curves and a steepest grade of 1.23% which was over Minnechoag Mountain in Ludlow. In addition, there was not a single grade crossing. To achieve these feats required 28 bridges over the 15 miles (24.1 km) route, in addition to several huge grade fills and cuts. The Minnechoag cut itself was 4800 feet (1,463 m) long and 70 feet (21.3 m) deep.
The longest bridge on the Hampden was at Bircham Bend over the Chicopee River which ran 85 feet (25.9 m) above the river, and was 1098 feet (334.7 m) long. The bridge over the Swift River in Palmer was 400 feet (121.9 m) long and ran 61 feet (18.6 m) above the river and continued over the Central Vermont tracks. Despite being built as a freight line, there were four passenger stations built along its route: East Springfield, Ludlow, Three Rivers
Three Rivers, Massachusetts
Three Rivers is a village and former census-designated place in the town of Palmer in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Thorndike.
In 1921, with more than $2,000,000 in notes overdue, and no revenue to offset them, the Hampden Railroad went into receivership. It was sold for scrap to the Roxbury Iron & Metals Co. for $30,000. The total price tag for the construction totalled $4,000,000. However, prior to the sale to Roxbury, the government commandeered the surplus rail for use in the Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
Arsenal during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
There is little evidence left today of the Hampden Railroad, and little to no information as to the history is available online. You can however see several remaining bridge abutments while tracing the route between East Street in Ludlow and the junction with the Central Mass. Branch of the B&M in Palmer near Forest Lake. Thousands of people drive over the Massachusetts Turnpike
Massachusetts Turnpike
The Massachusetts Turnpike is the easternmost stretch of Interstate 90. The Turnpike begins at the western border of Massachusetts in West Stockbridge connecting with the Berkshire Connector portion of the New York State Thruway...
just east of 291
Interstate 291 (Massachusetts)
Interstate 291 is a connector highway in Massachusetts that links Interstate 91 in downtown Springfield with Interstate 90 in Chicopee. I-291 is roughly a northeast/southwest highway. It merges with I-91 at its southwestern terminus, via a flyover...
which uses the Hampden RR alignment. Just south of the interchange one can see the concrete piers of the long Bircham Bend viaduct while riding the ramp onto the MassPike to head east.