Martha's Vineyard Railroad
Encyclopedia
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
. It was built in 1874 to connect the Oak Bluffs wharf with the section of Edgartown known as Katama
Katama
Katama is a residential area in the town of Edgartown, Massachusetts, on the south shore of the island of Martha's Vineyard. It is bordered on the west by Edgartown Great Pond, on the east by Katama Bay and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean.The word "Katama" comes from a Wampanoag word meaning...
. The line closed in 1896.
Development
After the decline of the whale oilWhale oil
Whale oil is the oil obtained from the blubber of various species of whales, particularly the three species of right whale and the bowhead whale prior to the modern era, as well as several other species of baleen whale...
industry in the 1860s, the east coast island of Martha's Vineyard sought to develop a tourist trade. As part of this effort a narrow gauge railway was chartered in 1874 to take tourists across the island. The railway started at Oak Bluffs where steamships of 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...
docked and ran southeast along the shore through Edgartown to Katama.
The line was quickly constructed across the flat, sandy soil and was ready for opening on August 7, 1874. However the initial rolling stock required modifications before the first passengers were carried on August 24 of that year.
In 1876 a short half mile extension from Katama to South Beach was opened, bringing the total length of the line to 9 miles (14.5 km).
It is possible to drive most all of the original right-of-way between Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, and Katama (with a few short detours).
Operations
The railroad ran into financial problems almost immediately. By 1877 the operation of the line was temporarily turned over to the principal debt holders until it returned to solvency. However the financial problems continued and in 1890 the railroad was placed into receivership.Sale and closure
In early 1892 the railroad was sold to the Old Colony Steamboat Company, the subsidiary of the Old Colony RailroadOld 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...
that operated the steamships to Oak Bluffs. They in turn sold the line to Joseph M. Wardell who became its general manager. The railroad continued to operate at a loss and finally closed in 1896.
Locomotives
| Name | Builder | Type | Date | Works number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | H.K. Porter | 0-6-0 tender | 1874 | Later renamed Edgartown then South Beach |